IDEA: Because we can't do everything, this doesn't mean we can't do something. TEXT: "When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides His sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me' " (Matthew 25:31-36).

PURPOSE: To enable listeners to act even when they feel overwhelmed by other people's needs.

Jesus talks about what distinguishes sheep from goats in Matthew 25.

Do you find yourself a bit overwhelmed by this teaching of Jesus? Why?

Do you find yourself overwhelmed by all the opportunities to help that come into your life?

I. We can often keep from responding to opportunities by hiding behind the "equity principle."

If I do it for one, I have to do it for all.

If I give here, I'll have to give everywhere, and I can't do that. So we don't give or help.

For example, a panhandler on the street wants money. I don't give to him because then I feel obliged to give to every panhandler who approaches me.

When asked to give to a Christian organization, I may refuse because I think that means I have to give to all Christian organizations, and I can't afford that.

If I feed one hungry person, am I obligated to feed all the hungry of the world?

II. We're called to light a candle where we are.

We can't, by ourselves, light up the whole world, but we can brighten the corner where we are.

For example, you can't feed all the hungry people in your community, but you can connect with a poor family in your church.

You can't support all the homeless in Central America, but there are ways of connecting with two or three.

We can work with others to minister by contributing to Christian relief agencies.

III. The only thing worse than our drive to get more is the way we defend our greed.