Human Need
Holy God to Whom all praise is due
I stand in awe of You”
I have been an urban missionary for over 5 years, and day by day, I cannot help but to be struck by the tremendous amount of human need all around, and the seemingly atmosphere like everyone is asleep. I remember asking a few friends months ago, “Does it feel like everyone is sleeping?”
This is something that I have been meditating over for a while, and now I feel is the time to share it with you, especially in light of the recent events in Haiti.
Six out of seven days a week, every week, I have the privilege of serving. It is not to boast, but to share that it is so incredibly important to have and rely on the Holy Spirit, because service (i.e., “volunteering”) can so easily become a work of the flesh. But when it does, it renders a dead work, and that is a danger zone. I find the same thing with overt donations. The Bible says give your alms in secret, and our Father who sees will reward us openly.(Matthew 6:4)
History has shown that when tragedy strikes (Hurricane Katrina, Ike, 9/11), at the onset people give, and it almost becomes a bidding war, and many, many want recognition for what they gave. Or they give for seemingly selfish reasons, perhaps to feel good about themselves and pat themselves on the back, and make it easier to look at themselves in the mirror even though they are living a life of compromise.
Please do not misunderstand. I am not judging. I am not suggesting that giving is bad. There are needs that absolutely must be met. The financial provision is necessary and essential to the rebuilding of economic infrastructure, and the meeting of everyday survival needs, especially in a crisis situation.
But what I am saying, is be careful that the focus is right.
Because in the flesh, eventually the novelty wears off, and life goes on, especially if you weren’t directly personally affected, and the fact is, most people go back to living the same way as before (again, if they were not directly personally affected).
Consider for a moment that there are many people who are going through their own personal Haiti, in their own personal lives right now.
Many are trapped under rubble and buildings of bondage and tradition.
And no one sees them, no one hears them, they may be able to stick out only maybe a foot or a hand here or there. Some of them have even lost their lives, because “buildings” have fallen on them.
Consider the paradox of donating a million dollars and then spitting on your neighbor.
I was speaking to a 12-year old last week about what happened in Haiti, and she mentioned, “it is not the time to feel sorry for these people, it is time to pray.” That was one of the most profound statements that I had heard, because of the fact that she could recognize that emotion alone is not going to carry this through and emotion alone is not going to have any long-term effect.
Shortly thereafter, the next day, I was on my way to one of the homeless outreaches, and as I made my way down the train platform, I was pushed, shoved, stepped on, bumped into, etc., all in a matter of 5 minutes. No one, not one, said excuse me, I’m sorry, anything. In fact, I was the one who was saying those things, even though I was the offended party.
Let us not be ignorant or blind.
The Bible says that the Son of man will come like a thief in the night. No man knows the hour. (Matthew 24:44)
Those people who lost their lives in Haiti, and in countless other tragedies, just as well as in situations in our everyday lives, woke up that morning and were living life like they normally would. And immediately something changed. That could happen to any of us.
Be ready.
Get right today. Today is the day of salvation.
Depart from evil and do good.
Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
You don’t have to stay there, you don’t have to live in compromise.
You don’t have to worship idols.
You don’t have to be buried in religion or in “going to church and not bearing any fruit.”
You have a Maker, a Father, a Friend,
a Saviour, a Comforter, a Redeemer.
Yes, what happened in Haiti was very, very real, and we should all do whatever we can to help.
But, let us not miss the illustration of Haiti, and how it applies to our own lives.
Let us not sleep any longer… “Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.” (Luke 12:43)
My prayer is that when human need and the need for Compassion abounds (and it is abounding now!), that we will arise and answer the call, completely relying on the Lord to equip us and give us everything we need to do that which He has called us to do. And He will, because He is faithful not only to us but to His work!
Praise the Living God!
