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Catch-22

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’ - Matthew 25:37-40

In Joseph Heller’s 1961 literary masterpiece, ‘Catch-22’, the titular concept is presented this way…

There was only one catch and that was Catch-22, which specified that a concern for one's safety in the face of dangers that were real and immediate was the process of a rational mind. Orr was crazy and could be grounded. All he had to do was ask; and as soon as he did, he would no longer be crazy and would have to fly more missions. Orr would be crazy to fly more missions and sane if he didn't, but if he were sane he had to fly them. If he flew them he was crazy and didn't have to; but if he didn't want to he was sane and had to. (p. 46, ch. 5)

In Matthew Jesus presents an interesting conundrum…a spiritual Catch-22, if you will. In the parable of the Sheep and the Goats Jesus tells the sheep they have served him when he was hungry, thirsty, needy and imprisoned. They are shocked because they don’t remember seeing him. The goats, on the other hand, did not serve him and likewise wonder when they missed him.

It’s easy for us to then assume from this that if you serve others you’re doing what Jesus wants. Here’s the catch…if you’re serving to impress Jesus or make God happy or in some way manipulate the process to assure yourself a place in heaven then you’re missing the point entirely. Those who are working out of their own power, will and effort to earn salvation apart from a relationship with Christ are just as lost as those who do nothing. Those who serve rooted in a relationship with Christ are motivated by the Spirit and not any selfish ambition to win God’s favor and so are unaware that their service is unusual or noteworthy. It would never occur to them that service might earn them something. In the end it’s not about us. It never is.

Prayer
Dear Father, thank you for accomplishing my salvation and setting me free from the guilt and shame of sin. Living in that freedom may I be a servant to your Son Jesus Christ as he is manifested in all humanity. Amen.