And I believe that we should care for the poor.
My Bible tells me that.
As I begin my "Seven" fast and my "Experiencing God" study I find myself asking who exactly are the "poor?"
An easy and seemingly obvious answer is "people in the streets of Culcutta."
Yet, did you know that upon visiting the West Mother Teresa noted that Westerners were also poor in that they "had no one to love them."
As a result she started chapters of the Missionaries of Charity in the West.
There are regional houses in places like the Bronx, and St Louis, MO.
"Seven" is showing me that I need to live more simply.
I need to be less self-indulgent.
Life is just not all about me. Or all about you for that matter.
It is about serving others.
The poor, the marginalized, the unloved, the worried, the lost, the dying.
"Experiencing God" is showing me that I need to look for where God is working around me and join Him there.
What are His plans and dreams?
I may dream of being in a Calcutta slum.
He may be dreaming that I will start a weekly tea for the elderly ladies in my townhome complex.
So, I decided to spit out a few thoughts that I've been mulling lately.
Firstly, what should my priorities be?
I have been watching an amazing friend care for her aging mother recently.
Several times I have thought of I Tim 5: 8, which is in the context of caring for widows/elderly parents/grandparents. It states, "Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever."
Well that's intense.
I guess caring for my aging parents/family is a priority!
(see also Mark 7:9ff)
Then I thought about how Paul said in his letter to the Galatian church, "...as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those of the household of faith." (Gal 6:10)
Interesting.
When we have "opportunity" (available resources as in Cor 8:14?..."at this present time your abundance being a supply for their need, so that their abundance also may become a supply for your needs") we are to especially care for those of the household of faith.
It would seem that my priorities should be family, Christian family, others.
So, lest we begin to think that this lets us off the hook for serving the poor, it doesn't.
It doesn't seem to be a case of either/or as much as a case of priority and, I believe, simplicity.
Your aged parents don't need a Mercedes or filet mignon.
Their needs should be met, yes, but extravagance isn't necessary for anyone.
Your Christian family ("those of the household of faith") don't need Cadillacs and swimming pools in their backyards.
Their needs should be met, yes, but again, extravagance isn't necessary for anyone.
The poor, our neighbors, those who don't know Jesus, are also important.
We are told that as we go about our lives that we are to bear witness to the One to whom we belong.
We are to be the Good Samaritan.
We are to feed the hungry, visit those in prison, give shelter to those who have none, etc.
Yes, we are.
But not at the expense of our aging parents or of the household of faith.
This calls for wisdom and a simplicity of living, I think.
If I am living a simple lifestyle, a non-extravagant lifestyle, then I should have more than enough (especially as a middle-class American!) available to care for my parents when they need food and a home, to help care for my Christian family, and to also serve others.
Maybe this is the reason for simplicty?
Not because it's cool or interesting but because it frees me to live the life I am called to live in Jesus.
Secondly, how much is too much and how little is too little?
Thirdly, who are the "others" that I am called to serve?
I'll save that for my next blogs.
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