We Christians in the West are very talented excuse-makers. There are always a million reasons why we don’t do something to further the Kingdom of God. Behind all the excuses is the simple reality of we’re too busy looking like and buying into the culture around us to have time to build the Kingdom. With so much darkness, so much pain and suffering, so much hunger and need all around us, how can we not do something?
Jesus had a habit of taking time out of His day to reach put and supply the needs of those around Him. He healed the sick, fed the hungry, and protected the weak. Jesus was never to busy to do something. He never made an excuse to not do something.
Our lives were never meant to look like those of our neighbors. We are to be a peculiar people, people whose lives look noticeably different from those around us (I Peter 2:9). Over the years we have allowed our lives to be co-opted into society. We drive the same overpriced cars, live in the same over-sized homes, wear the same stylish clothes, and participate in the same irrelevant activities as our neighbors. We fit in so well it’s possible no one would ever suspect our so-called commitment to our Savior and Lord. We have been blessed with unprecedented resources, and we choose to squander them all on things having no eternal value.
Jesus made it very clear what is expected of us regarding our relation to the needs all around us (Matthew 25:31-46). Ultimately, we will be judged on what we did and didn’t do on His behalf. This isn’t about earning our salvation, but rather living in such a way as to prove the sincerity of our commitment. And make no mistake, we are all called to do something. If we spend all our efforts keeping up with the world around us, we will entirely miss the point. Everything with which we have been entrusted is to be used for building God’s Kingdom and bringing Him glory. Instead, we are building our own kingdoms so we might be exalted among our friends, family, and neighbors.
There are needs all around us. We need not travel to a distant country to serve another in the name of Jesus (although there is certainly a great need there as well). Each of us sees people in need every day. At least we will if our eyes are attuned to seeing them. We’ve got to look for the opportunities because they are plentiful and easy to see.
Jesus called us to do something about the tragedy in the world. We can all give something of what we own, whether that is our time, money, or possessions. We’ve got to quit making excuses about why now isn’t the right time or how it doesn’t make good logical or fiscal sense. We’re not dealing with the laws of this material world, but rather the laws of the spiritual realm. What might sound crazy to our natural mind, makes perfect sense in the spiritual world. It’s not logical Jesus could feed thousands with a loaf of bread and a few fish. It wasn’t wise for Jesus to touch highly-contagious lepers. But He did it. He did it because it was the right thing to do and because it made sense in the upside-down Kingdom of God. He did something and so must we. Enough procrastination, enough walking away. No more excuses. It’s time for us all to do something.