The Omaha guide., 1946-09-21


teIonomy 24.ls. Is: Matthew 25 34-4l
AEMOhE SELECTION The KIN
knaA answer and say unto them. Verii
1 say unto you. Inasmuch as We hay
done i unto one Of the least Of thes
my brethren. ye have done Il unto me.
Matthew $3.50.
There Is as much need toda'
Tor the words OF counsel and I'd
moniton regarding strangers whic
We find in our lesson. as there W.
IN the days Of Moses. for ther
seems 70 be an almost compile.
breakdown of neighborlness ~.
between nations and individuals
l. The Law Required Nefghhuri
ness 1ENod- 2. 2.2l-23. Deut "a
I5l.
Our heavenly Father ag rrvea
TO Us IN his word W q Fs-hcr
deed. one greatly caHear ei ar.
his many children. but as cr
does he care for those who are wcs
and needy.
The laws Of ancient Israel MAJ
provision for tie fccd ny ~ tho
who had no fields The corners
the field were left m-ut af harve-
time. some Of the grapes were
be left on the vine. etc. sr ih4i y
poor could enjoy TIE sar ai seu
respect as they picked tur teen
selves what God had 0rovidn-s ts-
Lev 1873. 10. 1922. IeuL 24:I9-z.
and other passagesl.
The poor man who found wori
was TO receive his pay when neea
e1- For the one who hired him w
DO Otherwise was 70 bring upr
himself the judgment Of Coo f.
listens 20 the cry Of the hungr
worker and his family CDeut 24.I5.
Strangers were II q peculiar Wy
subject to the possibility of extn,
ton They are even today the eas
mark of the one who lives oy his
wits. the Confidence" man anc
sneak thief.
II any such person reads th.s
notes let me warn him solemnly 10
keep his tricky hands of tire stran.
ger. for God is watching and will
hear their cry Exod. q. 23l.
The same is true Of widows anc
orphans God Is their keeper anc
their defender.
Some01e may say that all this
Old z 1t IN its hacls-- ar
and principle What about the Il
lower Of Christ in our day? The an
swer is that
III. Christ Expects Neighborli
ness Matt. 25:34-4D.
This IS a prophetic picture Of !
great judgment scene. It IS not. y.
many suppose. the same as n
judgment Of the Great Whit.
Throne Of Revelation 90.
The scene here is rot in heaven
but upon the earth. II Is not individ
uals who are being judged. but n,
nations Of the earth. They are 40
being judged regarding per
sonal salvation. but for their treat
n'ent Of Christ's brethren.
Who are his brethren? First ",
think OF his brethren. after the nes-
the people Of the Jewish race. Scri-
ture reveals again and again thu
God Is watching over his chose
people. even though they are nv,
scattered in judgment for their w
belief Ee viii not hold any guiltles
who harm his people tGen 1878
The WORD brethren is also use
~ such a passage as Matthew T.
$3.50 TO include al who do the uif
OF God That suggests a broader al
plication Of these words.
Our attitude toward God O.
presses itself in our attitude towaa
our fellow man. That which we
toward those about Us is not a ma
ter OF indifference. but is the basis
for Gods judgment Of our lives
Each Of rs must answer for N.
deeds done in the flesh whether the,
be good or evil. Zhat = true ever
OF the believer II Cor. 5:lOl. whose
salvation has already been deter
mined by his faith in Christ.
Here in our lesson. however. the
failure to do that which shows forth
God's law OF love is made the
ground Of eternal judgment. This
is not because an act Of kindness
itself can be regarded as the
ground OF division. but because the
failure to give it or DO it reflects
an attitude Of heart toward our Coo
and his Christ which is in reality Z
rejection Of his way of salvation
Judgment is thus a revelation O
the attitude OF the heart. whicl
marks a man or woman as bein;
either saved or lost. 1t may be pos
sible to so becloud the thinking o
our friends and neighbors that VIZ
may 60 through life looking some
thing like a Christian. but wher
Christ judges. it viii all be revealed
Notice the importance OF a proper
attitude toward those who need ou
kindness and help. All too often tn
only concern OF men and women i
to look out for number one" an
let the rest Of the world shift for il
self
Observe also that the Lord identl
fes himself with his brethren
what is done to and for them i
counted as done to and for him
Compare the experience Of Samue
q Sam. SD and Of Paul (Acts s:5)
Touch Gods people and you touc
him. Fail them and you fail hin
Serve then, and vn7. serve him