The more we venture out of our comfort zone and look around in this great big world, the more we will run into people that are hurting. Yes, many of us are blessed and some of us have led sheltered lives, but if we desire to become more sensitive to those around us, we will notice there are individuals that have not had it so easy.
There are so many places to serve and so much desperate need that sometimes it seems overwhelming. As a community chaplain, I am surrounded by disturbing situations, and within my personal writing and music ministry, I am constantly being approached by those in this country and around the world who are crying out for financial assistance.
Like you, I have concern and want to help everyone, but there is only so much we can do. It’s our responsibility to pray for everyone, but also critical that we listen to God’s response and react according to his directions. When we turn away from considering the burden of human suffering, this coldness turns our prayers into a private “bless me” confession and reduces the big picture of the world’s needs into a tiny peephole that is easier to ignore.
I realize it’s more comfortable to live in denial and only focus on our desires, but is this truly following Christ? We read about selfless individuals like Mother Teresa that abandoned her life so that she could help others, and we recognize she not only had a compassionate heart but was actually willing to sacrifice her plans in obedience to God’s voice.
With God’s perspective, it’s not how many good deeds, how much money we give or how much a person accomplishes, but it’s all about us knowing what he is saying and then being obedient to his instructions. In Mark 12:43-44, we read the account of the poor widow who contributed 2 cents into the church offering while some of the wealthy members were donating large amounts of money.