How Then Shall We Live?

“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress.” – James 1:27a

Christmas is tomorrow. In the midst of the insanity, I’m left with the gnawing sensation that despite all the efforts, all our altruistic efforts to help those in need are generally half-hearted; typically they are overlooked on an annual basis. Everyone’s too busy wrapping gifts for those they know, cooking meals for their families, and celebrating tradition. And don’t get me wrong; I have no problem with these things. They make the holiday season what it is, and generally it’s a good thing. I’m simply wondering what it would look like if we put as much money, as much effort, as much time, as much love into ensuring that those who need help get it.

There was a guy who preached at our church on a pretty regular basis a few years back. What I remember best about him is he would often insert the phrase, “How then shall we live?” into his sermons. This would come after a new revelation about the way the world worked, how God worked, or how life worked. Once you know something new about God, how can you live the same way? Once you finally realize, for example, the deadliness of unforgiveness and bitterness, how can you keep remaining obstinate?

This essential question can be applied to those in need. The economy is worse than ever, and in Michigan the unemployment rate is hovering around ten percent. I mentioned in a previous post that a local radio station was conducting an event known as the “holiday break-in,” in which listeners nominated people in need, and they broke into the nominee’s house with a professional locksmith and left Christmas behind. The following is a letter from one of the nominators.

“John and Darlene have been retired for a few years. Shortly after retirement, they took custody of their grandchildren. Their father is an abusive alcoholic, and their mother can’t and won’t look after them. John and Darlene never really minded, though, because those kids are their lives. Six months ago, tragedy hit the family. The children’s biological father began to fight for custody, because he didn’t want to pay child support anymore. The father was granted custody, and the children were taken from the only home they had ever known. John and Darlene cleaned out their retirement fund to pay for their legal costs. In the end, they still lost custody. The judge thought it would be more beneficial for them to live with their father than their grandparents. Three months ago, the biological father beat the youngest child and took off. So John and Darlene regained custody, which is what they wanted and what needed to be done for the well-being of the children. In late September, tragedy hit once again. John hadn’t been feeling well and had been complaining of migraines. After repeated visits to the doctor, John was diagnosed with stage four brain and lung cancer. He was told he had six to twelve months to live. Despite this tragic turn of events, his primary concern is still for the well-being of his family. Darlene then had to find work again to pay medical bills and support the grandchildren. Due to the circumstances, they no longer have health insurance. Darlene struggles to keep the family going, while the love of her life fights for his. They are back and forth from hospital to hospital, for radiation, chemo, blood cultures, etc. No one knows what’s in store, but they all believe that God is in control, and that they will get through this. Because money is now an issue, they don’t know if they’ll be able to have Christmas for their grandchildren. The Strong family know that they still have each other, and if you ask them, that’s all that matters. I know there are many deserving families out there, but they are at the top of my list. If you can, please, please help this family receive the Christmas they deserve.”

How then shall we live? Another family that was helped was that of a man who has stage three cancer and may need to have his foot amputated because of a possibly cancerous spot. He has three children, supporting them without a wife. Another child nominated his mother, asking only for a couple gallons of gas, “so [she] can go to work.” Last year a furniture store donated a set of bunkbeds to a family so impoverished that one of the sons slept on the floor.

How then shall we live? How can we go about our daily business, knowing that the children next door are being beaten? How can we wrap presents, knowing that the people down the street have none? How can we enjoy the ham and potatoes, knowing there are families in our church that have nothing? This is not to put a damper on our holiday situations, not at all, but I grow more and more frustrated each year knowing that there are so many in our communities in need that go largely ignored.

So yes. It’s Christmas Eve. I know it’s crazy outside, but if you have time, if you have some extra money, I would suggest the perfect place for it to go would be helping those you know have needs.

How then shall we live? Godspeed.

~ by d3ovolent3 on December 24, 2008.