Unto the Least of These

Have you ever heard someone say, "Wait just a minute?" Well, sometimes a minute can seem like a long time. Other times, a minute seems to fly by. This morning I have brought a timer with me. You have probably seen one of these. When you turn this timer over, it takes one minute for the sand to trickle down from one end of the timer to the other. I am going to turn this timer over and for one minute, I want you to see how many things you can think of that you like to eat. Are you ready? Okay -- ready, set, go!

Did you think of a lot of good things to eat? I did. I thought about fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, hamburgers, hot dogs, pizza, cake, cookies, ice cream, candy, and a lot more. What did you think of that you like to eat? (Give them time to name some if time permits.)

Have you ever been hungry? Oh, I don't a little bit hungry. I mean really hungry with no hope that you would get anything to eat today...or tomorrow...or the next day. Sometimes we forget that not everyone in the world has plenty of food to eat. In that one minute while you and I were thinking about all the good things we like to eat, twelve children in the world died because of hunger-related illness.

One day, Jesus was speaking to a group of people and he said to them, "I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat...I was thirsty and you gave me a drink."

"When did we do that?" they asked.

Jesus answered them, "If you did it for one of the least of my children, you did it for me."

We have a lot to be thankful for, don't we? The question is, are we willing to share it with those who are not so fortunate? Will you share what you have with those who are in need? Remember, it is the same as doing it for Jesus!

Heavenly Father, you have given us so much. May we be willing to share it with those in need. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.

Note: The statistics quoted in this sermon are taken from a resolution by the Human Rights Council of the United Nations. (Page 3, Paragraph 3) PDF Document