Who cares in this world? Luke 10:30, 33-34 “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead……But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.” The Maxwell Leadership Bible Extra Reading: Luke 10:30-37
Caring for one another should not be stating the obvious. People who are committed to Jesus Christ should care for one another. But is that the reality in many local churches and Christian circles today? People all over the world are breaking under the heavily load of problems. God is looking for a few people that may counted as caring. When you read the Bible carefully you discover that since earliest times Christians have cared for one another in various ways and they continue to do so. Sometimes it entails physical assistance, sometimes it is mostly counseling. People in rural villages and urban areas have their own distinctive problems. People experience problems like sickness, financial need, stress, strain, people who feel they are not achieving enough and death. Actually many people experience lots of pressure in their work situation. Some have marital problems. What about the poor street children who sleep in large storm water drain pipes? Hobos who sleep in city parks? We live in an era where people live for themselves and seek professional help like psychiatrists and psychologists when they encounter problems. One is tempted to ask where is the church with pastoral counseling and pastoral therapy when people go through all these troubles. A few churches try hard to keep mutual care going and to sensitize people to each other’s needs so that they will support one another. It should be noted that many people also receive help outside the church.
Young couples live in city flats and are cut off from their roots and their families and experience lots of emotional and financial problems. The city is full of teenage mothers who are unmarried, there is too much extramarital relationships going on, drug abuse, unemployment and theft. Where are people who care? We have lots of people who experience extreme poverty and live in makeshift shacks. In the city nobody cares what happens to another person. We should learn from the Good Samaritan how to care for one another. We need to help rebuild support groups and church care groups. The rate of suicide and drug taking will reduce greatly if people feel are cared for by the church. Care must be a vital component of church life. It must be closely connected with the church’s activites. Before we start thinking seriously about care we need to have compassion for the lost, sick and the needy. Someone once said, “People don’t care how much you know, but how much you care.” Some have disappointed by those who offer empty promises of help and nothing comes out of it. Christians and the church in general have to come up with practical strategies of how they plan to care for people in need. Empty talk and endless meetings that leads nowhere are going to affect our integrity to the watching public.
Prayer: O God, make us people who care. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen!
Rev. Samuel N. Modise
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