Parking Lots to Pathways: Socially Responsible

This sermon was prepared and preached by Pastor Mike Rose at First Federated Church in Des Moines,
Iowa, on Sunday, February 24, 2008.
Copyright © 2008, First Federated Church

Why would he do that? - That’s the question many were asking of Bill Gates, founder and soon-to-be
former CEO of Microsoft. Still in his prime, with a growing, profitable company and billions of dollars at
his disposal, people were left scratching their heads when Gates announced that he would retire, stepping
aside as head of the company he founded.

It wasn’t that Gates had decided to retire that was so perplexing, but rather what he announced he would
be retiring to. Instead of retiring to a yacht, or a tropical island where he could be waited on hand and
foot, Gates announced he would retire to give his entire energy to philanthropy, being personally
involved in the lives of the most needy people on earth.

Just in case you need a definition, philanthropy is a fancy word for “giving your money away to help
others.”

Again the question is asked, why would a man who could live out the best years of his life in absolute
extravagant luxury, choose to spend it using his wealth to help those in need?

His answer shocked me. He stated that as he grew up, his mother made a statement over and over again,
that influenced him greatly. Mrs. Gates said: “Bill, to whom much is given, much shall be required” (Bill
shade, Changing Your Game Plan from Success to Significance, Zondervan). I don’t know if Mrs. Gates
ever told Bill where that came from, or if he knows today, but he stated that it affected him greatly in his
decision.

Many of us know where that statement came from. It was spoken by Jesus and is recorded in Luke 12:48.
So the question is, do those who have been blessed greatly, have any responsibility for those who
haven’t?

As Christians, is our responsibility to our church and families only? Or do we have a bigger
responsibility, both individually and corporately for our community and even the world?

The Bible teaches that we have a bigger responsibility. In our discipleship model it’s titled, Socially
Responsible: reaching out to others with works of service in Jesus name.

In the Bible it’s called caring for the orphan, widow, prisoner, sick, poor or stranger, including those
who are not part of the family of God.

So today, we’re going to spend a few minutes considering our responsibilities to others, and the place that
has in the spiritual growth continuum.

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I. The Biblical, Big Picture

Matthew 5:13,14,16, NKJV - 13“You are the salt of the earth … (Agent of preservation) 14“You are the
light of the world…. (A light to help others see truth) 16Let your light so shine before men, that they may
see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

These comments were spoken by Jesus and directed to followers of Jesus. Please notice how they are
spoken: Verses 13 and 14 –“you are” – not, you should be, ought to be, should think or pray about being.

If you are a follower of Jesus, then you are the salt and light of the earth, and according to verse 16, that
salt and light is experienced through your good works toward others that glorify (call attention to and
place in a good light) your Father in heaven.

Let’s take a moment to define the term “Socially Responsible,” and then we’ll look into scripture to see
what instruction it may have concerning this issue.

• Social = community, public, shared, collective.

• Responsibility = liability, accountability, duty

When we think of Social Responsibility we are talking about community liability, public accountability,
shared or collective duty. In the context of Matthew 5, this is focused on our fellow man with the intent
that God’s grace and goodness be seen through us who follow Christ by meeting the needs of others.

II. Biblical Evidence for Social Responsibility.

A. The widow and orphan: James 1:27, New Living Translation – 27

Pure and genuine religion in the
sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the
world corrupt you.

You’ve heard me speak negatively about “religion,” and yet here we find it in the Bible. The
“religion” that I speak negatively against is the man-made institution. The word here comes from
the Greek thrace-ki'-ah, and means ceremonial observance – an act of worship.

So James is saying: 27Pure and genuine (worship) religion in the sight of God the Father means caring
for orphans and widows in their distress …

So what is meant by “care for?” What might be some things that would distress orphans and widows? –
Shelter, food, clothing, protection, education, health care – the list is endless.

B. The Poor, Needy, Stranger, Prisoner:

Matthew 25:31-40, NLT - 31“But when the Son of Man (Jesus) comes in His glory, and all the angels with
Him, then
He will sit upon His glorious throne.
32
All the nations will be gathered in His presence, and He will separate the people as a shepherd
separates the sheep from the goats.
33
He will place the sheep at His right hand and the goats at His left.

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34
“Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the
Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world.
35
For I was hungry, and you fed Me. I was thirsty, and you gave Me a drink. I was a stranger, and you
invited Me into your home.
36
I was naked, and you gave Me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for Me. I was in prison, and you
visited Me.’
37
“Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see You hungry and feed You? Or
thirsty and give You something to drink?
38
Or a stranger and show You hospitality? Or naked and give You clothing?
39
When did we ever see You sick or in prison and visit You?’
40
“And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these My brothers and
sisters, you were doing it to Me!’

Do you see the expectation from Jesus that those who follow Him will be people who understand that life
is not all about them, but they have a responsibility to care for others?

C. The World in General – The Body of Christ Specific

Galatians 6 – The Apostle Paul gives instructions about bearing one another’s burdens and in verse 10 he
writes this: 10Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to
those in the family of faith.

First, consider the phrase “… whenever we have opportunity …” – Be careful not to hear whenever it is
convenient for me, for that is not what Paul is saying.

“Whenever we have opportunity” is when we come across a situation that we can do something to help
one in need.

Remember the parable of the Good Samaritan? Luke 10:29-37 – A lawyer asked Jesus what was needed
to inherit eternal life.

Jesus asked: “what is written in the law?” – the man replied: “You shall love the Lord your God with
all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as
yourself.”

Jesus said: “do it” - but the man “… wanting to justify himself said … And who is my neighbor.” So
Jesus taught him and today us, who our neighbor is.

There was a man who was attacked by thieves, they beat him, took his cloths and money and left him
for dead in a ditch.

A priest happened by and saw the man. (Did he have opportunity?) But he went to the other side of
the road and went on about his business.

A Levite came upon the scene. (Did he have opportunity?) He stopped for a moment and looked, but
then he went to the other side of the road left the man.

A Samaritan discovered the man in need. (Did he have opportunity?) He went to the man, gave him
immediate help, placed him on his donkey, took him to a safe place, gave the innkeeper money to
help the man and said, when I return I will pay what is owed.

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 Now after telling this parable Jesus asked “… which of these three was neighbor to him?” And the
man said: “He who showed mercy on him.”

And Jesus said: “Go and do likewise.”

What is Jesus teaching here? The same thing Paul is teaching in Galatians 6:10 - 10Therefore, whenever
we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone …

We have a Social Responsibility to our fellow man. A responsibility to do good, to help the poor and
needy, to provide for the widow, to visit the sick and the prisoner, to defend the orphan.

And this responsibility is for all mankind, but as Paul writes, even more so for … to those in the family
of faith.

Conclusion

For too long, we in the conservative, evangelical church have thought of spiritual maturity as being about
Bible reading, prayer, church attendance, tithing, etc. … and certainly those all have their place.

But, by and large, we’ve left something out – our responsibility for and to our fellow man.

Many have the attitude: Let the government programs take care of that. Let the bleeding heart liberals
deal with that. Let them go without. It’s probably because of their sin that they’re in the that condition
anyway.

We can say those things, or simply shut our eyes to what’s going on around us, but it does not erase the
fact that the responsibility is ours and part of our maturing in the faith consists of our accepting and
participating in that responsibility.

Neither you nor I can fix all of the ills of man, but we can help one person in need – help one child who is
orphaned – spend time visiting with one elderly widow.

We don’t have to save the world. Salvation is in the Lord’s hands. But we are called to be His hands,
His feet, His mouth piece, His help for others in their time of need.

Putting this into action:

Unlike other messages in this series, I’m not going to spell out several action plans for you to follow –
WHY?

Because each of you knows someone you can reach out to, and I don’t want my list to trump what you
already know God wants you to do.

I’m simply going to challenge you to open your eyes to the needs around you, ask God when, how and
how much He wants you to be involved. Then Do It!

But will remind you of one very important item. Despite all of the social ills that plague our world, the
greatest one still remains the need for people to acknowledge Jesus as Savior and Lord.

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Sharing Christ with others is the most important socially responsible thing you can do.

Matthew 16:26, NKJV - 26For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own
soul?

Just remember, most of the time, before Jesus imparted spiritual truth, He met physical needs. Is it any
wonder so many followed after Him and gave Him a hearing.

Social Responsibility, along with:

• Financially faithful
• Family centered
• Morally pure
• Biblically measured
• Passionately committed to Jesus

… is the pathway and individual mile-markers on the spiritual growth journey.

The First Federated Church copyright, above, is for the sermon itself, not for any items quoted in the sermon, unless otherwise
stated. All quoted items are done so in good faith, and the source is attributed when it is known.

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