| | What is our personal responsibility when things get tough? It’s our first instinct, even common sense, to hold back, take it easy, take care of yourself first. But I am reminded of a dialogue in Fiddler on the Roof, Beggar: Alms for the poor, alms for the poor . . . Lazar: Here, Reb Nahum, is one kopek. Beggar: One kopek? Last week you gave me two kopeks. Lazar: I had a bad week. Beggar: So, if you had a bad week, why should I suffer? Of course, that passage is supposed to be funny, because as a beggar, he should just be grateful for any charity he can get. But charity, where it meets real needs, indeed suffers when givers have less money than last year. For instance, the Southern Baptists’ mission board cannot afford to send nearly as many missionaries as before, even though the harvest has never been riper, and they have more qualified applicants than ever. I imagine other organizations that are trying to bring a little blessing to the world are having similar difficulties. So I believe that we have a responsibility, even when we are having difficult times, to give financially all the more, because there are so many people suffering far more difficulty than we. This principle also applies to prayer. When I am suffering a little, I never forget to pray for my alleviation. But I believe that instead, it should move me to pray for those suffering even more than I am. A dear friend, Linda, first told me about practicing this. This kind of prayer reminder may be especially applied to today’s global economy—we may want to pray we still have retirement, but should we not pray all the more for those who don’t know when they may eat next? So, I challenge you, and myself—pray for the suffering around the world as much as your own. To anyone serious about the cheerful giving God calls for in the Bible, dig a little deeper and give a little more to meet the intensified needs of this suffering world. Don’t know where to pray or give? Locally, there are churches, food pantries/homeless shelters, hospitals, nursing homes, and teen mentoring. Maybe you can give time rather than money to these. Internationally, there are humanitarian relief organizations (World Vision, Red Cross, Salvation Army, and World Relief, to name a few), and mission organizations (SBC’s Cooperative Program, Serving in Mission [SIM], The Navigators—again, a small sample!) There are also more specialized charities like Voice of the Martyrs and Care Net. If there is any cause you feel passionate about, please let your difficulties remind you of the even greater ones facing these ministries, and not cause you to shrink away from being involved. Yes, if you give money once, you will endlessly be solicited for more. But I take that as yet more emphasis on the need for people to be willing to see the pain of others. I also take it as a blessing, for even if I don’t respond to each solicitation financially, at least I am reminded to pray. After all, no other giving is effective without prayer. So I appeal to you most of all, pray, not just for Americans’ security, but for restoration among those suffering in ways with which we are not even acquainted. Pray for the poor, the lost, the hungry, and the ministries reaching out to them. Being involved with the needs of others puts our own in perspective and, I believe, draws us nearer to the heart of God. “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, Because the LORD has anointed me To bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And freedom to prisoners” Isaiah 61:1 |
