It's interesting this political season, with the promotion of the battle of the "haves" and the "have nots." Wealthy people are depicted as cold-hearted, cruel, and only interested in taking from others; people that deserve to be sacked by those who "have not." At the same time, we're told that we, as Americans, only take from the rest of the world, with many forgetting that we're not the only developed nation in the world.
Despots and murderous dicators hold citizens at bay with threats of death, slavery, and starvation to get what they want, many times diverting the aid that was meant for the hungry to themselves, their friends, and their troops. Fortunately, there are aid organizations that can get past the local problems.
Other dictators promise a "Robin Hood" style government, taking from the "haves" and give to the "have nots," only to perpetuate their own wealth while keeping an uneducated, often illiterate population in poverty.
Aid organizations can and do work with governments to ensure and verify that water, food, medication, and other resources get to where they are needed most to provide much needed care to those in need.
In our current political discourse, am I to understand that Republicans are the only ones with wealth and want to starve others for their own gain? That Democrats are only looking out for others and have no financial interests? Neither is accurate.
We as Christ followers have been admonished by celebrities, chastising us for our lack of care for others. We must all be careful of who we are admonished by - many of the popular celebrities who have "awakened" the church give little, if any, resources directly to those with the most need (If you don't believe me, do a little research. Note that the misguidance of others is not an excuse to be inactive in providing aid to others).
Let me propose that the world's economic, political, sociological problems are: A greed thing. As long as some are in power, they will be tempted and unchecked without a clear direction on a moral compass and accountability. Those of us who do not have political power are also susceptible to greed, no matter how much wealth we have or don't have. Those of us who "have" are just as susceptible to greed as those who have much, much more material wealth. Likewise, I firmly believe there are philanthropists that freely give and live well within their potential lifestyle.
We are sickened, as humans, by greed and self interest. No socialistic system will eliminate poverty, hunger, and/or disease. In fact, we know from observing other political systems that, in many if not all cases, the people are worse off and freedoms are quite limited. Those of us who have much compared to the rest of the world have been wooed into a theology of blessing and safety. I'll be the first to admit that I continue to wrestle with confusing blessings (i.e. the material) with blessing.
How are we to live? What does God expect of me? Am I keeping the poor at a safe distance?
Christ has no body on earth but yours, no hands but yours, no feet but yours. Yours are the eyes through which Christ's compassion for the world is to look out; yours are the feet with which He is to go about doing good; and yours are the hands with which He is to bless us now. (St. Teresa of Avila)
Our charge is to both proclaim and embody the gospel so that others can see, hear, and feel God's love in tangible ways.
- Are there service projects we can do individually, as a family, and as a team?
(Feed My Starving Children, Union Gospel Mission service, Bridging, mission trips, serving locally at a food shelf are a few examples)
- Do I have a neighbor that needs, or could use, a helping hand?
(make a pan of lasagne and have them over for dinner, rake their yard, have a conversation, help watch the kids for a night out)
- How am I funding reputable aid organizations?
(Where my money goes demonstrates where my heart is. Is it all for me, or can I use it to help others? Sponsor a child or family. Invest in a share of a water well or livestock. Provide funding for a microloan.)
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