There’s a passage of scripture in Matthew that I’d like to look at.
Matthew 25:34-46 KJV Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
Now at first glance it looks like both groups that responded to Jesus responded the same. Upon closer examination though they did not. The first group repeated back what Jesus said in length. They did not abbreviate the conversation. The others did, so much that their response was in one verse.
There are a couple things that we can take away from this. The first group saw the importance of the words that Jesus spoke. They didn’t just suddenly do this, these are people that understand the importance of the Word of God. These are people that understood that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4 KJV).
Secondly they engaged in more conversation with Jesus. These were people that were used to spending time in conversation with Jesus in prayer.
Also their question implies to ask, when were we with You? The others asked when did we minister or help You. The first were more interested in relationship and being with Jesus.
Let’s make our focus on a relationship with Jesus. Spend time in the Word, spend time in prayer. Spending time with Jesus. If we do this the other things will just come naturally.
James 4:8 NET Draw near to God and he will draw near to you…
Mark 12:30 NET Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’