Overlooking Christ

I was thinking this morning about Jesus' discourse in Matthew 25.

 ³⁵ For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, ³⁶ I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ ³⁷ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? ³⁸ When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? ³⁹ When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
⁴⁰ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
⁴¹ “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. ⁴² For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, ⁴³ I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
⁴⁴ “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
⁴⁵ “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ 

How often have I overlooked the hungry, thirsty, stranger, naked, sick or imprisoned? How often have I been so wrapped up in my own stuff that I couldn't notice the hurt in those around me? Am I blind to the world around me because my world is too dark, complicated or unsure? The "least of these" could be anywhere and everywhere.

We live in an increasingly individualistic society. As a millennial, my experiences are rooted in post-modernity. The millennial generation is often called the "me generation and not the we generation." I have to flip my cultural and generational idea of what is important. Kingdom thinking will always put we above me. Jesus' words urge us to serve who the world deems unworthy. In this world of instant gratification, it is counter-intuitive to help someone who cannot offer us anything immediately. True love of God and of man doesn't want anything in return. How do I overcome my own selfishness and serve the world around me? How do I open my eyes and my heart to what is really happening?