Pastor Jeremiah Steepek
There is no state or nation that does not have poor among them. God’s expectation for His
people to care for the needy and poor are interlinked throughout the scripture. Therefore Christians should not be unconcerned towards those in need, . For example, in Jeremiah 22:16, King Josiah was used as an example and even Moses instructed his people in (Deuteronomy 15:10) on how to treat the poor and needy. In Proverbs 14:31 King Solomon made us to understand that being kind to the needy is one of the ways we can honour God as Christians.
The New Testament clearly stated how we are suppose to care for the poor. (1 John 3:17-18) nicely summarizes the Christian way of living which involves self-sacrifice. Jesus commanded Christians to show love to their neigbour.
God's desire is for His children to have compassion for the poor and needy as shown in both
the Old and New Testaments. In fact when we show love to the poor or
needy we are in turn ministering to Jesus personally and we have our
rewards according to (Matthew 26:11; Mark 14:7; Matthew 25:35-40)
The question is what are our attitude as Christians towards the needy?
This story below can be compared to some parables in the bible. It is
not just enough to profess Christianity with words, your actions should
also depict what is being preached. Do not just read but learn from the
story below. Happy reading.
Pastor
Jeremiah Steepek transformed himself into a homeless person and went to
the 10,000 member church that he was to be introduced as the head
pastor at that morning. He walked around his soon to be church for 30
minutes while it was filling with people for service, only 3 people out
of the 7-10,000 people said hello to him.
He asked people for
change to buy food - NO ONE in the church gave him change. He went into
the sanctuary to sit down in the front of the church and was asked by
the ushers if he would please sit in the back. He greeted people to be
greeted back with stares and dirty looks, with people looking down on
him and judging him.
As he sat in the
back of the church, he listened to the church announcements and such.
When all that was done, the elders went up and were excited to introduce
the new pastor of the church to the congregation. "We would like to
introduce to you Pastor Jeremiah Steepek." The congregation looked
around clapping with joy and anticipation.
The homeless man
sitting in the back stood up and started walking down the aisle. The
clapping stopped with ALL eyes on him. He walked up the altar and took
the microphone from the elders (who were in on this) and paused for a
moment then he recited,
“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. 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, 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.’ “Then the righteous will answer him,
‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you
something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or
needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison
and go to visit you?’
'The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you,
whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of
mine, you did for me.’
After he recited this, he looked towards
the congregation and told them all what he had experienced that morning.
Many began to cry and many heads were bowed in shame. He then said,
"Today I see a gathering of people, not a church of Jesus Christ. The
world has enough people, but not enough disciples. When will YOU decide
to become disciples?"
He then dismissed service until next week.
Being a Christian is more than something you claim. It's something you live by and share with others.
Source "news2.onlinenigeria.com and the Holy Bible"
