When
it comes to caring, we all have an error in our understanding that it is only
between us, our family and God. We don't need to bother much about the people
out in the world because at the end we are to ensure we are blameless so that
we enjoy eternity with God. We also comfort ourselves saying that we are
blessed because of our spiritual devotion to God and our just living. It is a
flawed theory we want to hold on to and promote it. God did not intend it that
way at all.
Your
commitment to God is important but your commitment to others welfare including
people who are not related to you are equally important. Now you may wonder why
we need to bother much, it is the responsibility of God to bless them without
using people. Friends kindly note, if it had to be that way, then the whole
idea of putting us in this world and bringing inter-dependence wouldn't exist.
It would be sufficient for each one of us to be with our families with separate
space, with allotted resources and allowed to manage within that. Burk
Parsons quotes “Those who think life is
all about being happy in themselves by finding happiness within themselves will
always be disappointed. That’s precisely how God designed us."
God has interwoven our blessings and
prosperity in the way that we are useful to others. In the book of Titus it
says "Let our people learn to devote themselves to good works for
pressing needs, so that they will not be unfruitful." Titus 3:14
CSB. In fact, the Bible pronounces its verdict by saying they do not have the
love of God at all against people who close themselves to the people who are in
need 1 John 3:17.
An example from a larger
perspective is to know that the world produces enough food to feed everyone,
yet 870 million people (1 in 8 of the world’s population) are suffering from
chronic undernourishment. At the same time, around a third of the food produced
in the world for human consumption every year – approximately 1.3 billion tones
– gets lost or wasted. Somewhere someone is failing in their responsibility or
being selfish. The action from Individuals or corporate both has a serious
effect to the group at large - to an extent has an impact on the world
itself.
As much as someone’s negligence or
ignorance can have such a drastic effect, so much so will the goodness and love
when coupled with caring and sharing will definitely have greater effect to
eradicate poverty and suffering of the people. Are we as individuals, families
and Church able to exemplify our love and support to one another?
I want to remind that our
responsibility also lies in praying for all. Are you even burdened to pray for
one another? God allowed family, community and Church here in order to be a
blessing to others and pray for one another. Samuel sets an example as we read
in 1 Samuel 12:23 “As for me, I vow that I will not sin against the
Lord by ceasing to pray for you...". Samuel commits himself to
pray for Saul to deliberate his responsibility effectively. Even Paul urges us
that we pray for all including the leaders, "First of all,
then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made
for everyone, for kings and all those who are in authority, so that we may lead
a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. "1
Timothy 2:1-2 CSB. You desire to lead a tranquil life then ensure you do not
pray only for yourself but for others, especially for the authorities.
God has also made you and me
responsible for the salvation of the people who live among us and will hold us
accountable for their soul. In Hebrews it is said like this, "Obey your
leaders and submit to them, since they keep watch over your souls as those who
will give an account, so that they can do this with joy and not
with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you."(Hebrews 13:17)CSB
. And in the book of Ezekiel 18 God says we are the watchman and responsible
for the protection of lives and their souls. "If I say to the
wicked, ‘Wicked one, you will surely die,’ but you do not speak out to warn him
about his way, that wicked person will die for his iniquity, yet I will hold
you responsible for his blood". Ezekiel 33:8 CSB.
God holds you responsible not only
for living your life well but will hold responsible for the souls whom you had
a power to influence and turn them to God.
Blessings,
David Raj
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