Becoming More Aware
- Brian Pollard
- Apr 10, 2008
The statistics are
staggering: every 5 seconds a child dies of malnutrition, that's 600 children
every 30 minutes, 1200 every hour, and approximately 29,000 children per
day. An estimated 850 million women and
children will go to bed tonight hungry.
These statistics are overwhelming!
They are so mind-boggling that a person, who is reading these
statistics, hesitates, becomes numb, and wonders if "I" can even make a dent or
make a difference. The bitter reality is that deaths that are caused by
malnutrition are 100% preventable.
The question isn't whether you can make a difference, the question is will you? As the church worked through the study of 1 John together, I was challenged, convicted, and my soul stirred with restlessness as John was inspired by God to write the following verses:
2:4 "The man who says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him."
3:16-18, "16This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. 17If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? 18Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth."
5:11-12, "11And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life."
Much of the Bible I
don't understand and I am still trying to figure out, but there is no hiding or
misunderstanding of what God is calling his children to do or his description
of what "life" entails.
God is calling his children and members of his church to act. His marching orders are clear and the play has been called. We are to be the hands and feet to a dying and decaying world. Each one of us is called to get out of the stands and get into the game. We are called not to just be consumers but contributors. We are called to not just be church attendees and "mark if off our to do list". I am the church. You are the church. Together, we are the church of Jesus Christ! Our General has cleared the path and is inviting us to join Him to feed the hungry, heal the sick, provide drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, and visit the lonely (Matthew 25:31-46). We can not allow the numbness of a problem that seems so large or fear of ridicule and failure keep us from acting out the commands of our General...Jesus Christ.
On April 4-5 for 30
hours, a small group of adult leaders, junior and senior high students decided
to follow the orders of our Savior and make a small dent in the fight against
world hunger. For 30 hours students
collected donations, served the community, the church, and each other all in
the name of Jesus Christ and ending world hunger. They studied the scriptures
and worshipped God while going without food for 30 hours. It was an amazing time serving, drawing
closer to God and to each other.
It is hard for us in suburbia Chandler to fully understand what it is really like to go hungry. Our cupboards and refrigerators are stocked with food and grocery stores and places to eat dot every street corner and are easily within 2 minutes of any house.
Am I suggesting that we walk around with our heads bowed down and disgusted with the many blessings God has provided us with and feel guilty all day long? No. But I do believe that God is asking us to act on a number of things:
- Acknowledge and Praise God daily and continuously for the blessings He has provided;
- Praise God for allowing us to live in a country that has running water and an abundance of food to eat;
- Pray about how you can begin to get involved in fulfilling the calling given to us in Matthew 25:31-46;
- Realize that all we have has been given to us by God's generosity. It is our responsibility and privilege to be good stewards of these gifts and share those resources with others.
John, the one whom Jesus loved, reminds us in 1 John 5:12 that life is found only when we have Christ and apart from Christ there is no life. That is my prayer and I hope that it is your prayer. I don't want to live a life apart from God. I want to be found in Him as we team up and offer the naked clothes, water to the thirsty, food to the hungry and visit the lonely. That is what life is! Being the hands and feet of Jesus!
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Alex Junk on Apr 10, 2008 11:33pm
Thanks for your article and for the words that you spoke on Sunday morning. I am searching for what the Lord wants me to do, as the hands and feet of Jesus... and I know He has called us to so much more than what we are now - we are a work in process. Thanks again Brian.
Junk