Feed the hungry, help the orphans, guide the widows…
How easy those phrases roll off the tongue while sitting in a comfortable home – perhaps traveling around the world, meeting friends or sitting in a Bible study. I know they did for me while living in the States. I’ve had my share of thoughts such as – why don’t they get a job, let me just write a check and let them worry about the rest, what is wrong with their government, just do something to help yourself (not this type of help yourself but you get the idea!)?
However, after living here I see the far reaching arm of poverty stretched deep into the lives of many of the people we meet on a daily basis. And there is no simple solution like telling people go get a job or grow food. Well, I guess you can tell them but without helping them find a way it’s like we are told in the Book of James:
Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
Those questions are not so much a part of my thought process any more because I’ve seen the hungry, the orphan and the widow and the struggle they have to simply survive each day. I pray God continues to help me be wise in my decisions, my words and my actions so others can SEE the love of God in action, not just told about it.