I recently read Same Kind of Different as Me, a memoir co-authored by Ron Hall and Denver Moore. The book chronicles the unlikely but amazing friendship that develops between these two men- one and international art dealer and the other a homeless vagrant.
Ron Hall first meets Denver when Ron and his wife volunteer at a homeless shelter/soup kitchen. Ron admits his disgust when he first meets these people. He describes his revulsion at their appearance and smell and he relates how he hoped his wife would soon “fulfill” the call she felt God had given her to work with them.
Over time, Ron realizes how his pride blinded him to the real condition of the homeless. When he befriends Denver, his whole attitude changes. He realizes that the homeless didn’t just need someone who would show up for a couple of hours and hand out food. They needed someone to love them, touch them, get to know them. They need someone who is not afraid to sacrifice.
I will admit that my admit toward “the least of these” has been much like Ron’s. I was very convicted by this memoir. It is easy to go volunteer a couple of hours here and there in a situation where I don’t really have to invest myself. It is much more difficult to seek to serve God by serving people in a real way. My conviction reminded me of this passage from Matthew 25:
34Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
35For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
37Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
It is pretty powerful to think that the Kingdom of God is prepared for those who treat “the least of these” as they would do it to the Lord Himself! I am motivated to seek ways that I can serve as unto the Lord.