Tag: pray

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Hannah’s Prayer

One of the joys I’ve had in this life is the time I’ve spent with youth and young children. Their perspective on life is untainted, pure, and honest–at least at the youngest end of the spectrum. Our modern culture shatters innocence far too early. As a reluctant middle school pastor, I learned this years ago. Young boys and girls became men and women well before years should allow. Whether we point to technology, pornography, or both, the family unit continues to unravel from the inside out. Domestic violence is on the rise. Divorce cripples families. Children are sold at an epidemic rate into human trafficking mayhem for which we are only partially aware. Mental illness among the youth continues to rise, and suicide is seen as the only way to stop the pain for too many beautiful children of God.1

Such agony is not new to our world and not unique to our culture. Digging deep into Hebrew history, take a look at one of the heroes of the Bible: Hannah.

In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly. 1 Samuel 1:10

We are only given a few verses to understand the context for this scene. Hannah was one of two wives of Elkanah. (I’m not going to discuss polygamy.) Though he cared for her most, she was not able to have children and was aggressively looked down upon by her rival. Culturally, she was an outcast who, at best, was pitied by the world. As we wade into the story, Hannah is deeply depressed, yet faithfully worships the Lord at the temple. Showing herself in public must have been humiliating. Eli notices.

There’s a humorous twist in the plot as Eli mistook Hannah for one who was drunk. Note to self: don’t be too quick to judge! Fortunately, Eli was able to look beyond outward appearances and see that this young lady was distraught. With a simple gesture, he changed the trajectory of Hannah’s life and the direction of Hebrew history.

Eli answered, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.’ 1 Samuel 1:17

Most of the time, we read the verse above and continue along our way, but this is an extravagant statement. Eli is the High Priest. His words carry tremendous weight. In our culture, we toss words around carelessly, but Eli was not making a flippant comment to dismiss Hannah, nor was he trying to cover for his mistake. Eli was moved by her statement and was deftly attune to the prompting of the Holy Spirit. I cannot possibly explain the importance of his response. Hannah understands:

She said, “May your servant find favor in your eyes.’ Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast. 1 Samuel 1:18

Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to the mighty prophet we know as Samuel. She returned to the temple when Samuel was of age along with a bull as her sacrificial offering. She reminded Eli of their meeting years earlier, then fulfills her promise:

So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord.” And he worshiped the Lord there. 1 Samuel 1:28

She had no idea what this would ultimately mean to the people of God. There was no way she could have foreseen years into the future when Samuel would verbally hear God’s call. Eli didn’t know either. There was no band playing, no flashing lights, no haze machine setting the mood. In my imagination, it was just a typical day at the temple. Eli was going about his business accepting offerings and making sacrifices. Nothing special. He was merely doing what God called him to do, and both were faithful. They listened to the prompting of the Spirit without any promise of fame or fortune. Samuel became Eli’s very young apprentice and worshiped the Lord.

Hannah was so moved that she wrote a prayer to capture the moment (I think of it as a song). Her song is what prompted this particular entry into our discussion of serving the poor. I had to set up these few verses by providing some background. I hope you are now prepared to hear her words.

He raises the poor from the dust
and lifts the needy from the ash heap;
he seats them with princes
and has them inherit a throne of honor.

For the foundations of the earth are the Lord’s;
on them he has set the world.
1 Samuel 2:8

Oh yes, I cherry-picked the verses that speak to exalting the needy. Please forgive my laser focus on the topic. But hear Hannah’s words as someone who was rejected by society, her family, and her neighbors. In those days, perhaps even now, those with problems were seen as unrepentant sinners. There was a simple cause-effect relationship to sin. And people weren’t shy about pointing this out.

Fast-forward to the 21st century and observe our society. Many people point to those who are homeless, imprisoned, poor, and needy as those who have made unwise decisions and cast them out as a result. We’ve learned to avert our eyes from those in need, but God does not forget. His plan is to set crowns on the heads of those who call Jesus their Lord and Savior. God will set the poor beside the prince, the desperate next to the princess, he will raise the downcast.

Allow me to offer one more quick thought about the two main characters in this story, Hannah and Eli. Hannah is clearly the hero, the one we honor most in this story. She grabs the headlines and deserves the recognition for her actions. But let’s not forget Eli. As you go about your ministry today, preparing your place to receive people, making sure things are tidy and well kept, may I suggest you look at Eli in this story. Your role is just like his. Day after day, you offer your work as a pleasing sacrifice to the Lord without any knowledge of Hannah’s that might wander into your presence.

Keep up the excellent work, Eli. Now, go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.

Amen.

 

1 I’m not a fan of citing news articles, but there are many articles and volumes of data on the topic. Nonetheless, forgive me for using a Washington Post news article.

 

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I’m thankful for those who serve so well

Last night The LOT Project was overflowing with people from the surrounding community and a host of volunteers from Gospel Light Church and more. AnMed was there again to encourage and administer free flu shots as cases mount to infect some of the most vulnerable in our area. Special thanks to Bobbie Blake for organizing the effort! The food was incredible and plentiful. As my wife likes to say, “We serve an abundant God.” Indeed we do.

This particular night was just a few days before Thanksgiving. I can’t tell you how many people expressed thanks and gratitude for the kindness shown once again last night. The loving attitude is not unusual, mind you. Those who serve around Anderson pour out love and compassion to people in need every day. This is how they are wired.

Way back in Exodus, Moses conveys God’s desire for His people to live in a thriving community. The plan was unique. Unlike the neighboring regions, God wanted people to love His prized creation: people. A few verses come to mind:

Do not take advantage of the widow or the fatherless.
Do not deny justice to your poor people in their lawsuits. Exodus 22:22, 23:6

These are just two points from a long list of rules that Moses enunciated just a few chapters after receiving the Ten Commandments. While the list encourages some to become legalistic, the core of God’s plan was far from some checklist religion. In order to become distinctive from other nations, Israel would need to have rules to guide their steps. The idea was to become a community that other nations would see and have an overwhelming desire to emulate.

In our modern context, imagine a gathering of people that loved and cared for each other without reservation–a dream church for pastors. In such a church, the widow and the orphan will be part of a family. They would never be abandoned or lonely. The poor would be treated justly; in fact, it would be difficult to see people as rich and poor. People would be cared for as if they were related. Father Gregory Boyle often quotes Mother Teresa like this:

“Mother Teresa diagnosed the world’s ills in this way: we’ve just “forgotten that we belong to each other.” Kinship is what happens to us when we refuse to let that happen.’

The insight is breathtaking. What would happen if we treated everyone like family? After all, we’re all related in Christ, right?

Earlier in the day, Zoë and I were at AIM to lend a small hand to their giant operation that distributes Thanksgiving food to hundreds of families from all over the county. Next, I made a quick stop by FAVOR to grab some lunch and, once again, I got to witness servants at work, loving on people as if they were family.

By the time I got ready for bed, my heart was overflowing with joy. As I began to pray for the friends mentioned above, the list continued to grow. If I began to type the list here, this post would go on for page after page. So many caring people. My eyes started leaking as I thought about those in need being cared for by the many faithful people in our community. The names and faces kept coming to mind as I thanked God for each one.

When I see God’s plan for unity playing out in front of my eyes, how can I not be moved? I know we have a long way to go, but friends, the more we embrace one another in love, the more we remember that we belong to each other, the more God’s rules make sense. We don’t need to read the Bible like a list of dos and don’ts. We get to read the Bible as a means of understanding His infinite love and grace for His creation — that includes us!

The biblical mandate to care for the poor is just an opportunity to become more like Christ. Isn’t that what we want?

May our abundant God bless you, immeasurably!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Your brother in Christ,
Dave

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A Contemporary Parable

Shortly after publishing the last post, Seeing Jesus, three people unsubscribed to my blog. Perhaps I hit a nerve. Or maybe I’m finally speaking about some truth that needs to be exposed. I’m not the least bit offended by someone unsubscribing from this blog. Honestly, there is nothing profound about my words. Still, I enjoy the process of writing down my thoughts, and a few friends continue to encourage me, so I’m writing yet another idea for your consideration.

Before I jump into my parable, let me set the stage by providing the scripture that came to mind.

14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 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? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. James 2:14-17

I’m reminded of the Rich Mullins Screen Door song, “faith without works is like a song you can’t sing; it’s about as useless as a screen door on a submarine.”

James makes it clear; our faith provides the basis for good deeds. Faith and deeds. Zoë and I talk about the “and” requirement for meeting the needs of people across all walks of life. The need is great. We all need to lend a hand in solving many problems in our communities, but most importantly, we need to be people of action.

As I was getting ready for bed last night, I had a thought that would have kept me up writing late into the night, but I was too tired to stay up. It’s a privilege to be able to decide that I’m tired and I should go to bed, right? Earlier in the day, I was hanging around a room filled with people at Clean Start who don’t have that privilege–they don’t have that luxury.

The thought occurred to me, what if we only talked about religion but did nothing? The passage from James came to mind.

The Parable

We’ve been watching a lot of football lately. As an extravagant gift, we purchased an NFL Game Pass so we can watch an entire football game in about 45 minutes (the Condensed version). I don’t look at scores but have an algorithm that ranks games based on total points, spread, etc., so we can watch a game at night before retiring. We enjoy seeing a great game, especially one that’s close, but we do not like commercials or endless replays in super slow motion.

Now imagine a football team that met every day to discuss the rules. The last game we watched had dozens of penalties. Apparently, there needs to be a discussion about rules! Following the session on rules, the team talks about strategies, tactics, the best practices for offense and defense. I can imagine hearing the debate about defending against the run or the virtues of a long pass when the other team is caught off guard. It’s actually quite intriguing to watch. The team has all kinds of ideas, many of which have merit based on a particular scenario. But here’s the problem: all they are doing is talking about football. No one is actually on the field. The week is filled with talk. Endless talk. No action.

Now visit a local church that creates a warm, safe, and inviting gathering space for people, especially those with children. The music is invigorating. The message is captivating. Everyone is comfortable in talking about Jesus, His sacrifice, the need for salvation, repentance, and walking away from sinful temptations. Then everyone goes home. Done.

Thousands of people would not fill football stadiums to listen to someone talk about a football game. Why do thousands of people fill churches to talk about saving grace that is followed by little action?

When opportunities to serve inside the church outnumber opportunities to serve the community, I submit we have a problem. Serving in the church is great. It helps solve the logistical complexities of about 3 hours a week. Thank you for serving in the church. But if we are all about serving in the church, what have we become?

The Challenge

Do something. Anything. It doesn’t have to be something huge. It doesn’t even have to take long, but it must be something that involves loving God and loving your neighbor as yourself. Right?

Do it well and do it with all the gifts and talents that God has given you and within the time constraints that you must honor.

The Comfort

Here’s some comforting news: you’re not alone! There are hundreds of people in our County that wake up each day and wonder what they can do to make conditions better for someone else. They go to bed after a long day’s work and wake up trying to feed another family. They do simple things and great things. They are foster parents and non-profit CEOs. They are mentors, big brother, big sisters, and those that pack meals as Saturday Servants. They are all over the place, but there needs to be more.

Lord, I pray for a heart change that leads people to repentance and a great desire to love others like never before. May we be known as a people that serve and love others in ways that defy logic. Most importantly, may we honor you in all we do. May our faith lead to actions that make you smile.

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Pray With Those in Need

We need to remember the power of prayer, especially as we think of those that are living in desperate conditions. I’m sure you will agree with me that there is great power in prayer. Just last week, I heard a testimony that spoke to this power and the comfort that it brought when a handful of people stopped and prayed.

Instructions on Worship
I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.  This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus,  who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time. 1 Timothy 2:1-6

I think it’s interesting that the NIV begins this passage with the title instructions on worship. For that’s what prayer is, isn’t it? When I thought about this passage today, especially the phrase, for all people — kings and all those in authority, I began to think of people who are in need, not just the leaders in charge, all people. We read the phrase, all people, three times in this short passage, so I’m confident Paul wants us to be inclusive. There are no boundaries in Christ Jesus. He paid the price for everyone, regardless of station or level in this life.

As I begin to pray, the names and faces of several people came to mind. I had a sense of the pain that these friends must feel every day. It’s only a glimpse, a tiny portion of what they must feel every day. Their PTSD is mostly TSD. There’s not much “post” in their traumatic stress.

Then another thought occurred to me: what if we prayed with those in need? Surely it’s important to pray for our brothers and sisters, but what if we found a way to pray with them? Most churches have a prayer night or time for intercessory prayer for the people. But what would happen if we took the time to gather together, hold hands, and pray with those in need?

And so today’s post is more of a challenge than a reflection on scripture, though I hope it’s both! I do believe these actions fit the theme of the passage:

This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 1 Timothy 2:3-4

Before I end this thought, please hear the reminder that this is an “and” proposition. Moving from a community of individuals toward a real community of faith will not happen by a single action, no matter how great that one step might be. We need to pray privately and together. We need to worship alone and corporately. We need to pray for those in need and with those in need. We need to pray for city and county leaders. The idea of “and” is essential.

My friend, Chad Wright-Pittman, provided this prayer to help us remember those in need:

Loving God,
Your grace and lovingkindness
toward us in Jesus Christ is unending.
Open our eyes
to those in need around us – need of any kind –
and show us
how we might pray
with and for them
that our hearts might be changed
and your kingdom might come
in some small way,
on Earth as it is in Heaven.
Amen.
Rev. Chad Wright-Pittman

Now, may the peace of Christ be with you. May His presence be made known to you in new ways. Pass that peace onto others, even those that live on the margins and sleep on the streets.

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Serve in Secret

In the famous Sermon on the Mount, Jesus raises expectations to new heights across a wide swath of issues. The list includes murder, adultery, divorce, oaths, revenge, loving our enemies, prayer, fasting, greed, worrying, judging, and giving to the needy.

1 Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2“So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 3But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Matthew 6:1-4

As the words of Jesus wash over me this morning, I find myself sitting in quiet contemplation. The underlying assumption is that we are seeking to serve the needy in our communities. Everything in the short passage above assumes that we are actually reaching out to those in need. The point of the discourse is all about motivation, we’ll get to that point shortly, but the foundation is a people who know they are supposed to serve those in need.

I’m not sure our current culture identifies with this assertion. I know that sounds critical, but it seems our churches are filled with people that carve out an hour or so on Sundays but are so busy that they do not seek to serve the needy. We just don’t have time! Really?

Our Jewish ancestors knew they had a responsibility to the poor in the land. In a predominantly agrarian society, many were left out. Far before the world of finance and eBay, if you couldn’t make a living on the farm, you would quickly become poor. The poor were easy to identify. They lived at the mercy of those who had the margin to supply their needs.

Method Matters

Meeting someone’s immediate need is significant and essential. Jesus casts a light on the method, that is, our motivation behind such activity. The current study on serving the least, the lost, and the lonely is worthless if it is a study to draw attention to myself. While it is the last thing on my mind, the warning is vivid. Do not serve the poor to attract favorable attention.

You and I know this is the main point, but what happens if we get lost in the theme of keeping things secret?

3But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4so that your giving may be in secret. Matthew 6:3-4

Is it possible to become so intent on secrecy that we don’t talk about serving others? Have we reversed the reversal to the point that we don’t do anything? Here’s what I mean: do we stop talking about helping the needy because we’re afraid to be criticized for being self-righteous? When we stop talking about the poor, guess what happens: the poor stop being served!

When we misread Jesus’ words to the point that we stop serving others “just in case” we’re viewed as being self-serving, we have wandered into a dangerous place. Jesus never intimated that we should not help the needy. Somehow we need to announce plans to serve without becoming pious.

Father Gregory Boyle helps span the gap. If you listen to any of his talks or read his books, you will walk away with this foundational principle that defuses any hint of self-righteousness:

The measure of our compassion lies not in our service of those on the margins, but only in our willingness to see ourselves in kinship with them. The compassion of Jesus is the one we seek. The one that can stand in awe of what the poor have to carry, rather than stand judgment at how they carry it. 1

The Secret Sauce

The secret to secrecy then is to see those in need as our brothers and sisters. They are equal heirs to the throne. Equal. We are not bowing down to serve them; we are standing beside them out of love and compassion, not for any spotlight. We know there will come a day when success will not be measured in dollars or possessions. That day came when Jesus took the nails and bore our sins on the cross. His worthy sacrifice tore the veil from top to bottom and put an end to the old regime. The resurrection of Christ means that all have equal access. His life demonstrated over and over again that all lives matter to God.

By all means, serve the needy every day; serve others with a glad heart and with great joy. Lord help us to see it isn’t “us” versus “them.” Help us to see people with your eyes.

I’ll never forget the woman that spoke to me after we served breakfast for the Salvation Army. As we were getting ready to leave, she looked at me and said, “thanks for breakfast, and thanks for your smile.” That was worth more than anything in my bank account. It was a joy to hang out with the gathering for breakfast. Everyone there was welcoming and grateful. Why wouldn’t others want to join in the joy? Don’t be afraid to let others in on the secret.

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!
Serve the Lord with gladness!
Come into his presence with singing!

Know that the Lord, he is God!
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise!
Give thanks to him; bless his name!

For the Lord is good;
his steadfast love endures forever,
and his faithfulness to all generations.

Psalm 100

Lord Jesus, may we learn to serve our brothers and sisters with joy. May our kindness become contagious, so others will join until there is no one among us in need.

 

1 Father Gregory Boyle expresses this in many forms. I found this on YouTube today: [video]

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My Help and My Deliverer

Many of the psalms are attributed to King David. Frequently, we read words of desperation, prayers for help in times of trouble.

But as for me, I am poor and needy;
may the Lord think of me.
You are my help and my deliverer;
you are my God, do not delay.
Psalm 40:17

But as for me, I am poor and needy;
come quickly to me, O God.
You are my help and my deliverer;
Lord, do not delay.
Psalm 70:5

I hope we learn to hear the psalms as musical offerings that appeal to a deeper sense than mere words describe. In the two verses offered here, it’s interesting to note the phrases that are essentially the same. The words are slightly different, but the thought is clearly the same: I am poor and needy — hurry up, God, and rescue me!

The phrase “poor and needy” does not necessarily depict someone who is bankrupt. David uses this phrase several times throughout Psalms, typically preceded by, “but as for me…” Some versions of the Bible translate the word “poor” as “afflicted.” This seems to be closer to the intended meaning. The NIV Study Bible provides a note to help clarify the meaning:

Here, as often in the Psalms, “poor’ characterizes not necessarily one who has no possessions but one who is (and recognizes that he is) without resources to effect his own deliverance (or secure his own life, safety or well-being)—and so is dependent on God. 1

Given this perspective, we’re beginning to focus on the reason for reflecting on these verses today. Those who have few possessions might be considered poor, but those who cannot care for their safety or well-being are always poor.

King David recognizes his condition is hopeless without God. As the King, David had access to possessions, but all were meaningless without the presence of the Almighty. He wrote these songs to remind everyone that we’re all on the same level. We are all poor and needy without God.

When we zoom out and read 2 Samuel we see the rollercoaster David road throughout his life. This tumultuous time in history was barbaric and bloody. In David’s lifetime, the request for immediate physical rescue was very real. While we may not experience the life-or-death trama that David lived through, we are faced with eternal decisions every day.

Without Christ, we are all lost. David expresses the sense of urgency we should feel for those who have no relationship with Jesus. Those who are physically poor remind us of those who are spiritually bankrupt. As Father Gregory Boyle reminds us:

God said, ‘As I have loved you, you need to care for the widow, the orphan, the stranger,’” Boyle said. “These are the people likely to get cut off, but these people are trustworthy guides to kinship with God. 2

As we are privileged to serve the least, the lost, and the lonely, may we remember we are all poor and needy without the redeeming hope of Jesus Christ. He is our hope, our deliverer.

 

 

1 NIV Study Bible notes from Psalm 34:6

2 Morning Worship

 

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Show Love by Giving to Others

Not everyone has the capacity to provide material things for others, but the Apostle John provides this simple reminder for those who can help:

If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? 1 John 3:17

One of John’s reoccurring themes is love. I hope and pray you will invest time to get to know John, the Apostle, the human, pastor, and brother in Christ. After writing 78 blog posts on the gospel of John and his letters, I feel like I know him personally. When he asks, how can the love of God be in someone, he is speaking from an in-depth, personal knowledge from serving Jesus in person for something like 1,000 days. His words come from a heart that is intimately aware of God.

Here’s some context to consider. John’s first letter was to warn the church about those who are trying to divide it into factions that propose false doctrine. He used the term “liar” to identify those who would suggest that Jesus was not fully man and fully God. There were those in the church that were woefully misguided and were leading many astray. John’s words are strong and significant yet loving and kind. He is trying to instill what Father Gregory Boyle calls, radical kinship.

Back to the text at hand.

No Pity

There are times when some English translations are not so helpful. In this case, the NIV translates the original phrase to include, “has no pity,” but most of the other translations follow the Greek a bit closer (I looked at 59 other translations):

But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, 1 John 3:17

The idea of “closes his heart against him” carries a lot more weight in my mind. While we might pity someone else, we are not called to pity one another. We are commanded to love everyone in actions and deeds. A closed heart is one that is cold, not willing to be vulnerable, rigid, uncaring. The opposite is a tender heart. One who is moved by seeing a brother or sister in need.

One Who Sees

We have to be able to see the person in need. If we are inwardly focused, it’s unlikely we’ll even see the one in need. This brings us back to the idea of seeing invisible people. As Christ-followers, we can’t stick our heads in the sand and proclaim we never saw someone who needed help. If we do, we’ll be the ones asking:

When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you? Matthew 25:38-39

They Will Know We Are Christians by our Love

An old song that probably needs a new arrangement declares that we should be known as a people who love one another without reservation. Where we work, the words we use, the care we show for one another, in all ways, our demonstrated should draw people to Christ. Sometimes this looks like giving material possessions, but love doesn’t cost anything and is only amplified when it’s given away.

Give goods when you can, please, but in all things, love your neighbor as yourself.

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Serving those in Need: Holy Responsibility

What if serving those in need was more than merely a good thing to do? Job makes his case in chapter 31:

13 “If I have denied justice to any of my servants,
whether male or female,
when they had a grievance against me,
14 what will I do when God confronts me?
What will I answer when called to account?
15 Did not he who made me in the womb make them?
Did not the same one form us both within our mothers?

16 “If I have denied the desires of the poor
or let the eyes of the widow grow weary,
17 if I have kept my bread to myself,
not sharing it with the fatherless—
18 but from my youth I reared them as a father would,
and from my birth I guided the widow—
19 if I have seen anyone perishing for lack of clothing,
or the needy without garments,
20 and their hearts did not bless me
for warming them with the fleece from my sheep,
21 if I have raised my hand against the fatherless,
knowing that I had influence in court,
22 then let my arm fall from the shoulder,
let it be broken off at the joint.
23 For I dreaded destruction from God,
and for fear of his splendor I could not do such things. Job 31:13-23

Job would rather his arm fall off than to be in the company of those who treated servants unjustly. Stated in a more positive sense, we should be known for those who:

  • treat all people justly
  • serve the poor
  • take care of the widow
  • cloth those in need
  • look after the orphans

Serving as an Obligation

If we make serving an obligation, we completely miss the point. Viewed this way, there is always one above the other. In essence, we strengthen the barriers that divide rather than eliminating them. There are no neighborhoods in heaven. But if I had to choose between obligatory serving and not showing up, I’m afraid I would rather side with serving and trust that God would provide the necessary transformation. A seed that remains in the pouch has no chance of growing. One planted on rocky soil won’t grow either, but it might provide a snack for a passing bird. The story of Job above suggests he did all these things in the shadow of “fear of his splendor.” Do something, even if it feels mechanical for a time. Keep looking inside for that which ignites the passionate desire that is consistent with God’s plan for your life. Do nothing, and we all lose.

Serving with a Radically Changed Heart

One of the profound lessons from the teaching of Jesus is that of a radically changed heart. Radical change is required for radical generosity. When we are transformed, we don’t view possessions as something to hold onto. Whatever things we own become tools for helping others. If we have money, it can be put to good use. If we have time, we look for ways to invest the hours. None of which comes from a place of guilt or obligation. Instead, it comes from deep within our hearts and is expressed with the utmost joy.

Holy Responsibility

The term, holy responsibility, sounds like the most pious and religious perspective possible. Imagine printing t-shirts promoting the notion of such. No one would likely buy one, even with the most compelling graphic design! Yet serving those in need is something we are commanded to accept as our responsibility. How do we live with the tension?

My hope and prayer is this series of posts will help guide the discussion by creating a solid biblical foundation to build upon. As we mature, the term responsibility shouldn’t sound threatening any more than welcoming discipline from the loving Father. Growth is often accompanied by pain, but it doesn’t have to be overbearing or arduous — one step at a time.

This is the same approach we should consider when helping others: one methodical step at a time. This is when helping heals rather than hurting. Let’s strive for that!

One more thought about the story of Job: it takes a while before he comes around. The quote above is from chapter 31; the watershed moment happens much later in chapter 38, when God speaks. One of my favorite passages:

Brace yourself like a man;
I will question you,
and you shall answer me.
Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?
Tell me, if you understand. Job 38:3-4

After the seemingly endless back and forth conversation between Job and his friends, God enters the conversation. Job finally understands:

“I know that you can do all things;
no purpose of yours can be thwarted. Job 42:2

As we seek to serve those in need, may we do so with joy; may we have the faith that God can and will do what is necessary to mend the broken-hearted, to heal every wound, to find the lost, and to satisfy the hungry. Mostly, I pray that He will use us in the process.

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Oppressing the Poor

To what degree do we systemically oppress the poor? The question arises amid the popular notion of social justice in our society. The young-adult generation sees social justice as a means to defend the rights of those who are otherwise overlooked. Most forget the fact that the concept is deeply ingrained in the Bible.

This is what the Lord Almighty said: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. Do not plot evil against each other.’ Zechariah 7:9-10

It’s no surprise that this should influence our culture today, but I think we’ve lost our zeal for implementing justice because we overlook the first seven words from the quote above. This is not a concept or good idea; this is what the Lord Almighty said. It’s not a suggestion. Zechariah had the dubious honor of prophesying to the Israelites who have returned from the Babylonian exile as he tries to convey this poignant message.

They needed to unlearn that which was pounded into them when they were in exile. Our forefathers were assimilated into Babylonia because they lost their way. After 70 years of exile, a remnant was able to return and restore the temple. I can’t imagine how that affected them, but the very next few verses provide a hint:

But they refused to pay attention; stubbornly they turned their backs and covered their ears. They made their hearts as hard as flint and would not listen to the law or to the words that the Lord Almighty had sent by his Spirit through the earlier prophets. Zechariah 7:11-12

They refused to pay attention. Their hearts were like flint–extremely hard and brittle. Before we adjust our seats and judge those ancient people as uninformed and uneducated, look around and observe our society where we see incredible injustice.

Recognize that in this country alone, we had to have a Civil Rights Movement to change the course of history, and yet we know racism still exists. Look at the data, and you’ll see some of the highest incarceration rates in the world in our country. Further, you’ll see most of those in prison are from our most impoverished communities.

If God is the defender of the poor, I think it’s fair to say that we must be as well. In Timothy Keller’s book, Generous Justice, he points out that “injustice is not equally distributed.“1 Those from the lowest economic groups have higher barriers to surpass. If Father Gregory Boyle is right, we have much to learn from our friends who are viewed as the poor in society. It’s my prayer that hearts will change when eyes are finally able to see those we refuse to see.

Let me leave you with some encouragement from the next chapter.

The seed will grow well, the vine will yield its fruit, the ground will produce its crops, and the heavens will drop their dew. I will give all these things as an inheritance to the remnant of this people. Just as you, Judah and Israel, have been a curse among the nations, so I will save you, and you will be a blessing. Do not be afraid, but let your hands be strong. Zechariah 8:12-13

We have the great advantage of being able to look back on this passage and know how God fulfilled His promise through Jesus. The remnant grows, and somehow Jesus is born from this lineage to show us the true way to the Father. In foresight, it’s hard to imagine, but in hindsight, we see it clearly.

In one of Tim Keller’s sermons2, he provided two pictures for us to consider. One was that of an acorn; the other was a 100-year old tree. If we only knew the acorn, how could we ever envision the tree? The potential wrapped up in that tiny seed is precisely what was needed to create a massive tree. What vision has God planted in your heart that no one else can see? Have faith. Don’t be surprised that no one else gets it right away.

Serve the widow, the fatherless, the foreigner, and the poor. Reach out to those experiencing homelessness, drug addiction, alcoholism, substance use disorders of all kinds. Plant the seeds and trust that God sees a mighty forest!

 

1 Keller, Timothy. Generous Justice: How Gods Grace Makes Us Just, p. 7. Penguin Books, 2016.

2 Gospel in Light Sermon Series, jump to the 36-minute mark for a description of the acorn and the Redwood tree.

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Practice Hospitality

The NIV translation of Romans 12:13 is quite appealing:

Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Romans 12:13

I love the idea that we are to practice hospitality. Years ago, I wanted to publish a magazine with the title, Practicing Parents. I kept the domain name for years, but alas, I never followed through on the idea. The concept came during the time we owned a Montessori School, and I interacted with lots and lots of parents. What I came to realize quite quickly was the term practice not only applies to doctors; it applies to parents as well. As much as we know, learn, and experience, it’s a constant reminder that we’re always improving. We’re practicing.

So it’s wonderful to think about the idea of practicing hospitality. We won’t always get it right, but that should not prevent us from trying one thing, then another. The simple idea here is to share with those in need. I would add, share with intentionality, not accidentally.

Bible Gateway’s online version of this verse is in a paragraph labeled Love in Action. It’s just a few verses to encourage and exhort; a great reminder to those who serve the least, the lost, and the lonely.

Love in Action

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.  Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Romans 12:9-13

This morning I got to see this in action at Clean Start, a ministry that provides showers and laundry service for people living on the streets or without amenities we often take for granted. No cameras or spotlights were involved, just beautiful volunteers caring for those who have so little. Watching Norene hug someone who was beaten up a few nights ago touch my heart. Her sincere concern for Tanya was evident. Just one example of love in action that happens without fanfare.

Now it’s your turn. May God bless you in immeasurable ways for loving others with sincerity. I pray for opportunities today, and I hope we won’t miss that which is right in front of us.

 

 

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