Attitude of Christ in Helping People
What if, in Wollongong, there were people starving, and even dying, on the streets.
What does your proximity to those suffering have to be before you'll do something? Would you walk by a group begging just outside Crown St Mall, proceeding to the shops to get your coffee? What if someone was sitting suffering just outside the door of the cafe? What if you had to step over their failing body to get to the coffee?
In Wollongong there are so many cafes that I'd probably just go somewhere else…
Nevertheless, the answer is a no-brainer. If I have $3 that can either get me a coffee or save the life of someone dying before my eyes, I have to choose life. I have to.
What is the difference between someone dying in need before my eyes and someone dying for the same reason elsewhere? Very little. We can hardly claim ignorance, or a lack of opportunity.
Now you've got to eat. Farmers rely on you buying their produce. It may even cost you a little extra to buy ethically (such as fair trade or environmentally friendly). You do need some amount of leisure, and that may cost money. There are countless considerations when it comes to spending your money, and my solution is not to just give it all away.
But I want to put this out there: If you are spending money frivolously, and that money could be better used in some other way, then that is sin. That's right, I used the “s” word. James 4:17 says 'Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins' (NIV).
Your attitude should be the same as Christ’s, who, though he had it all, gave it all up that we might have it all. Did Paul practice what he preached when he said that? Of course he did! If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but does not do anything to help, how can the love of God be in him? Who is my neighbour? Everyone is. What is true religion? Taking care of widows and orphans in their affliction.
Are you planning a trip overseas? Why? For what purpose? If you spend time overseas you will gain cultural knowledge that you may not already have, you will be exposed to things that you just don't see here in Australia. You may well see with your own eyes the very poverty I'm talking about. Travelling may even make you a more interesting person.
So what?
If you want to gain cultural knowledge, read a book. If you want to be interesting, take an interest in other people. If you want to see poverty, too bad. People suffering and dying in this world aren't there for you to look at. They're there for you to help, and if you're spending $5000 flying overseas to look around, you're helping nobody but yourself.
Are you planning on buying a huge plasma screen TV at some stage? Why? How does a massive telly bring glory to God? How does it help you relax any more than a smaller one? You won’t grow as a Christian if you have surround sound, you won’t be better prepared for ministry tomorrow if tonight is spent watching a really big television.
How much does it cost to do your hair? Why? How much do your clothes cost? Why? How much does your lunch cost? Why?
In Australia we are so incredibly rich from such a young age, that exorbitant spending is scarcely blinked at… Who am I kidding? It’s never blinked at, it’s congratulated. We've become so individualistic that spending vast resources purely on personal fulfilment, entertainment or pleasure is morally righteous. As for us Christians, we are to have the attitude of Christ. Though having great wealth, he gave it up for the sake of others.
Some of the godliest people I know travel the world regularly. This doesn't make it right; it makes travel a blindspot for even the most godly. Though there may be good reasons for some people to travel, we have to be very careful. Materialism has invaded our morality so severely that it has disfigured our picture of godliness beyond recognition. We don’t even notice these problems.
Many people wiser than me have suggested systems which you could put in place in order to be more equitable. One interesting suggestion is to match all big purchases with an equal sized donation to a charity or ministry. Planning on spending $5000 to go overseas? Well you’d better save $10000 up before you go. Would you be prepared to do that?
I don’t have the answers for how we should spend. And I suck at righteous spending, or even thinking about it beforehand. But what I do know is that we all must try harder, and have the attitude of Christ.
By Troy
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