Just returned from a week's vacation at a Cabo resort.
Enjoyed every minute with friends, and a beautiful place to stay.
Upon my return I heard a talk that most of us do not connect with the poor. Now just the fact that I was able to go on this vacation is evidence that I am not poor.
I saw many poor, and used the services of many of them. The maid, the waiters at the restarants and the pool, bus drivers and doormen. I saw them, but didn't connect.
Now I enjoy going on vacation as much as the next guy but realize we are supposed to be doing more than just using the poor, we are to help them.
Not sure what it is that I am to do, but am thinking about it.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Friday, April 30, 2010
Helping the disadvantaged
Randy Alcorn's blog at RandyAlcorn.blogspot.com, and his ministry Eternal Perspectives has good information on how we can be supportive to the disadvantaged.
We are all called to love our neighbor. Our neighbor includes the unreached, unfed, unborn,uneducated, unreconciled, unsupported people of the world. What action are you taking to love your neighbor? World Vision, Samaritans Purse, Habitat for Humanity, Convoy of Hope, are just a few organizations that are resources to use. Also, personally helping your neighbor, and those in your community who fall in those catagories is a rewarding way to go. When we can personally help someone it not only helps them but we also benefit.
Try it, you will like it.
We are all called to love our neighbor. Our neighbor includes the unreached, unfed, unborn,uneducated, unreconciled, unsupported people of the world. What action are you taking to love your neighbor? World Vision, Samaritans Purse, Habitat for Humanity, Convoy of Hope, are just a few organizations that are resources to use. Also, personally helping your neighbor, and those in your community who fall in those catagories is a rewarding way to go. When we can personally help someone it not only helps them but we also benefit.
Try it, you will like it.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Second greatest commandment
I am in the process of reading Richard Stearns book, The Hole in our Gospel.
In this book he gives a good explanation that God expects us to take care of our neighbor. In the Bible, in Matthew 22:34-40 Jesus instructs us that the greatest commandment is to love God and the second greatest is to love our neighbor as ourselves.
This loving is to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and bring justice to the poor. We who have more than we need are encouraged, no required to do these things for those who have less than they need.
There isn't a shortage of food, water, medicine, or materials for shelter, it just isn't distributed properly. That is our responsibility to take care of the inequity. Most poor are that way because they haven't had the opportunities that the rest of us have had. If we share, then all will be able to have at least the necessities of life. This isn't socialism, but just loving our neighbor.
In our world today we have available to us information on who the needy are. They can be in our community, our country, and those around the world. If we ignore them we will be held accountable for their suffering. We can give of our time our goods and our finances, but we must give.
There are very severe consequences for those who know of those in need and don't meet the need. Be careful where you give that the gifts will be used wisely.
In this book he gives a good explanation that God expects us to take care of our neighbor. In the Bible, in Matthew 22:34-40 Jesus instructs us that the greatest commandment is to love God and the second greatest is to love our neighbor as ourselves.
This loving is to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and bring justice to the poor. We who have more than we need are encouraged, no required to do these things for those who have less than they need.
There isn't a shortage of food, water, medicine, or materials for shelter, it just isn't distributed properly. That is our responsibility to take care of the inequity. Most poor are that way because they haven't had the opportunities that the rest of us have had. If we share, then all will be able to have at least the necessities of life. This isn't socialism, but just loving our neighbor.
In our world today we have available to us information on who the needy are. They can be in our community, our country, and those around the world. If we ignore them we will be held accountable for their suffering. We can give of our time our goods and our finances, but we must give.
There are very severe consequences for those who know of those in need and don't meet the need. Be careful where you give that the gifts will be used wisely.
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