One of my favorite passages of Scripture is Isaiah 58. Verses 6-7 are as follows:
Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?
Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter-
when you see the naked, to clothe him,
and not turn away from your own flesh and blood?
In The Hole in Our Gospel Richard Stearns writes, "These words describe a people and a society characterized by justice, fairness, and a concern for the poor. They portray not just a personal ethic but also a community ethic. The reference to 'break(ing) every yoke' suggests that any system, law, or practice that is unjust must be broken - whether personal, social, political, or economic."
As we set personal goals and resolutions for ourselves in 2011, let us not forget that life is not all about our selves. God has a role for every Christian to act justly on behalf of people in need in our own neighborhoods, our own cities, and around the world. We are all called to give ourselves away to others for the sake of God's purposes.
1 comment:
Bryan
For Val and me, the challenge has been and continues to be to have discernment on who and how we help. As you know, we work with some people in our local government supported housing complex. The are always needs there. We only have so much resources of money and time. There are those who truly want to be stewards of what is given them, and others who 'work the system'. It can be a real challenge to discern between the two sometimes.
We've decided that we would rather be guilty of being too generous rather than being too stingy. If someone is 'working us', that's on their head, not ours.
For us, the hardest part is dealing with the emotional needs of the needy. That really drains you mentally and spiritually. It does drive you closer to Christ, though. No one said being obedient to God's leading and calling would be easy...
John V
Post a Comment