photo credit: Beth McHoul
"Like nothing else could ever do, the gospel instills in me a heart for the downcast, the poverty-stricken, and those in need of physical mercies, especially when such a persons are of the household of faith.
When I see persons who are materially poor, I instantly feel a kinship with them, for they are physically what I was spiritually when my heart was closed to Christ. Perhaps some of them are in their condition because of sin, but so was I. Perhaps they are unkind when I try to help them; but I, too, have been spiteful to God when He has sought to help me. Perhaps they are thankless and even abuse the kindness I show them, but how many times have I been thankless and used what God has given me to serve selfish ends?
Perhaps a poverty-stricken person will be blessed and changed as a result of some kindness I show him. If so, God be praised for His grace through me. But if the person walks away unchanged by my kindness, then I still rejoice over the opportunity to love as God loves. Perhaps the person will repent in time; but for now, my heart is chastened and made wiser by the tangible depiction of what I myself have done to God on numerous occasions.
The gospel reminds me daily of the spiritual poverty into which I was born and also of the staggering generosity of Christ towards me. Such reminders instill in me both a felt connection to the poor and a desire to show them the same generosity that has been lavished on me. When ministering to the poor with these motivations, I not only preach the gospel to them through word and deed, but I reenact the gospel to my own benefit as well." -- Milton Vincent (from a Gospel Primer for Christians)
I once heard Aaron describe Haiti as a picture of our soul without any makeup. "People aren't any more sinful in Haiti than in the United States. They just don't have any way of prettying up their sin here."
It's good to be back in this country that gives us ample opportunities to look around and realize who we would be apart from God's grace and who we still can be on any given day. It's good to be reminded that we are the chief of all sinners and to realize how much we need a Savior. I don't know how I feel about the poor existing to teach all of us "un-poor" beautiful lessons in our souls. It seems a little gross to look at a person living in abject poverty and walk away thankful that we learned so much about ourselves from their wretched lives. That seems icky to me. I'm glad to learn, but admit that I hope and pray God has other reasons for allowing people to live this way and to be treated in this manner. Have I mentioned that I will have lots of questions to ask God one day? If you get behind me in the heaven line you better have packed a lunch.
How can a country be so hard and yet so good at the same time?
6 comments:
Thank you Thank you for this great post. I thought the point of Haiti being unmade up was heartbreaking and true and profound. I love how GOD, whilst letting the Living Water flow thru us, dosen't let some of it, flow over us again. I love it every time.
I have my lunch... but just in case maybe you should pack one too... in case I am number 1895657635825343958485485 and you are number 1895657635825343958485486 :)
Great post, Heather! Love the "no make-up" analogy!
And, Jewel made me laugh...right out loud!
CathyT
Well, you've gone and done it again.
I just had a discussion with a few people about serving the poor, giving to the poor, etc.. and the questions kept being raised, "How will we know what they do with the money? What if they use it to buy cigarettes? At what point does it become enabling?"
All I could think was, What if God cut me off after a while because I kept making the same, dumb choices? Why does God extend unlimited grace to me even though he knows I'll reject it over and over? These people need to eat and be warm! The rest isn't necessarily our business.
Of course there needs to be an element of reality in the midst of it all...
This post of yours speaks to the heart of me. And I'm not saying that you're saying exactly what I'm saying, but I think you know what I mean.
I'm a rambling fool.
bye.
I know what you mean.
Poor, poor people. We always think they smoke. :) I'm not sure what the balance is between giving and enabling. I know that sometimes I expect the poor to be above reproach in how they spend their resources they have been given, but give myself so much grace when I make a stupid, last minute purchase in the line at the grocery store. I'm nice to myself when I spend money on things that I don't need, or even on things that are harmful to me.
I guess I want to go out as a person who errs on the side of grace. I'm not that person now, but I want to be.
bye.
Great post. Great dialog. Loved Jewel's comment. I have nothing more to add, except a thank you! :)
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