(Photo courtesy: google images)
“Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter. If you say, “But we knew nothing about this,” does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay everyone according to what they have done?”- Proverbs 24:11-12
I was listening to the founder of Charity Water describe his journey towards establishing his non-profit humanitarian group.
This is an organization that gives 100% of proceeds to every project. It takes $10,000 to build a well and provide water for communities in need and every penny given to the organization is put into that $10,000 process! That’s huge!
Another cool thing, if someone pays through a credit card, they make up any deduction that might come through the credit card payment (i.e. if you give $1,000, but only $995 comes to the organization, they will pay that extra $5 to make sure your intended $1000 is given). I find that to be pretty amazing!
Anyway, besides all that information, he shared his experience in Liberia and discovering the need for clean water. He chose to take action and establish his group. He had a career that allowed him to have access to a lot of people with a good amount of money, so he reached out to them with details of people in need.
He proceeded to share how some people responded with “How can we help?! We had no idea this was happening!” and others responded by removing themselves from the mailing list and saying, “Why would you show us images of people like that?!”
I was smiling the entire time I heard him share his story because of his willingness to stay true to the 100% model, but also his boldness to take a stand.
Then, I got a little disheartened. I realized that maybe I’m not doing enough? Maybe I see needs and I choose to ignore them or say I didn’t know they existed?
When we are made aware of injustices in the world, we have a choice between two responses:
1) Ignore it and pretend we didn’t see it
Or
2) Take action or join in action already being taken
When we choose the latter, we are doing exactly what The Lord requires of us. Respond with His love and compassion to meet the needs of those who are being “led away to death”. When we choose the former, we allow for the “slaughter” to occur when we could have stepped in to prevent it.
The harm is done to the victim, which they had no choice or way to defend themselves. However, more harm is done to us because we allow injustice to continue and flow through the world freely, but we also open the door for us to be judged and “repaid” for our inaction.
It is hard to take action. It is hard to step out in faith and trust we will be protected.
Perhaps we aren’t supposed to worry about protection, but for the betterment of society and people’s lives altogether?
The risk is there, but the reward outweighs the risk. We will see people walk in freedom. We will see people discover their potential and gain a sense of purpose with hope for the future. We will hear people discover a sense of self-worth that only Jesus can provide through the actions of His followers.
May we rise up to take action when we discover a need. May we be bold enough to seek change, instead of turning a blind-eye hoping we can forget the hurt of the world. May we be theChurch.
Peace and blessings friends!
Visit: www.chairtywater.org
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