One of the most wonderful things to me about working here at Nashville Rescue Mission is being so securely in God’s will. How do I know this? Because there are so many references to God’s love for and desire for the least of these in the Bible: the widow, the orphan, the poor, the needy, and the foreigner.  This is definitely an enduring theme in the Bible; beginning in Exodus, there are at least 114 references in the Bible to the underprivileged and more importantly, to how we should treat them. For example:

• “Do not take advantage of a widow or an orphan” (Exodus 22:22).
• “Do not deny justice to your poor people in their lawsuits” (Exodus 23:6).

We may wonder why there are needy people in the world. The Bible tells us in both the Old and the New Testaments that there will always be poor people. It may be that some are called to be poor. We know that the poor, while having physical needs, can be very rich in spiritual matters. “Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?” (James 2:5).

It is not for us to know why there are poor people, but what is very clear in the Scriptures is that we are all accountable to God for how we treat those who are less fortunate that we are. I believe that it is an extension of God’s command to Adam to serve as steward over all God’s Creation. We certainly cannot judge others for their poverty or distress; in fact, what I hear from so many of you, and what I have experienced myself, is that we all are or have been just one decision away from disaster.

I thank God for the privilege of serving you, as you so selflessly give of your time and talents to serve God by serving the poor and less fortunate among us. Whether you serve as in Guest Services, Life Recovery, Operations, or in Development or Administration, each of you has a vital role to play in supporting the overall Mission of the Mission: Providing hope for today, hope for tomorrow, and hope for eternity to the hungry, hurting, and homeless.

We certainly won’t get rich working for the Mission. In fact, for many it is a personal sacrifice. Most of you could work somewhere else for more money, and many of you work more than one job just to be able to continue to serve here. In that way, you are giving of your financial capacity to serve here, along with your gifts and talents. Your role may involve hospitality, meeting nutrition and clothing needs, case management, therapy, coaching, preaching, teaching, and/or advocacy. If you are not directly serving, you are making it possible for others to serve through your fund-raising and administrative efforts. Whatever your role, it always involves listening, loving, and sharing the hand and smile of friendship, just as the Bible commands:

• “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy” (Proverbs 31:8-9).
• “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress…” (James 1:27a).
• “Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Luke 12:33-34).

When Jesus was nearing the end of his earthly life, he had left the temple where he had been speaking to his disciples and the crowds, and he had gone to the Mount of Olives. The disciples came to Jesus privately and asked him about some of his teaching regarding the end of the age. When you read chapters 24 and 25 of Matthew, they are almost totally written in red letters, meaning that these are the words of Jesus. They are some of his last words before the Last Supper, after which he was taken away to be crucified. In Matthew 25:34-40, Jesus tells his disciples about the separation of the sheep (on his right) and the goats (on his left).

• ³⁴ “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. ³⁵ For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, ³⁶ I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
• ³⁷ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? ³⁸ When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? ³⁹ When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
• ⁴⁰ “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.’”

Nashville Rescue Mission is a wonderful place to work. It blesses my heart to see God working through and among you each and every day. I am confident that regardless of your position in this earthly life, as faithful, obedient Christ-followers and stewards of God’s Creation here on earth, you will be eternally blessed by our heavenly Father.

In Christ,

Judy