William Lenthall: Kindness to God

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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.” Matthew 25:40

“Whatsoever duties we perform in kindness toward our neighbors, we perform unto God.

William Lenthall (1591-1682) in Day’s Collacon, compiled and arranged by Edward Parsons Day (New York: IPPO, 1884) 618.

Anytime Jesus makes a “truly” statement we need to pay attention. With this one He tells us that kindness to the least deserving person is kindness to Him.

In that text He references the hungry, thirsty, sick, and naked, and lest we think these are just those culturally perceived as nice people, the list includes prisoners.

As fellow humans, they are our brothers and sisters. Kindness to them is kindness to God. So, that said, will you be kind and generous to God or rude and stingy.

No wonder Jesus commands us to be generous at all times. It’s a test. How we treat people, especially the least deserving, reflects what we think of God.