2:114 – The Needs Of The One Outweigh The Needs Of The Group…Sometimes

#faithbites #faithjourney needs

You may be reading this title and think I have the say wrong. That it should be the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few or the one. I always think of the scene in Star Trek II, where Spock and have an amazing moment. But today, I mean it the way it was written.

My wife often gets mad at me when we go to dinner or events. I’m always leaving to go help someone, talk to someone or give someone my time because I think I can be of service. She always says I’m going off and leaving her. I do it all the time to people I love. The reason isn’t that I dont love them, I do it because I know they will be fine, and others need my attention.

Sure, there is a little selfishness, because I want to be seen helping, but that’s not the primary factor. I have been working on this, not because others don’t need my help but to be sensitive to how others feel.

Jesus gave us two parables that relate directly to this.

Scripture

• “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. – Luke 15:4-7
• Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” – Luke 15:8-9

Reflection

Both of these parables tell us that we should use our efforts to save the one who is lost. The sinner, the down trodden, the one who needs our help.

This doesn’t mean we don’t love the 99 sheep who are protected or that we don’t need the other 9 coins we have in our coin purse. Those are all valuable, loved, and needed. The difference is that they are already protected, already valued, and already saved.

We need to go out and save everyone we can as God loves all of his children.

This is difficult as the 99 may feel they aren’t loved as much. As Christians we need to still show them love while putting our energy into the lost one. As people, we have limited energy, God’s love is all encompassing and eternal. He can love those who are saved and those who need to be saved.

Charge

This is a tricky one as it requires balance. Look for the lost sheep or lost coin. Put your energy into bringing them to the Lord. At the same time, don’t forgot those who are already saved. Make sure they still feel your love and remind them of our Father’s Love.

Prayer

Lord of All, help us to remember that you love of all. The sheep who follow the Shepard and the sheep who is lost. Remind us that you have the power to love us and you love us even when you are spending energy to bring more into the flock. Help us to translate that in our actions with our loved ones and as well as those we can help to find you. In Your glorious name, Amen.