Why do Christians feel obligated to help strangers?
As Christians, we are urged to live a life that reflects the characteristics of Christ; a life of generosity and kindness. The Bible gives us a road map to behaviour that characterises a true follower of Jesus, and the apostle Paul expounds this in Ephesians when he calls us to ‘be kind and compassionate to one another’. This kind of help, bestowed equally upon loved-ones and strangers alike, does not come from obligation. It comes from a desire to follow God-given directives, designed to help people live a complete life in which the needs of all are met. And so we reach out to our neighbours and help those who need a hand or a meal. We are given a beautiful reminder of why Christians act generously towards others in the parable of the sheep and the goats, which is found in Matthew chapter 25, verses 34-37. ‘I was hungry and you fed me, I was thirsty and you gave me a drink, I was homeless and you gave me a room, I was shivering and you gave me clothes, I was sick and you stopped to vi
