WHO IS WATCHING THE CHILDREN (AND THEIR PARENTS)?
In Matthew 25:34-36, Jesus shared, “34 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’” As they challenged Jesus regarding never seeing Him in those conditions, Jesus responded in verse 40, “…‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren [and sisters], you did it to Me.’” Jesus established that we have a responsibility to think, feel and act outside of ourselves, and seek to meet the needs of others with the realization that what we do for others (or not), we are doing for Jesus (or not).
Following are additional Bible verses that share the responsibility that we have to humanity – particularly those who are in genuine need.
When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. (Leviticus 19:33-34)
When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner. (Leviticus 19:9-10)
He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing. And you are to love those who are foreigners, for you yourselves were foreigners in Egypt. (Deuteronomy 10:18-19)
Do not oppress a foreigner; you yourselves know how it feels to be foreigners, because you were foreigners in Egypt. (Exodus 23:9)
"So I will come to put you on trial. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers and perjurers, against those who defraud laborers of their wages, who oppress the widows and the fatherless, and deprive the foreigners among you of justice, but do not fear me," says the Lord Almighty. (Malachi 3:5)
No stranger had to spend the night in the street, for my door was always open to the traveler (Job, discussing his devotion to God) (Job 31:32)
For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." (Galatians 5:14)
