Matthew 25 records a teaching of Jesus about the end of time, when he will separate the sheep from the goats. The sheep are the ones who take care of the needs of people, while the goats are the ones who ignore the plight of the unfortunate. I recently read a paraphrase from Kyle Idleman about what Jesus might say to people today regarding their status as a sheep or a goat. Borrowing from that idea, here is my own view of how that speech might go.
“I was hungry, but instead of giving me something to eat, you continued to stuff yourself with unhealthy foods. I was thirsty, but rather than providing me with something to drink, you sipped on your expensive lattes and drank bottled water. I was a stranger, but instead of inviting me in, you wanted to have me deported. I needed clothes, but rather than clothing me, you bought yourself more outfits and then wondered how you would fit them into your already overflowing closet. I was sick, but you didn’t do anything to help me. You were too busy blaming me for my illness because of poor decisions I have made in the past. I was in prison, but instead of coming to visit me, you smugly said that I was getting just what I deserved.”
So how about it? Are your attitudes and actions more like a sheep, or more like a goat?
