“…And whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple—truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward.”
People often take Jesus’ remark about bringing cups of water to “these little ones” as a prompt to do outreach. While Jesus is big on caring for people in need, that is not his meaning here. He is saying that those who do ministry with us, “in the name of a disciple,” are to be blessed.
When my previous church did its monthly meal at the Men’s Shelter, I’d bring my guitar and sing a few songs while the crew was readying the meal in the kitchen. The gentlemen waiting for dinner were generally very appreciative; “dinner and a show!,” some remarked. But sometimes someone would ask if he could play my guitar – I’d hand it over and let him entertain the group, using his gifts. That was true joy.
We need to invite people to participate in our “good works.” We can offer ministry to, or we can offer ministry with – and “with” is much more inclusive and empowering. Just think which you would prefer if you were in need. Inviting other people to join us as we go about ministries of help and transformation is one of the most powerful ways to share the Gospel with others. It makes the Good News visible as people see a community of Christ-followers in action – that witness is often as vivid and appealing as the work being done.
Many churches find they connect better with people by giving them opportunities to serve than by trying to entice them to worship. That puts the onus on us to be open to relationships as we go about serving food and delivering clothes and visiting those in prison, to get out from behind the counters and talk with the people we are serving, find out what their gifts are. I dream of a church where the well-fed and the hungry worship and serve together in one diverse community. I know such congregations exist. For a while, two gentlemen who live in homeless encampments in the woods near La Plata started first showing up for food at our coffee hour, then worshipping with us, and then serving as crucifers. It was a start of ministry with instead of to. (Then they got jobs and worked on Sunday mornings and now have both moved away… back to square one!)
What forms of helping or outreach or volunteering are you involved in? Is there room for inviting recipients of that help to participate in helping others? Can you think of ways to form community with the givers and the receivers until we are all aware of being both?
It makes sense to do ministry with the ones for whom we offer our time and resources, because God has invited us to do ministry with her. We don’t work “for” God either – we work with God, at the direction and power of the Spirit moving through us. If we give someone else the opportunity to offer a gift to someone in need, we have given them a chance to live more deeply.
From God’s perspective, we are all “these little ones." We are all in need of the water of life.
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