True religion is not what you say, or what you say you believe, true religion is what you do for God. Jesus told us a story about people who thought they were going to go heaven but after they died they did not go to heaven. These people thought that they had the true religion but they did not. These people thought that what they were doing was for God but it was not.
Let us listen to the story that Jesus told us:
Goortii Wiilka Aadanahu ammaantiisa ku yimaado, isaga iyo malaa’igaha oo dhan, markaasuu carshiga ammaantiisa ku fadhiisan doonaa. Quruumaha oo dhan ayaa hortiisa lagu soo ururin doonaa oo wuxuu u kala sooci doonaa mid mid sida adhijirku u kala sooco idaha iyo riyaha. Idaha wuxuu joojin doonaa midigtiisa, riyahana bidixdiisa.
Markaasaa Boqorku kuwa midigtiisa jooga ku odhan doonaa, Kaalaya, kuwa Aabbahay barakeeyeyow, oo dhaxla boqortooyada tan iyo aasaaskii dunida laydiin diyaargareeyey. Waayo, waan gaajooday oo cuntaad i siiseen, waan harraadsanaa oo waad i waraabiseen, qariib baan ahaa oo waad i soo dhoweeyseen, waan qaawanaa oo dhar baad i huwiseen, waan bukay oo waad i soo booqateen, xabsi baan ku jiray oo waad ii timaadeen.
Markaasaa kuwa xaqa ahu u jawaabi doonaan iyagoo leh, Sayidow, goormaannu ku aragnay adigoo gaajaysan oo aannu cunto ku siinnay, ama adigoo harraadsan oo aannu ku waraabinnay? Goormaannu ku aragnay adigoo qariib ah oo aannu ku soo dhowaynay ama adigoo qaawan oo aannu wax ku huwinnay? Goormaannu ku aragnay adigoo buka ama adigoo xabsi ku jira oo aannu kuu nimid?
Markaasaa Boqorkii u jawaabi doonaa oo ku odhan doonaa, Runtii waxaan idinku leeyahay, In alla intaad u samayseen mid ka mid ah walaalahaygan u yaryar, waad ii samayseen.
Markaasuu kuwa bidixdiisa jooga ku odhan doonaa, Kuwa yahow inkaaranu, iga taga oo gala dabka weligiis ah kan Ibliiska iyo malaa’igihiisa loo diyaargareeyey. Waayo, waan gaajooday, cuntona ima aydnaan siin, waan harraadsanaa, imana aydnaan waraabin. Qariib baan ahaa, imana aydnaan soo dhowayn, waan qaawanaa, dharna ima aydnaan huwin, waanan bukay oo xabsi ku jiray oo ima aydnaan soo booqan.
Iyaguna markaasay u jawaabi doonaan oo ku odhan doonaan, Sayidow, goormaannu ku aragnay adigoo gaajaysan ama harraadsan ama qariib ah ama qaawan ama buka ama xabsi ku jira oo aannu ku kalmayn waynay?
Markaasuu u jawaabi doonaa oo ku odhan doonaa, Runtii waxaan idinku leeyahay, In alla intaad u samayn weydeen mid ka mid ah kuwan u yaryar, anigana waad ii samayn weydeen.
Kuwanuna waxay geli doonaan taqsiirta weligeed ah, kuwa xaqa ahuse waxay geli doonaan nolosha weligeed ah.” – Matayos 25: 31-46
TRUE RELIGION IS HELPING THE WIDOWS AND THE ORPHANS
- Do you see your enemy in need? Pray for them.
- Do you see your enemy hungry? Feed them.
- Do you see your enemy thirsty? Give them water.
This is true religion.
There are many orphans and widows in the world. Some are alone and helpless. They may be from a different family or clan but they are human beings made in the image of God.
God says:
“Oo Ilaah nin buu ka abuuray araggiisa, Ilaah araggiisa ayuu ka abuuray isaga; lab iyo dhaddig ayuu abuuray.” – Bilowgii 1:27
True religion is helping the orphans and the widows. True religion is feeding the hungry and giving water to the thirsty.
God says:
“Cibaado daahir ah oo aan nijaas lahayn Ilaaha Aabbaha ah hortiisa waxay tahay in la xannaaneeyo agoonta iyo carmallada markay dhib ku jiraan, iyo in layska dhawro wasakhda dunida.” – Yacquub 1:27
JOHN BRADFOR DIED CARING FOR PEOPLE
In the year 1555 there was a man named John Bradford who lived in England. John Bradford was a Pastor of a Protestant church and at that time the Roman Catholics were persecuting and killing some of the Protestants. John cared for the sick and the hungry and he believed in the God of the Bible. John Bradford was killed for his faith in Jesus Christ.
John Bradford was thrown into prison because he believed that the Bible was the true Word of God. While he was in prison he continued to teach people what was written in the Bible. He also gave people money while in prison so that they could buy food.
The prison guards let John go out of the prison so that he could visit the sick people from his church. The government asked John to stop believing what was written in the Bible or he would die. John refused to stop believing in what the Bible said. The government sentenced John Bradford to death.
Early the next morning at 4am the prison guards brought John to a place where they were going to burn him at the stake. Many people came to watch him die for his faith. Before he died John cried out to the people who came to watch and pray for him. This is what he said: “England! Turn away from your sins. Ask God to forgive you. Be sorry for what you have done. Do not worship idols. Do not believe in false teachers. Do not allow them to deceive you with their lies.”
There was another man who died beside John that day. This other man also believed in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. John turned to his new friend beside him who was also about to die and said: “Be happy brother. Tonight we will be feasting with the Lord in heaven.” And then they both died.
SUFFERING COMES FROM SERVING GOD
Sometimes we will suffer when we serve God by doing good things for others. Those who follow the world hate those who follow God. You cannot love the world and love God at the same time. If you love the world you will hate God. If you love the world and what it has to offer you will hate those who want to follow God.
If someone wants to control a country he might get an army and start fighting others and start killing anyone who stands in his way. But the children of God win the hearts of the people by caring for them and helping them. Children of God are concerned about serving God and helping others.
Jesus wants us to help and care for the widows and the orphans. God wants us to help and care for those in need. He wants us to pray for our enemies; He wants us to forgive those who sinned against us; He wants us to love and care for all people.
Jesus tells us many stories about many people who helped and cared for each other. He tells us stories where people care and help their enemies.
And then Jesus tell us to “Tag oo sidaas oo kale yeel” – Luke 10:37