LIVING IN A LAND OF PLENTY

By Michael K. Farrar, O.D.

© God’s Breath Publications

 

I heard of a pastor who told the story of how he once helped with a feeding ministry to Haitian people. He traveled 45 minutes by plane to Haiti where rice balls are passed out to children of all ages. During the distribution of food he watched a young boy eat his rice ball. The young lad took his rice ball and ate two huge bites out of it, then began to nibble on individual kernels of rice the rest of the day. The Pastor figured out that what the young boy was doing was satisfying his knawing hunger pangs by getting those two large bites into his stomach. Then the boy, knowing that this was the only food he would get all day, gradually cherished each kernel to make it last through the rest of the long day. The Pastor watched as the little boy nibbled and sucked on those tiny grains of rice one at a time trying to make his rice ball last.

 

But this Pastor’s experience with these needy people didn’t end here. On his plane flight home the stewardess asked the pastor if he wanted chicken or steak for his meal. As the Pastor contemplated his choices, visions of the young Haitian boy floated into his head. He saw the tender lips of the young boy sucking on a single rice kernel. Confused about the contrast of abundance and poverty so close together and convicted by his blessed situation he declined the meal. The stewardess then asked in a pleasant voice if he would like something to drink and opened her serving tray to display all sorts of soda drinks, drinking water and orange juice. Again the pastor’s memory went back to the long pipe which expelled a small stream of dirty water that Haitian people had lined up to obtain drinking water from. Again he declined the offer of the stewardess. He bowed his head and cried. He was overwhelmed by the poverty he had witnessed and the overabundance that was available to him. Living only 45 minutes away in a land of plenty the needs of the homeless and poverty stricken in Haiti were awesome.

 

The statistics of comparing life in Haiti and America are truly overwhelming. The young Haitian boy will probably live to be about 35 years old and in his lifetime he will consume about 35 to 50 pounds of rice. It is estimated that each American will live to be about 70 years old. In each of our lifetimes we will consume about 150 steers, 26 sheep, 310 hogs, 25 lambs, 2,400 chickens, and 50 acres of fruits and vegetables. We truly live in a country of abundance.

 

I remember once while recovering from a sinus infection I contemplated how lucky I was to live in such a country as America. I lay on a soft couch watching my favorite TV show while taking medicine obtained at a local walk-in clinic. Yes I was miserable with a 104-degree temperature, but I had received inexpensive medical care. I was warm and well fed. I was entertained and living the life of Riley as I recuperated. I doubt those in Haiti or other third-world countries are as lucky. Medical care is scarce and expensive. Living conditions are Spartan and are not conducive to recovering from illness. How lucky I am to live in a land of plenty.

 

Even in our own country there are homeless people who live in similar conditions as Haiti. The recent hurricane disasters hit those living in poverty the hardest. Rich people write off such costs in their tax reports and can often easily replace what they have lost. Individuals who are not as well off must strive to obtain food and shelter as best they can. Many of these people could not afford a house payment and flood insurance so they have lost all hopes of regaining a place to live in the near future.

 

Even though there is much poverty in America, most of us really do live in a land of plenty. How do we as Christians deal with such contrasts of overabundance and overwhelming need? Possibly Luke 12:48 gives us a hint where it says, “ From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.”

 

Living in a land of plenty gives us a great responsibility. As individual Christians we cannot tackle the needs of Haiti as a whole let alone those of the world, but we can attempt to do our small part to minister to those in need. It’s like the saying, “How does an ant eat an elephant?” The answer is “One small bite at a time.”

 

Challenged by the fact that we have been blessed to live in such a country as America and convicted by the Holy Spirit that we should do something about it as responsible Christians, what can we do to serve those in need? We can seek to give to our local church that ministers both locally and internationally to those in need. We can serve in ministries in our local area that provide food and clothing to those in who lack adequate resources. We can go on short-term missions that provide food and services to those living in harsh conditions. We pray both for those in living in poverty wherever they live. We can pray for God to bring into our lives opportunities for us to minister to those in need and be willing to respond appropriately. 

 

God calls us as His servants to have a “World View.” We are members of His Kingdom, which encompasses the whole world, not just our local church fellowship. We are called to pray for Christians everywhere and for those in need anywhere. Possibly we may not have money or resources to give nor may be able to go on missions or serve locally but we have no excuse when it comes to prayer. Prayer can be the most powerful thing we can do to serve others in their times of need.

 

But intelligent and effective prayer often requires investigation and education. We must seek to find out how best to pray for those in poverty and need around the world. We can learn from those in the mission field who return home to report to our churches. We can listen to the news and read books and newspapers about the needs around the globe. We can learn from those who do go on short-term missions within our local body. Prayer for those in need is one of the signs of being a true follower of Christ.

 

I would encourage you to seek to pray for those in need around the world. Be open for ministry opportunities to serve the needy in your own local area through soup kitchens, homeless centers and clothing and food distribution ministries. Be available if possible to serve on a short-term mission team that goes to a foreign country. If you listen for the Holy Spirit to show you how you can minister, He will instruct you how you can serve. By all means don’t take for granted the blessings God bestows upon you. Thank Him daily for his provision for you as you live in a land of plenty.

 

James 2:14-17

“What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, ‘Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”