James 1:27

Love your neighbor as yourself

Today is Social Concerns Sunday for the English Congregation. It is a day where we are reminded of our social mission of the church, to take care of the last, the lost and the least in the society.
As what Bishop Emeritus Robert Solomon says in his article, “Its root lies in God’s love for His creation. He cares for the poor, the orphans and the widows (Jam. 1:27).

“Its root lies in God’s love for His creation. He cares for the poor, the orphans and the widows.” (Jam. 1:27)

When we relate to God with personal piety and devotion, we will discover that we cannot love God without also loving others (1 Jn. 4:20-21). Our vertical devotions lead to horizontal duties. To be socially holy is to discover the justice and compassion of God. We cannot close our eyes to the plight and needs of our neighbours and hope to have a meaningful relationship with God (Ezek. 16:49). We cannot rest in private heavens while there is suffering and need all around us. We can only rest when God brings His peace and wellbeing (shalom) to the whole world in Christ.” (Social Holiness – The Methodist Church in Singapore)
This also reminds me of Matthew 25:31-46 when God will separate the sheep and the goats according to how they take care of the least of the brothers and sisters. Both groups encountered people who needed a drink, needed food, needed shelter and clothes to wear. Both groups did not know that if they responded to take care of the least brothers and sisters, they are also doing for Jesus Christ. Only one responded to provide for them while the other didn’t. To the group which didn’t, Jesus said in verse 46, “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”
Dear Brothers and Sisters-in-Christ, when God placed people in need before us, how do we respond to Him? God has already given us the commandment to ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ (Luke 10:27). How we respond to the call of God depend on us. May the LORD help us to respond to His call and serve the lost, the last and the least.