How Far?

How far should we go? How much should we help? Lately I have been thinking about how we help people in need. People we know that are hurting. People that we have never met that have substantial needs that we can meet and choose not to.

I gave a bellringer to my class. The question was "What can you do to help Haiti?" I had one student raise his hand and ask, "what if you don't think we should help Haiti?" I told him to explain why he thought that. His answer was that we shouldn't help them because they have never done anything for us. I told him he was entitled to his opinion, but it bothered me. It bothered me that myself and a rising generation tends to look for what we can gain from helping others. It is always a give-take. Or at least an IOU situation. I will help you, but you better remember that I did. What does God say?

It's awesome how He is showing my things that tie in to my life and how I live it out. I finished Hosea a couple days ago and decided to read Amos. I have never read Amos and considered it one of those books that can be noted in the bible but not really high up on the list. It starts out with Amos basically calling people out on their sin. He talks about how everyone is not really doing what they should especially God's people who actually know better. How true is THAT statement???

In chapter 5 it talks about forgetting and oppressing the poor for our personal gain.
"You trample on the poor and force him to give you grain. Therefore, though you have built stone mansions, you will not live in them; though you have planted lush vineyards, you will not drink their wine. For I know how many are your offenses and how great your sins. You oppress the rightgeous and take bribes and you deprive the poor of justice in the courts." Amos 5:11-12

So what kind of excuse do we use to not meet other's needs? They don't deserve it? Do we deserve the grace that God has given us? Do we deserve salvation? Or how about the fear that any money I give or time I spent will be wasted or won't make a difference? Well the money I spent on the five times I ate out in the last week sure didn't go toward a better cause. Maybe a larger waistline. The time I spent watching tv or playing Mario Brothers didn't release a burden for someone who was hurting. So anything I offer will be a difference from what I am doing now. What about "they got into poverty, they can get themselves out"? Really??? What about the times that I constantly get myself into sin? And God freely forgives me?

As more and more of the pieces come together for what God has in store I am becoming more aware of what my life should reflect. Will it be a perfect of example of who God is? I hope so. I say all this with conviction and then I find myself stumbling again. I get back up. I pray the damage I do is minimized by the reconstruction. How far should we go? I am preparing my heart for more than I think it can take. I am asking the Holy Spirit to break me down and show me a way that involves intense sacrifice on my part to meet the needs of others who are so lost. I pray for God's love and strength when I feel like I can't go on and I can't stand under the weight. I pray for opportunities to speak and be silent and to simply go where He goes, say what He says and pray what He prays. As far as it takes.

Where You Go I'll Go - Jesus Culture - This is an amazing song. Listen to it and simply make it a prayer of worship and promise.