I am thankful that not only has my greatest need on all the earth been met...but I have lovingly been shown the depth of that need and humbly follow the one who met it. Both boys have a need and it is not for better living conditions. They are both in the same position I was before the Lord drew me out.
Our life with our loving Father cost so much more than we will ever realize. Especially when we begin the slow drift to thinking that somehow those child workers are "poorer" and "worse off" than we are.
So, yes, pray and work for better things in their lives...but never loose sight of their (and our) most desperate need - a savior.
Anonymous said…
Jennifer,
Thank you for posting this video. Not only is a great song, it helps raise our conscience to the fact that what we buy has moral consequences (ignorance does not absolve us). I believe Wendy makes a very good point--that our greatest need no matter who we are is for a savior. I also think it is also important to remember that we have the power to change these things through prayer and action (we love with action, not words - 1 John 3:18). And I would say the poor child is definitely worse off than we are--you can look at the myriad of verses in the Bible about the importance to God about the oppressed, poor, and voiceless (Isaiah 1:17; Proverbs 31:8-9; *Ezekiel 16:49--The destruction of Sodom (and Gomorrah) were due to a lack of concern and oppression of the poor*), and the special place they hold in his heart. All need a savior, and all of us have been given the position to help the least of these (Matthew 25--the sheep and the goats are separated by how they treated the least of these--i.e. the evidence of salvation, not the cause of it). I believe we should keep these things in view before us all the time, to remember to be like the Good Samaritan in our day to day lives, not like the priest and Levite who walked on by.
I agree John. God does call us to love the poor. Jesus was/is a perfect example of that love for others. We are compelled to love those Christ puts in our paths because of a depth of understanding of the love our Holy Father has for us. That He would reach down and invite us to participate in His work is truly amazing. The motive behind helping those in need is a depth of love for a Saviour that has done even more for us than we can hope or imagine. That too should be before our eyes daily or our hearts drift to loving the poor self-righteously, and that is a poor representation of our Lord who sent us to care for the poor and help the weak.
Thank you for the reminding of why we do what we do each day...right now the poorest I can touch in my life are my family and my young children...may we all look around to see with new eyes all the ways that God compels us to love others. For it truly is "Because He first loved us".
I am just beginning to read/learn about it. Looks a result of this legislation would be to bring industry back to the US, thereby eliminating some of the factories overseas that use this type of labor.
What are your thoughts?
Anonymous said…
Wendy,
Looks like Debbie is doing some good work. And I will have to look at the Fair Tax issue--I have not looked at it closely before. I do believe the solution to poverty and lifting up the least of these lies with each of us, in outworking the love and mercy God has shown us (though government legislation and economic practices can have a major impact on the state of the poor). We as individuals are called, each of us, to care for the poor and needy (God stops listening to us when we stop listening to the cries of the poor - Proverbs 21:13). And thankfully, an area where each of us in Western society can make an impact is by the power of the purse: choosing what to spend money on and who to buy from. I appreciate the links and I will look at them. And may we all consider love for our Savior and for those whom he loves a greater impetus than a love of saving money.
Comments
Our life with our loving Father cost so much more than we will ever realize. Especially when we begin the slow drift to thinking that somehow those child workers are "poorer" and "worse off" than we are.
So, yes, pray and work for better things in their lives...but never loose sight of their (and our) most desperate need - a savior.
Thank you for posting this video. Not only is a great song, it helps raise our conscience to the fact that what we buy has moral consequences (ignorance does not absolve us). I believe Wendy makes a very good point--that our greatest need no matter who we are is for a savior. I also think it is also important to remember that we have the power to change these things through prayer and action (we love with action, not words - 1 John 3:18). And I would say the poor child is definitely worse off than we are--you can look at the myriad of verses in the Bible about the importance to God about the oppressed, poor, and voiceless (Isaiah 1:17; Proverbs 31:8-9; *Ezekiel 16:49--The destruction of Sodom (and Gomorrah) were due to a lack of concern and oppression of the poor*), and the special place they hold in his heart. All need a savior, and all of us have been given the position to help the least of these (Matthew 25--the sheep and the goats are separated by how they treated the least of these--i.e. the evidence of salvation, not the cause of it).
I believe we should keep these things in view before us all the time, to remember to be like the Good Samaritan in our day to day lives, not like the priest and Levite who walked on by.
Thank you for this reminder, Jennifer.
John Meade Napier
Thank you for the reminding of why we do what we do each day...right now the poorest I can touch in my life are my family and my young children...may we all look around to see with new eyes all the ways that God compels us to love others. For it truly is "Because He first loved us".
http://asheleadsme.blogspot.com/
What are your thoughts on
Fairtax.org
I am just beginning to read/learn about it. Looks a result of this legislation would be to bring industry back to the US, thereby eliminating some of the factories overseas that use this type of labor.
What are your thoughts?
Looks like Debbie is doing some good work. And I will have to look at the Fair Tax issue--I have not looked at it closely before. I do believe the solution to poverty and lifting up the least of these lies with each of us, in outworking the love and mercy God has shown us (though government legislation and economic practices can have a major impact on the state of the poor). We as individuals are called, each of us, to care for the poor and needy (God stops listening to us when we stop listening to the cries of the poor - Proverbs 21:13). And thankfully, an area where each of us in Western society can make an impact is by the power of the purse: choosing what to spend money on and who to buy from. I appreciate the links and I will look at them. And may we all consider love for our Savior and for those whom he loves a greater impetus than a love of saving money.
John Meade Napier