“God helps those who help themselves,” my dad seems to throw this saying around, especially when talking about my financial inefficiencies. But recently, I have been thinking how much this statement seems to contradict the ministry of Jesus. Doesn’t it appear that Jesus helps those who cannot help themselves.
I am reminded of the story of the paralytic whose friends lowered him down through the roof to be healed by Jesus. There was nothing that this man could have done to walk again. His only hope was that Jesus would have mercy on him and heal him. His friends cared enough about him that everything they could to get him to Jesus. But when this man was brought face to face with Jesus, he was told to “pick up his mat want walk.” The hope that this man and his friends had in Jesus’ ability came to fruition.
This story and others like it should serve as reminders to each of us that a major part of Jesus’ ministry was bring hope to those who had no other means of helping themselves. As the church today, we should realize that it is our responsibility to follow in the footsteps of Jesus and help those who cannot help themselves. In different communities this may mean different things, but if we take Jesus seriously then we need to make it part of our ministry to bring hope to those who have no hope. God is not looking for those who are helping themselves, but rather those who have no hope.
Here is an interesting article from USA Today about the changing religious landscape.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2009-03-09-ARIS-faith-survey_N.htm
Let me know what you think.
It hard to not notice the economic struggles that are plaguing most our our world. Everyday in the news it appears that we are falling deeper and deeper into a pit that leaves many without any hope. In Biblical times, there were often families that could not afford to support themselves and as a result some would sell off their land and others would sell themselves and their families to another family that could support them as an indentured servant. If they were fortunate they could pay back what was owed, but most would not be so lucky.
God provided a means for these families to regain what they had to give up and be restored to who they once were. His means was the Year of Jubilee (see Leviticus 25). In the Year of Jubilee, the land was given back to its original owner and the those who had sold themselves into servanthood would be released. (Note: there is no evidence that the Year of Jubilee was a regular practice among the Israelites, but this does not reduce the system that God had put into place as being insignificant.) What this does show is that God knew that humanity would put themselves into positions that they could not get out of . The Year of Jubilee was a way for those who were in debt we be free of that debt and no longer subject to its burden.
What would it look like if our world today practiced the Year of Jubilee? Would our world be a better place if the leaders of the world got together and decided to cancel all of the world’s debt? I would argue that our world would be better off. We are so dependent on our current financial system that relies on increasing our debt to get what we want. To get a car, an education, a house or a business, we are put into positions were we must borrow because we are incapable of obtaining these things on our own. Maybe enacting the Year of Jubilee is the way we can get out of the grips our current financial system has put on us. Think about it.
Here is a list of some topics I am planning on covering
- Paul’s understanding of Israel based on Romans 11
- Christian Response to Anti-Semitism
- Photos of Johnathan
More Topics coming. Check back soon!
