Who needs who?

I know this is Friday Chews Day. I will post some later. After the discussion in the comments section of The truth is in the middle on Wednesday, I felt the need to reflect on a few things.

When I was in Phoenix in July, I met a great guy named Curt. One afternoon, he sat and told me about a man named Brother Paul who had a tremendous influence on his life. I actually welled up as Curt lovingly spoke of this beautiful man and his mission center in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Curt gave me a few small books that Brother Paul wrote before his death, and I have looked at them over and over since receiving them. One of the most profound questions that Brother Paul asks is, “Who needs who?”

In short, he quite remarkably points out that Jesus commands us to feed the hungry, but He doesn’t command the hungry to eat. He commands us to clothe the naked, but He doesn’t command the naked to wear the clothing. He commands us to visit the sick, but He does not say the sick should appreciate it.

It may behoove us to take a deep breath, examine our pride, and ask, “Who needs who?”

Seeing it this way helps us uncover our own hunger and nakedness and guilt. People are not our projects, they are our relatives. And there must be a reason we are asked to do these things for “the least of these,” right?

Our connectedness to all of humankind is incredibly codependent. Those of us who do not live in need (at least not physical needs) are being humbled and changed and opened as we obey Jesus’ words. And those who are indigent are having their physical needs met. In God’s kingdom, people do not go hungry and they do not ignore each other's needs.

One of the best quotes I read this week was simply this, “When we truly discover love, capitalism will not be possible and Marxism will not be necessary. --Will O'Brien
Of course, it was only trumped by Brother Paul’s, “Who needs who?”

Want to be different? Want to see God? L-O-V-E someone.

(Matt 25) '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, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

Let God worry about whether people deserve it or not. Frankly, you need them. Are you deserving?