What Side Will You Be On?

It is the nature of people, I suppose, to divide ourselves into different groups. We do it for the sake of having fun – you need two teams to play many sports. Sometimes we are divided by others according to our abilities – schools have different levels of math or reading classes. Many times we choose to divide ourselves. We have different political parties, churches, and family structures, all ways in which we put ourselves into different groups. These choices are, we would hope, to make it easier to meet the challenges of those issues that confront us in our lives. Although, we must note that not all of the groups we choose are for the best. How many times have you heard someone explaining away another person’s bad action by, “He just wound up in the wrong group?” What gets even more difficult when choosing a group is to think about how your choice will affect another person. If that person is family it might be easier, if he or she is not, then there can be a conflict. If the choice is between enjoying all the benefits of your things with your own family or sharing them with a stranger the decision becomes much more difficult.  And, when you talk about your enemies, it becomes nearly impossible. I bring this up because of today’s parable. In this parable the Son of Man separates us into two different groups. The question is, “What side will you be on? The right or the left?”

The quick will answer, “The right, of course.” But we must be careful here in interpreting the meaning of Jesus’ words. It is not without note that the members of both groups are surprised by which side The Son of Man places them. That is because they thought the criteria for being a sheep was something other than what it is. While judgment is based on feeding the hungry, giving the thirsty a drink, welcoming the stranger, clothing the naked, taking care of the sick, and visiting those in prison, salvation is much deeper. Jesus is telling us that performing these acts should be second nature to us.  As Jesus said in another place, “Do not let your left hand know what the right hand is doing (Matthew 6:3).” Answering Jesus’ call should be your life. It should happen without thought. While we are called to do good works, it seems that it is the motive behind that counts. A nearly impossible task in the media heavy world we live in which constantly bombards us with advertisements, news stories, and calls to be selfish; to look out only for yourself and your family. In a culture where image and importance is extolled, Jesus’ call to humble service is lost. How do we get to the place in our lives where acting according to God’s will is natural? We read the Bible, gather together to worship, and pray. Through these acts we invite Jesus to come into our lives and selves and ask him to remake us into his own image. Through our submission to Jesus he makes us into his image of love for others and humble service to the world. Be a sheep and follow your Shepherd.