60 cents

ABC News reported from Zambia last night. In that poor African nation, 1 in 6 children die before reaching age 5. Parents do not name their new-born child for at least a week because so many babies die. A leading cause of infant death is infection at the site of the umbilical stump because the mother does not have a sterile tool to cut the cord and birthing supplies. A kit counting just 60 cents could save the baby! By contrast, this past Sunday I held a little boy at church who was born with a condition that has required high tech care at John Hopkins Hospital. I am sure that caring for little Eddie has required, at the very least, hundreds of thousands of dollars.

How I thank God that I live in a nation of such abundant resources that a little boy like Eddie can be cared for, that his life can be saved. And I wonder what responsibility I have for the children of Zambia? or Afghanistan? or urban Newark, for that matter! The simplest solution is to close my eyes to the needs of the suffering and enjoy my life to the full pretending that I am superior or more deserving than those in some other place. Pride is such an ugly sin! Or, feeling some stirring of care, I might dismiss stories like the one about the 60 cent baby saving medical kit thinking, "So what can I really do? Anything I would or could do is just a drop in the bucket." And, in that, I would miss the heart of God. It is true that I cannot directly do very much to effect infant mortality rates in Africa, but I can be, no make that, must be, responsive to the leading of God's Spirit about caring for others. Compassion starts in my own family, reaches out to my town, and reaches to the world. It must be a part of my politics, my prayers, and my choices of use of the resources I control.

Jesus told a man who was inquiring about how to please God that there were just two commands - "Love God with your whole being, and love your neighbor like you love yourself." The man's response was, "Who is my neighbor?" That was my question while watching that ABC news story, too! In reply the Lord told about a man who was attacked and beaten by robbers on a remote road. A religious worker and then a priest came by but for unspecified reasons they both avoided getting involved with the man, who was near death. Then along came a man from Samaria (considered inferior religiously and morally by people in Jesus' day) who saw the wounded man. "Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins, telling him, ‘Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here.’

"Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?" Jesus asked. The man replied, "The one who showed him mercy." Then Jesus said, "Yes, now go and do the same." (Luke 10:34-37, NLT)

Meeting human needs is no simple or easy task, but it is our calling as sons of God. Really making life better for others goes beyond sending $30 each month to Save The Children! That is a good thing to do, but not if it is just a way to soothe our conscience, a token act of neighborliness! Believers, we need to examine our lives with the help of the Spirit to discover all the ways that we take advantage of our position to enrich ourselves at the expense of others. We need to pray for those who set our national policies and vote for men and women who will act in godly ways towards the poor. We need to teach God's ways to others so that they can live in a way that invites His prosperity and maximizes their ability to enjoy the provisions He has prepared in this world.

I pray daily for a heart that cares for my neighbors, really cares. I ask God for eyes to see the needs of the people I live with, that cross my path each day.
Truthfully, I know that some days I am more like Jesus than others! But, I know this - If I care about people, starting at my front door, I will also care for those in the far reaches of this earth.

Here's a word from the Word to ponder today. I pray, "Spirit of God, make it living truth for me."
At the Final Judgement "...the King will say to those on his right, ‘Enter, you who are blessed by my Father! Take what’s coming to you in this kingdom. It’s been ready for you since the world’s foundation. And here’s why: I was hungry and you fed me, I was thirsty and you gave me a drink, I was homeless and you gave me a room, I was shivering and you gave me clothes, I was sick and you stopped to visit, I was in prison and you came to me.’ "Then those ‘sheep’ are going to say, ‘Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?’ Then the King will say, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.’ " (Matthew 25:34-40, The Message)