Matthew 25: “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. 34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.

35 For... I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ 40 “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’ 41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

1. THE PROTECTION NECESSARY FOR THE NEEDY Fact: There will always be needy people as long as there is sin in the world. Fact: If God were not so generous, merciful, loving and just, the world would be much worse – far more needy!

Mt 10: 42 And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.” Mt 12:50 …whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother. Proverbs 14:31 Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God. Proverbs 17:5 Whoever mocks the poor shows contempt for their Maker; whoever gloats over disaster will not go unpunished. Proverbs 29:7 The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern.

Job 29:11 Whoever heard me spoke well of me, and those who saw me commended me, 12 because I rescued the poor who cried for help, and the fatherless who had none to assist them. 13 The one who was dying blessed me; I made the widow’s heart sing. 14 I put on righteousness as my clothing; justice was my robe and my turban. 15 I was eyes to the blind and feet to the lame. 16 I was a father to the needy; I took up the case of the stranger. 17 I broke the fangs of the wicked and snatched the victims from their teeth.

2. THE MOTIVATION FOR MEETING NEEDS Bible Guidelines For Protecting the Needy

A. We are REWARDED for meeting needs 34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.

B. It is the same as DOING GOOD TO JESUS PERSONALLY 40 “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’

C. Failure to meet needs means we LOSE A PORTION OF OUR REWARD 1Cor. 3:13 …Each ones work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work. 14 If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. 15 If it is burned up, he will suffer forfeiture; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.

D. Meeting needs brings PROTECTION IN THIS LIFE Psalm 41:1 Blessed are those who have regard for the weak; the Lord delivers them in times of trouble. 2 The Lord protects and preserves them—they are counted among the blessed in the land.

3. THE ACTIONS OF THOSE MEETING NEEDS What is the problem here? People tend to institutionalize the meeting of needs. I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.

The Challenge: WHO MEETS NEEDS? A Personal Testimony Figured out what I knew how to do and offered it Painting of houses of the poor. Fixing the computers of seniors, took the computers of the rich and gave them to the needy. Informal chaplain to Habitat for Humanity Giving helpful books and Bibles to those that need them Albany Partnership transitional housing

How Will You Respond To The Lord’s Challenge In This Passage? Look around you. Observe the needy. Count your blessings! See what He has given you to use. Help the needy – whatever form they come in!