[Jesus speaking]
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. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 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.”
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?”
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.”
Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.

Notice he did not say: 1) Your praying words were not fancy or polished enough, 2) You weren’t successful enough in preaching or teaching, or 3) You didn’t have enough friends or gain enough awards. Actions speak louder than words in God’s eternal kingdom.

Jesus is measuring the quality of one’s faith here by the actions they have taken. The kingdom work they actually did (or did not do in this case). Did they care when someone was going hungry? Did they help the weary traveler? Did they share with those who needed life staples like clothes? Did they help people who were tough to love or sick, in prison or in trouble?

So many are fooled by the pursuit of accolades, popularity, riches, and a heart which operates on comparative righteousness. God does not compare us to each other. We are compared to the perfect Jesus. We are only saved by grace, through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. Then good works flow out of the work of God’s Spirit in our hearts when he is Lord (in charge) and Savior (sanctifying us) of our lives.

Who sits on the throne of my life? Am I playing it safe and keeping control, or will I offer up all I have to the Lord of all?

Lord, thank you for your truth that fills us. You value who-we-are-in-you more than who-we-think-we-can-be for you. Teach me to stay humble and close to your Spirit, I pray!