You Did It To Me

Recently my daughter, Haley, along with some of the other students in our church participated in World Vision’s 30 Hour Famine. Our students decided to send the money they raised to Mali. In Mali, one in five children die before the age of five due to hunger and malnutrition. In fact, Mali is one of the poorest countries on the planet! I was so proud of our students for participating in this event and for the funds they raised (eight of our students collectively raised in excess of $2100) for the people of Mali.

Although I did not participate in the weekend activities with the students during the 30 hour famine event, I did participate in the actual fast. We went 30 hours without food in order to get an idea of what it was like for literally millions of people around the world who go hungry day after day. Of course, there was one BIG difference: we had juices to drink during our fast. We also knew there was a meal awaiting us at the end of our 30 hours. So although we did become hungry  during those 30 hours we really did not experience what millions experience every day.

Did you know that more than 1 billion people experience hunger on a daily basis? In the last two years, more than 115 million children, women, and men have joined the ranks of the hungry. Worldwide, 1 in 4 children don’t get the nutrition they need.¹  These stats are absolutely heartbreaking! What’s equally disturbing, is that “one in six Americans is fighting hunger.”² Here in America, the land of plenty and prosperity, people are going without food. Recently, a leader of a local food bank said that we not only have a hunger problem but that we have a nutrition problem. He was referencing the county where I live, Carroll County, GA.

So, what’s the answer? Christians need to become aware of the need and then get involved. There are many ways we can help. We can donate food to local food banks. We can serve at a local soup kitchen. We can provide a meal to the person on the street corner holding a sign for help. We can support a child. We can give financially. While there are many worthwhile organizations helping meet hunger needs, the organizations that our family has been blessed to support include: World Vision, SBC’s World Hunger Fund, Samaritan’s Purse, Compassion International.

We would do well to recall the words of Jesus as He described the coming judgment.  
            “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Enter, you who are blessed by my Father! Take what’s coming to you in this kingdom. It’s been ready for you since the world’s foundation. And here’s why:
                 I was hungry and you fed Me,
                 I was thirsty and you gave Me a drink,
                 I was homeless and you gave Me a room,
                 I was shivering and you gave Me clothes,
                 I was sick and you stopped to visit,
                 I was in prison and you came to Me.’
            “Then those ‘sheep’ are going to say, ‘Master, what are You talking about? When did we ever see You hungry and feed You, thirsty and give You a drink? And when did we ever see You sick or in prison and come to You?’ Then the King will say, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was Me—you did it to Me.’

May God help us to live with eternity in view and not forget the “overlooked or ignored!”

¹ Sources: World Food Program, Food and Agriculture Organization
² Source: Feeding America
³ Peterson, E. H. (2002). The Message : The Bible in Contemporary Language (Mt 25:34–40). Colorado Springs, Colo.: NavPress.

Blessed To Be A Blessing

On Sunday, January 9, sleet and snow began to fall in metro Atlanta, quickly resulting in the closing of interstates, airports, bus stations, government offices, and businesses. I was in Walmart picking up a few items just hours prior to the start of this winter storm. As I walked through the food center I observed people with loaded grocery carts. I further noticed the bread shelves were almost bare. As I observed shoppers, it became clear that everyone was getting prepared for the storm. Thankfully, our family was already prepared, which was a good thing, because it wasn’t until Wednesday afternoon that I was able to get our vehicle out of the driveway and make my way into town. By Wednesday some delivery trucks had arrived at the local grocery stores, although one grocery store that I visited still had no milk.

Although the ice storm of 2011 caused much disruption, as far as I am aware, no one in metro Atlanta went without power. That was a very good thing. Because our power remained on, we were able to stay warm even when it was freezing outdoors. We were able to enjoy hot meals and hot apple cider. We were able to sleep in warm beds and take hot showers. We were able to talk on the phone with loved ones and check our email. Even with several inches of ice and snow on the ground, life for the most part remained normal. Oh yes, and since we homeschool, our girls did not miss a single day of school (something which they will be more thankful for come May). And yes, we did find time to go sledding (or in our case, boogie boarding) which the girls, and our dogs, enjoyed immensely!
      
As I reflected on the events of this past week I was reminded of just how blessed we really are. Even when trucks could not get through to restock empty shelves and even when we were stranded at home for several days, we never went hungry. We never were thirsty. We never were homeless. God has blessed us so much—so much more than we deserve. And yet today many people, including children, are starving. Many do not have access to pure water. Many are homeless. Many are dying because of disease.   

God has blessed Christians in order that we might be a blessing to others. Whether it is serving in a soup kitchen, giving to a local food bank, giving to a ministry or charity, or giving a handout, we have a responsibility to help others in need. Listen to the words of Jesus recorded in Matthew’s gospel: 
 34 Then the King will say to those on His right, 'Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the kingdom  prepared for you from the foundation of the world.  35 For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you took care of Me; I was in prison and you visited Me.' 37 "Then the righteous will answer Him, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink?  38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or without clothes and clothe You?  39 When did we see You sick, or in prison, and visit You?' 40 "And the King will answer them, 'I assure you: Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me."  - The Holy Bible, Matthew 25:34–40

If you are looking for a few ways to help those in need then I encourage you to consider the World Hunger Fund of the Southern Baptist Convention. 100% of gifts received go to feed the hungry in North America and around the world. In addition, check out Samaritan’s Purse, a ministry led by Franklin Graham, which helps people in need all over the world.