[This is one in a series of devotional reflections prepared for Horley Baptist Church during July 2021]
Seated one day at the keyboard, I was weary and ill at ease,
And my fingers wandered idly over the noisy keys [1]
Then something on the screen caught my attention. It was one of those muggy evenings when the gnats and the midges conspire to negate the benefits of having the windows open. One such insect was slowly meandering across my screen. I tried moving the cursor to see if I could influence its movements; initially it seemed to have some effect but the creature soon realised that this arrow head moving around it was on a different level and was of no consequence.
Even if you have not had the dubious pleasure of commuting into a major city you will have seen the images of millions of people arriving at London’s mainline stations each morning. Every individual has their own objective but collectively they look like a swarm of insects. Does any of them think of God? Even if they do, would they dismiss him as being on a different level and his activities as being of no consequence? Are God’s attempts to influence their behaviour futile?
As we read through the Biblical narrative we see that God’s chosen means of communication with humans is through other humans. Prophets, priests and Godly leaders spoke his words in Old Testament times then apostles, evangelists and pastors continued this process. But God is not limited to working through these professionals; everybody who is willing can be a channel of God’s blessing to those around them.
The problem for us, as Christians, is that every one of those teeming millions is someone whom God loves, someone for whom Christ died. To what extent are we obliged to be concerned about these fellow creatures? The gospel writer Mark tells us that when Jesus saw the multitudes he had compassion on them. How can we replicate that compassion? Later Jesus quoted from the book of Deuteronomy:
For the poor will never cease from the land; therefore I command you, saying, ‘You shall open your hand wide to your brother, to your poor and your needy, in your land.’
Deuteronomy 15 v11 [NKJV]
The preceding verse gives an incentive for generosity:
You shall surely give to him, and your heart should not be grieved when you give to him, because for this thing the Lord your God will bless you in all your works and in all to which you put your hand. ibid v10 [NKJV]
Jesus commended the woman who gave a few mites and criticised the man who hoarded his millions. However, the poor are not just those who are hard-up financially. There are those who are poor in health, poor in relationships, poor in opportunity, poor in spirit; most significantly, there are those whose eternal prospects are poor.
Recently, we have been invited to think about volunteering; maybe helping with some of the church activities or getting involved with some activity with a wider social benefit. Our salvation is as a result of Christ’s death, not our good works, but perhaps there are opportunities for us to show our thankfulness. We know about tithing our income, what about tithing our time? Could those hours spent watching TV or browsing the web be put to better use?
God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. [Hebrews 6 v10 NIVUK]
[1] Adelaide Anne Proctor, altered. Set to music by Arthur Sullivan as ‘The Lost Chord’.
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Contributed by Steve Humphreys; © the Author
Thanks Steve, your reflections always give me much food for thought.