Dealing With Those "Beneath" Us

When St. Paul’s School of Theology in Kansas City sought an individual to become president, a search committee was appointed to seek out the best possible choice. They finally narrowed the list of applicants to one name. The committee traveled to visit the church where the candidate pastored. The candidate’s credentials appeared to be outstanding, but the committee decided to take a rather novel approach: they visited with the church custodian. They reasoned that one of the greatest tests of a man’s spiritual integrity is how he treats those who are “beneath” him. And so, William MacElvaney became the President of St. Paul’s School of Theology on the strength of the strong recommendation of the church custodian.
Suppose that, before you were allowed to enter heaven, interviews were conducted with “incidental people” you had met in life who were beneath your station. How many recommendations do you think you would have from the homeless people who sought your help, the shoeshine man at the bus station, the baggage handlers at the airport, the maids in your hotel or the waiters in the restaurants where you ate?  Would any of them have reason to give you a positive recommendation? Would any of those who daily expressed needs of some kind from among your acquaintances, your family or your friends have anything good to say about your conduct toward them?
This is not just a minor issue of life. Paul urges us: “Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position” (Romans 12:16).  Probably the most challenging of all words on this subject come from Jesus himself.  He pictures those gathered before the entrance to God’s Eternal Kingdom while the King says to one group of them: “Depart from me...for I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’  They also will answer, ’Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison and did not help you?’ He will reply ’I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’” (Matthew 25:34-46).
As you can see, the Lord Himself does not take lightly our prideful disregard of those we seem to think are unimportant to our existence.  I think the committee was correct: the real test of our spiritual integrity is how we relate to those who are “beneath” us.
 

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