When You Did That

Scripture Reading: Matthew 25:37-38

Then the righteous will answer him saying, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?”

I almost didn’t answer the call. My caller ID indicated it was from a South Carolina number. Since the advent of cell phones and the disappearance of long-distance charges (you older people will know what that means), area codes are no longer a good indicator of where someone lives. People move and keep their same phone number. They might live in Las Vegas and have an area code from Miami, Florida.

I answered.

“You probably don’t remember me,” the caller began.

This call came after two previous calls from people who wanted me to do some repair work on their houses. At the time I was winding down my business in anticipation of beginning a new job working for someone else. I had to explain that to people and try to recommend someone else they could call. My mind immediately jumped to the conclusion that this was going to be another one of those calls from someone I had done work for in the past. I started to prepare my explanation as to why I wouldn’t be able to help him out.

But he continued…

“About twenty years ago, my brother was dying in St. Francis Hospital. I can’t remember how, but somehow I got your name and asked you to go there and pray for him and you did. I never forgot that. As a matter of fact, I have been carrying your business card around in my wallet for twenty years. Do you remember that?”

As he was speaking, a vague memory of something like that emerged from the recesses of my brain. I couldn’t recall the details or the names, but I faintly recalled that experience. Had it not been for his call and his retelling of the story, I would not have remembered. After all, it was only a hospital visit and a prayer, something I had done countless times throughout a long ministry.

But he remembered. It mattered to him. It mattered so much that he carried around an old business card in his wallet for twenty years.

In this teaching about the final judgment, the people of God are welcomed into the kingdom. At that time the Lord recounts their good works and says that when they did them for “The least of these my brothers” it was as if they had done it for Him.

I suspect that at the final judgment, not only will we be surprised that Jesus considers things done for others as things done for him, but also that he remembers things we have forgotten. We forgot them because they seemed, to us, insignificant or minor works. We weren’t holding crusades in stadiums or building cathedrals. We were just praying for someone, or buying them a meal, or mowing their lawn, or…

It wasn’t a big deal to us.

Hebrews 6:10 tells us that “God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints…”

We might forget, and that is okay. We don’t need to worry about keeping track to remind God one day of all we did in Christ’s name. He is not unjust. He will remember every good work and will say about them, “Well done my good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of the Lord.”