Jesus proclaimed that with faith as small as a mustard seed, nothing is impossible for those who believe in Him. Therefore, it is inconceivable for true believers in Jesus to abandon any gospel mission. The term failure does not exist in the lexicon of a true Christian. Otherwise, one might assume the disciples failed, considering they were martyred during their ministerial activities. Sceptics, unaware of Jesus’ resurrection, often declare that Jesus was a failure.
Any project founded on the true teachings of Jesus should never be taken lightly. Anyone who despises the work of the gospel aligns themselves with the enemies of Jesus. According to Jesus, those who give a cup of water to one of His servants will certainly receive their reward. Prudence lies in the ability to evaluate works, determining whether they are of God. Nevertheless, a charitable person who may not necessarily be a Christian, may not need to assess but should treat others as they want to be treated.
“Let brotherly love continue. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels. Remember the prisoners as if chained with them—those who are mistreated—since you yourselves are in the body also” (Hebrews 13:1-3 NKJV).
Jesus narrated the events of the Day of Judgment, highlighting the distinction between the righteous and Jesus’ brothers. This website provided an expository contribution, clarifying the difference between the righteous and Jesus’ brothers. Understanding these differences is fundamental to fully appreciating the purpose of Christianity. All humans are God’s children, depending on their attitudes towards others. However, those who have received the Holy Spirit are in the same category as Jesus. Without comprehending Jesus’ outlined prophecy, one gropes in darkness.
“All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. 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: 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; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’
“Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’
“Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’
“Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life” (Matthew 25:32-46 NKJV).
The outlined event follows the millennium when Judgment Day will evaluate the conduct of every human who has ever lived in this world. Each person is judged according to their works, specifically their support of those in the gospel ministry. Those who supported and are then rewarded may not have been aware they were supporting Jesus when dealing with those He identifies as His brothers. It is important to appreciate the difference between doing good to be appreciated by others and doing it anonymously (Matthew 6:1-4). It is important to remember that Jesus’ brothers are the blessed ones whose resurrection at the second coming of Jesus will be crowned for the millennial reign with Christ.
“And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshipped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ and shall reign with Him a thousand years” (Revelation 20:4-6 NKJV).
God’s work is impossible to accomplish without the faith of Jesus Christ. There is a distinction between having faith in Jesus Christ and applying the faith of Jesus. The issue with faith in Jesus Christ lies in dissociating oneself from the faith and placing trust in Jesus, instead. However, the faith of Jesus implies that one adopts Jesus’ character, never to be a failure. This describes an individual who remains undaunted, even when facing death. Those with faith in Jesus tend to blame Him, rather than take responsibility for failures when things are adjudged as having gone wrong.
Zimbabwe is characterized by Christians with faith in Jesus rather than those possessing the faith of Jesus. During His ministry, Jesus encountered multitudes seeking healing and other miraculous services. He was thronged by various kinds of people wherever He was found. These individuals had faith in Jesus, who assisted them with various physical challenges. They were not necessarily His disciples, but having received benefits from Him, some sought to become His disciples. Their love for Jesus was sustained by faith in Him, trusting Him for their infirmities. Jesus had to take time to illustrate the difference between appreciating His services and being His disciples.
Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it—lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish’?
“Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for conditions of peace. So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple. Salt is good; but if the salt has lost its flavour, how shall it be seasoned? It is neither fit for the land nor for the dunghill, but men throw it out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” (Luke 14:25-35 NKJV).
In the above passage, Jesus illustrates the significance of Christianity. Those of this world can never understand such a person. It takes only those having become His followers, to understand other followers of Jesus. Those having received blessings of miraculous bread, water turned to wine and physical healing can never appreciate the crucifixion. It should be fascinating that thousands observed the miraculous works of Jesus, however only a handful were present, as He faced the crucifixion trial. One can observe numerous individuals who claim to be Christian, yet do not exhibit the faith of Jesus.
Some Christians pass away without being recognized as true representatives of Christianity. Only those who understand the essence of Christianity may identify these individuals as embodying Christ’s teachings. True Christians are distinct from those known merely for their charitable acts. The righteous, who act like the Good Samaritan, may be acknowledged for their benevolence. However, they differ from those who behave like Jesus, as willing to sacrifice their lives when pursuing activities to fulfil their Christian mandates.
True Christians may not necessarily be identified by performing miracles, like Jesus. Each Christian carries a unique responsibility, dissimilar to others. There is no uniformity in terms of spiritual gifts. What prevails in some churches is the expectation that every Christian should tithe so the pastor can be lavishly treated. This goes against Paul’s clear suggestion, where each member performs their part without expecting others to perform similarly. For instance, some individuals get discouraged when observing they would be the only ones making financial contributions, deeming others uncommitted.
A Christian Church is not a club, and no one can take credit for contributing more than others (Matthew 20:1-16). Unfortunately, in some secular Churches, individuals are respected ahead of others due to their financial contributions. This disqualifies them, as God is not a respecter of persons (Acts 10:34). There is no greater blessing than being granted the privilege to serve in Jesus’ ministry. However, such activities cannot necessarily be statistically evaluated, except as known by Jesus Himself. Some may never be known physically, while their effective prayers are the ones that enable God’s work to flourish.
“For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.
Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honour giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality” (Romans 12:3-13 NKJV).
In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul compared the Church to the functions of the human body. Only a deranged person would assume that some parts of the body are more important than others. In the physical body, one can observe a well-coordinated function, controlled by the person. No single limb of the body can be deemed indispensable or more or less important than others, as each functions according to the owner’s intellect, whose prototype is Christ. When one limb experiences pain, the entire body focuses on the part experiencing pain.
This should not be interpreted as suggesting that each person must be compelled to contribute. True Christians are those inspired by God to fulfil their functions, without coercion. The issue with compelling individuals to perform Christ’s work is that it is impossible to determine who would or would not be a brother of Jesus. Hence, Jesus proclaimed that giving should be in secret. Others are inspired by individuals, who they desire to impress, rather than performing according to God’s calling. God’s work is not about attracting commendation from others.
After these things, the Lord appointed seventy others also and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go. Then He said to them, “The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few; therefore pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into His harvest. Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves.
“Carry neither a money bag, knapsack, nor sandals; and greet no one along the road. But whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on it; if not, it will return to you. And remain in the same house, eating and drinking such things as they give, for the labourer is worthy of his wages. Do not go from house to house.
“Whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you. And heal the sick there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ But whatever city you enter, and they do not receive you, go out into its streets and say, ‘The very dust of your city which clings to us we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near you.’ But I say to you that it will be more tolerable in that Day for Sodom than for that city” (Luke 10:1-12 NKJV).
The aforementioned illustrative pattern does not compel anyone to finance God’s work. The tithing system, as promoted in many Christian groups, was never instituted by Christ for those who understand that Christ is central to Christianity. The financiers on that mission were unaware that Jesus had sent the disciples. Those who hospitably provided for their needs did so voluntarily. This explains why some individuals will be recognized as having fed and clothed Jesus without knowing it (Matthew 25:39-40).
Andrew Masuku is the author of Dimensions of a New Civilization, laying down standards for uplifting Zimbabwe from the current state of economic depression into a model for other nations worldwide. A decaying tree provides an opportunity for a blossoming sprout. Written from a Christian perspective, the book is a product of inspiration, bringing relief to those having witnessed the strings of unworkable solutions––leading to the current economic and social decay. Most Zimbabweans should find the book as a long-awaited providential oasis of hope, in a simple conversational tone.
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