I noticed a growing apathy among my peer group towards the hurting world. It is easy to become consumed with ourselves, only to think about our own world of comfort--how situations affect us, the food we eat, the clothes we wear, and the events we go to. All the while, all around us are in desperate needs for food, shelter, and affection. Our self-absorption blinds us to them.
We trivialize what really matters and put so much emphasis on what does not.
While you are sitting in class while your mind wanders elsewhere, a kid out there might be dreaming to one day go to school. While you order food just to show off in your instagram feed, not far away some people are scrapping food off the streets. While we are busy dressing to impress, many are without proper clothes.
Matthew 6:25-33(MSG): “If you decide to live a life of God-worship, it follows that you don’t fuss about what’s on the table at mealtimes or whether your clothes are in fashion. There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body.
People spend ridiculously excessive time and money on looks—forgetting it is more important to develop virtues. If only our eyes saw souls instead of bodies, how very different our ideals of beauty would be.
30-33 “If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? Relax and do not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions.
If ever we find ourselves complaining, though having the luxuries to go to school, have a clean sanitation and safe water, consider the staggering numbers of those who are cut off from such privileges. Instead of always looking up to those with the more, lest we forget, the rest of the world are living hell on earth, physically, mentally, and spiritually. Lest we forget, we are graced with the ‘far more’, so we can do something for our society.
Every 1 out of 4 Indonesians is malnourished.
5.6 million children live without a home.
Only 1 out of 4 elementary graduate go to a university, leaving 31.7 million students only finishing primary school, and another. 4 million could only study until Junior High.
Only 50% of the population have access to safe water.
And only less than 1% of 250 million Indonesian have access to piped sewerage services (toilet with pipes).
With little to no social capital, the future generations of these people are bound to repeat the same cycle.
Then I love Philippians 2. It begins with, “ If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life,…” Then it follows, "Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.” Love the last sentence!
“ If our souls are first satisfied in Jesus for love, joy, and peace, we can move beyond ourselves and turn our gaze outward to others’ needs.”
And until we realize all human has equal worth as made in the image of God, not determined by what they wear, or look, or act, we are never going to start living bigger than ourselves.
Elaine Scarry of Harvard has written a fascinating little book called On Beauty and Being Just. Her thesis is that the experience of beauty makes us less self-centered and more open to justice. People who come to grasp the gospel of grace and become spiritually poor find their hearts gravitate toward the materially poor.
The world needs more scholars who are serious in their studies, realizing their degrees are for those who are hurting.
The world does not need more people who turn a blind eye towards injustices; it needs those who dare to be “interrupted” to care for the oppressed.
“The world does not need more greed, but more with spirits of humility, servitude, and love.
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This week, I stretched myself to invite people I normally would not eat with to meals. A rewarding experience to be poured into and pour out to them, gaining new perspectives and appreciation. I love the idea that grace can be shared in the context of a meal. We say grace before a meal because it is indeed a grace that different people can come together. It's also where healing and reconciliation can be exchanged. I challenge you not to eat with those you are comfortable with. But with those who might not usually get invited around the dinner table. I challenge you to be fully present (away from your phones!) and engage the other. I challenge you to be better stewards in where you are at, with who you are with, and what you have.
Life is not meant to be kept alone, but to be shared. However, we can only share what we have. Thank God for Jesus who promise to fill our cups until it overflow.