Subscription Lists

As I sit in my air-conditioned home, drinking clean water, haven taken a shower, put on clean clothes and am getting ready to go out to eat, the thought of those suffering from the lack of these things in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama seems almost incomprehensible. Sadly, it is all very real. The stories continue to come of loss, sadness, and despair. It is hard to believe we are watching something that is happening on our very own soil. It sounds more like something we might hear of from a third world country.

I have mixed emotions as I hear the stories. Sometimes I am very sad as I hear stories of loss. Other times I am angry as I hear stories of looting. Then there are times I'm disappointed in how the news focuses so much on the negative. And sometimes, I'm moved to tears as I hear stories of those reaching out to the helpless, hopeless and afraid. There are so many stories of just regular people like you and me who want to help and are offering money, supplies, their homes – whatever they can – to help those in need.

But my emotions are very mixed. Why does it take a tragedy like this to bring people to the point of helping out their fellow man? Why don't we behave like this all the time? There are a lot of people suffering – in America, in India, in Africa, in the Middle East, - all over the world. Why does it take a tragedy like a tsunami or a hurricane to move us into action?

I wish I knew the answer to that question. I can't help but wonder if God allows such things to happen to serve as a "wake up call." A reminder that we are not in control… He is. Perhaps it is a rebuke for the sin we have allowed to permeate our society. Could it be, He is also using this as a trigger to spur us on to help each other – as He has commanded us? I don't know the answer to why things like this happen, but I do have some idea as to what we are supposed to do.

In the book of Acts 10:38, the Peter, who accompanied Jesus, summarizes the ministry of Jesus with these words:

We, who claim His Name, who claim to be His children, are commanded to follow in His footsteps.

So what does 'good' mean? Good means to benefit someone else. You add value to someone else. The Bible tells us then… we are called upon, just as Jesus, to do good. Every person that Jesus came in contact with, He benefited.

[Can the same be said of us?]

Paul even goes so far as to tell us WHEN to do good:

Galatians 6:10 – "So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people,"

Whenever we have opportunity is when we should do good. Not just when there is a hurricane or tsunami. Opportunities are constantly coming our way – every day, all the time. When opportunities arise, that's when we need to grab it and take hold. We need to obey the impulse – not ignore it.

WHERE should we do good? I think here in America, many of us have become very arrogant in our thinking as to where it is appropriate to help. However, I am impressed upon to remind you (and myself) that it's not just when there's suffering close to home that we should do good. There is suffering all around the world, too. We are not an island unto ourselves. I am leaving for Kenya is just a few days to serve those in need in that part of the world. God has burdened my heart for them. I go and serve there because He has called me and because I can. Where can you do good? At work, in your neighborhood, in your church, at the homeless shelter, at the grocery, in foreign lands, in a hospital – wherever you go… there is always opportunity to do good.

So… WHY should we do good? Doing good is something that simply needs to be done. If not you and me, then who will do it? If not here, then where? If not now, then when? In a world where there's so much suffering, there is a need for Christians to do good. Our service to others always creates a pathway to spiritual growth. "Doing good" is perhaps the greatest use of ones life. Usually people who add value to other people are less likely to be depressed. When you lift others, you lift yourself. We should do good because Jesus did good by us. This is the ultimate reason for doing good. There is no such thing as a self-made man.

WHO ought we to do good by? Non Believers – Galatians 6:10 "…let us do good to all people…"
Believers – Galatians 6:10 "…let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of Believers". ALL PEOPLE.

So how can we help?

You can give financially.

You can give emotionally.

You can give situationally.

All the while you are "doing good" – don't lose sight of your motivation. "Doing good" isn't an all-access pass to the Kingdom of Heaven. The only one who can grant access is Jesus. You can't earn your way in by "doing good." If "doing good" was the key, then what would be the point of sending Jesus to die for our sins. We can never be good enough. That is the reason God chose to send His son to die for us.

In "doing good" – always give credit to the one who displayed "goodness" for us in the first place.

My heart and prayers truly go out to those who have lost family, friends, pets, homes, jobs in this tragedy. Should God lead you to help or give in any way, please do so. But above all else, please pray.

"Word from Scotland" from Sandy Shaw

What Are We to Do When Others Give Us A Rough Time?