What Makes Heaven Weep?

Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, and you say, "Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well"...but then you don't give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? (James 2:15-16)

What might an observant teacher conclude about a student who looks exhausted, wears rumpled clothing or the same outfit several days in a row, and often keeps late hours at school hanging out in such places as a locker room or a student lounge? That's easy, right? There are thought to be about 1.5 million homeless teens and kids in the United States, but as you can imagine, counting people who have no permanent address is not quite an exact science! In 2005, the city of Minneapolis, Minnesota, alone estimated there were 5,500 homeless students enrolled in public schools!

Keith Green, an early pioneer of Christian Rock, wrote these words in a song called "Asleep in the Light":

'Cause he brings people to your door

And you turn them away

As you smile and say

"God bless you, be at peace"

And all heaven just weeps

'Cause Jesus came to your door

You've left him out on the streets

It sure does seem something is required of us, doesn't it? While it may not seem like a lot can be done...you are in school, you don't have much expendable income, and your parents may be wary of a radical response on your part to the homeless...the mandate is pretty clear nonetheless. We are supposed to take action on behalf of our brothers and sisters who have needs.

Action Step

1. Read Matthew 25:31-46. Where do you see yourself in this parable? Are you a sheep or a goat?
2. Is it true that obedience is not defined by what we don't do but by what we do for the world that God so loves.
3. What is one simple thing you could do to help?