It Costs to Give...the Jesus way

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The Syrian Refugee Crisis has caught my attention, as much as it has for most of the world. I've been reading a lot about the crisis and reflecting on my response. Tonight, I saw a post that really caused me to write some of my thoughts here. My apologies if they are not well organized or thorough, but I just felt I had to put some of the thoughts in writing...

 Look at what these refugees carry with them here before you read on.

 I know the issues are complex in the Syrian refugee crisis. But I also know we cannot just ignore them or just say 'phew, glad we are in Canada - we are so blessed'. Our responsibility is to live out the blessings...doing something in response...that is why this country is based on the idea of having its citizens VOLUNTEER to GIVE BACK to the community.

I've read people's comments in other blogs saying that some of these refugees don't look 'poor' (as if only poor people can become refugees!). Yes, in case you are thinking about it - I'm sure there will be people amongst the millions that are 'taking advantage' of the situation. But do we sit and do nothing only because of these 'bad' people? That is, in essence, our problem. For every call to give back...we tend to be cynical and think of all the 'bad people' who might be 'taking advantage' and thence we retract and decide to just be grateful.

This is where we, who know Christ, must differ....we give back not only because 'it's the right thing to do'. We give back because we are compelled to do it. Think about it. It's no different to a person who says to God "thank you God for all your blessings" but does nothing that shows his/her thankfulness". To say, "wow, this crisis has reminded me of how blessed we are to be in Canada" but to not feel compelled to respond really shows no true thankfulness. They are simply empty words.

We do not help only when the pictures we see in the media gives us reason to give. We do not help only when the people we see look poor, deprived or sad.

We do not help only after we measure right and left, high and low and we 'deem' the situation merit our help. 

I'm not taking a position on what our governments should do - the situation is much more complex for them, in my opinion, because they have to weigh in many other things.  

But for us...it is really simple...if we choose to pay attention beyond the picture we saw of the child on that seashore we would realize 'feeling thankful' would be a hypocritical response. I'm not saying we need to necessarily give money or sponsor a refugee. We might. But measure the degree and quality of your response. How superfluous is it? How superficial is it?

Bottom line....may this crisis cause us to respond beyond the immediate. Giving the way Jesus taught us to give costs. It has to be sacrificial. And, we can give sacrificially because of having experienced (and still experiencing) His overflowing blessings day by day.

If you pray, pray wholeheartedly
If you give, give sacrificially
If you learn, learn with an open mind and heart
If you reach out, reach out humbly
If you speak up, speak up gracefully
If you do any of these, do it not only if you have free time...do it in spite of the fact that your days are full.

 Something will have to give...what is God calling us to give...





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