Sample Chapter: How Well Do I Respond To The Needs of Others?
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They tried to control him. On several occasions a group ambushed him and tied him with ropes and even chains. But the man’s strength was too great, and he eventually freed himself. A menace to all who ventured near, he was a constant threat to himself. I can imagine folks venting their frustration and saying, “This isn’t fair. We should be able to visit our family’s burial site with dignity and reverence. Can’t we just execute this loon from afar with bows and arrows before he seriously hurts someone?” We can certainly understand their frustration, but let’s dig deeper for a moment. First, the man had been chained and tied up many times. Was it fun to be so out of control that he involuntarily cut himself with stones? Was it fun for him to realize at some level that he was an outcast and that everyone wished he would die? Was it fun to lack access to medical care, to risk infection out in the open, and to have no protection against the wild animals that picked up the scent of his fresh blood? Now, if my family and I lived anywhere near that cemetery, I would be concerned, too. But nowhere does Scripture record that anyone came by to check on him and make sure he was okay. Nowhere does it say that local believers left food, bandages, or ointment, hoping that the man would use them in his more lucid moments. Absent is any indication that one soul cared a whit. Today’s question is about how well we respond to the needs of others. Was the man dangerous? Certainly. Would he have thrown the jar of ointment against the nearest grave and trampled the food? Maybe so. But inside was a desperately hurting man who was terrified at his own lack of control and utterly lacking in hope. Apparently no one cared or even knew how to help, so his condition deteriorated day by day. That is, until someone made a conscious decision to see his truest needs. In this case Jesus was the man of the hour. He saw beyond the hurt, the blood, the terror, and the stench—all the way to the need. And when Jesus left, He left this man in a much better condition: sane, clothed, and with the gloriously welcome instructions to return to his family and to a life worth living. Today the job has been thrust upon our shoulders, and how well we respond to the needs of others will be dictated by how much we want to see. Understand that if we don’t want to see the need, the only thing we will see is the inconvenience that person’s need causes us. The person in a bad relationship who calls you at 2:00 A.M. for emotional support will ruin a perfectly good night’s sleep. The young mother who asks you for twenty dollars here and twenty dollars there needs to find someplace else to beg; she should have stayed with her abusive husband who had plenty of money. Do you see the difference? If we focus on the inconveniences, we will avoid situations that bring us into contact with those who need us the most. But if we dare to see others through the eyes of Christ, we will be in a position to be someone’s lifeline and reap eternal rewards far beyond our comprehension. To succeed at this task, sometimes we must separate people from their actions and recognize that their actions are the direct result of their hurts. Otherwise it’s tough to understand their situation, much less forgive them for their wrongs against us. If we lash out in revenge for what they’ve done to us, we just pile on more hurts that serve to isolate them and make it even harder for them to call out for help. In so doing, we greatly grieve God’s Spirit as if Christ’s sacrifice on their behalf wasn’t impressive enough to warrant action on our part. Who haunts the graveyard near your house, and what will you do about him or her? |
