How to face life's challenges - living in a world of need

(Luke 6v19-31; 1Timothy 2v1-7)

I hardly need to remind you that we live in a world of need - the media bring us a daily dose of the misery in which so many of our fellow human beings live, and we are reminded by the illness, bereavement or tragedies which afflict our neighbours and ourselves, that we live in a precarious world. That's always been so. The prophet Habakkuk complained to God: "The law is weak and useless, and justice is never done. Evil people get the better of the righteous, and so justice is perverted." (Habakkuk 1:4) So how to we face the challenge which a world of need brings to our faith & lives?

1. God cares. The bible reminds us that God has made a wonderful world which offers plenty of everything needed for life - if only we would share its resources fairly. There's more than enough to eat, but our rich third of the world consumes two thirds of its resources, impoverishing the rest of mankind. So much of the misery people suffer could be relieved if we were willing to take less and give more, to cut our high standard of living to devote resources to the less well off, and if corruption could be ended. But human selfishness and sin gets in the way. God sees what is going on, "But you do see; you take notice of trouble and suffering and are always ready to help. The helpless commit themselves to you; you have always helped the needy." (Psalms 10:14) The prophets warn that God will punish those who oppress the poor. Thus Amos writes, "You have oppressed the poor and robbed them of their grain. And so you will not live in the fine stone houses you build or drink wine from the beautiful vineyards you plant... You persecute good people, take bribes, and prevent the poor from getting justice in the courts. And so, keeping quiet in such evil times is the clever thing to do!" (Amos 5:11-13) God cares, and so must we. We must not keep silent in the face of injustice, but work for change. Let's listen to the reading from Luke's gospel being read by many Christians around the world today - Bible:Luke+16:19-31...... That reading emphasises that God does care and has taught us that we should share with those in need. It also warns of justice to come because, secondly,

2. This life must be viewed in the light of eternity. Suffering now is terrible and must be fought, but it is only a small part of the story of eternity. Those who suffer now will, according to Scripture, be recompensed by God. St Paul, who suffered a great deal, wrote, "I consider that what we suffer at this present time cannot be compared at all with the glory that is going to be revealed to us." (Romans 8:18) Jesus' parable of the rich man & Lazarus also warns that those who exploit or ignore the suffering will be punished by the God of justice for their wickedness, and this is a caution repeated elsewhere in scripture. This does not minimise the pain of suffering, but it is a reminder we need.

3. God can bring good out of suffering. This is a Christian faith perspective which we are called to embrace by faith. Sometimes we can see it's outworking, as in the death of Jesus, which has brought salvation to us all, but often we cannot see the good God is wanting to bring. However St. Paul declares that, "We know that in all things God works for good with those who love him, those whom he has called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28) This does not excuse suffering or explain it, nor is it something we should lightly quote to those in the midst of suffering, but it's a truth we need to embrace, so we can draw strength from it in time of need.

4. God calls us to work for justice. We are God's agents here on earth to change things for the better. In God's name Isaiah challenges us, "Stop doing evil and learn to do right. See that justice is done - help those who are oppressed, give orphans their rights, and defend widows." (Isaiah 1:16-17) Old Testament laws were framed to encourage people to help the needy - fields should not be gleaned so the poor could find food, a tithe should be given of one's income, part of which should be spent on helping the needy. We today are made aware of what's happening in the world - we must use our influence with politicians and others who can make a difference to do so for the sake of those in need. Let's join in the work of organisations like ACAT, working for the abolition of torture. Let's write to our representatives. Let's speak up if our employers oppress the needy.

5. We should not try to take on all the woes of the world. It is worth, however, adding the caveat that we cannot solve all the world's problems, and God does want us to enjoy life, rather than being miserable because it's not perfect. Jesus spent much of his time helping those in need, but he also enjoyed & appreciated the world in which he lived, and balanced his concerns with nourishing personal relationships. We should so likewise unless we receive a specific call from Jesus to give everything away and devote ourselves to such work, as some, praise God, do.

6. God calls us to give to help the needy. This is a recurrent theme of the bible. "Share your food with the hungry and open your homes to the homeless poor. Give clothes to those who have nothing to wear, and do not refuse to help your own relatives. Then my favour will shine on you like the morning sun..." (Isaiah 58:7-8) Jesus said, "You will always have poor people with you, and any time you want to, you can help them." (Mark 14:7 ) As we were reminded last week, the bible teaches us to give at least 10% of our income away to God's work and to help the needy. Our Church is seeking to do that with the money we receive from all our members' giving. The causes we have helped this year are noted on today's handout, together with some suggestions for each of us to prayerfully consider for our own giving and support. Jesus encourages us, "Give to others, and God will give to you. Indeed, you will receive a full measure, a generous helping, poured into your hands - all that you can hold. The measure you use for others is the one that God will use for you." (Luke 6:38) With millions in the world living on only a tiny fraction of what each of us earns or is given, we must be more generous. There are also millions who have not heard the good news of Jesus' love and need that - we should support the work of those taking that good news to them. Let us give! Next week out Harvest thanksgiving will focus on all God's given to us, and encourage us to give to the work of Tearfund, the Christian relief & development agency. I hope we will come disposed to be generous.

Now let's hear Bible:1Timothy+2:1-7.....
7. God calls us to pray. Paul reminds us here that God has given himself in Jesus to meet our needs, bringing us into a living relationship with himself, saving us from the consequences of our sin. His desire is that we should live in peace and justice, and we should pray to that end. "More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of." (Alfred, Lord Tennyson) "Our prayers lay the track down on which God's power can come. Like a mighty locomotive, his power is irresistible, but it cannot reach us without rails." (Watchman Nee, Christian Reader, Vol. 34) But such reminders of the importance of prayer must not be an excuse for failure to act in addition, "I am often, I believe, praying for others when I should be doing things for them. It's so much easier to pray for a bore than to go and see him." (C. S. Lewis in 'Letters to Malcolm')

We live in a world of need. God wants us to see that as an opportunity to do good and so share his blessings & love with others.

Stephen 26/9/2004

Organisations supported by our Church

Tearfund (The Evangelical Alliance Relief Fund), a Christian relief & development agency. More about its work on 3rd October at Harvest. Excellent prayer resources & a web site Tearfund Our Church will add to the money raised next week, so that at least €1000 is sent to them.

Compassion International A Christian child sponsorship programme (supported by Tearfund too). Web site Compassion International £18 or $28 per month sponsors a child. Forms from our Treasurer or sign up on the web. Our Church has given €1000 towards their general fund.

ACAT (Action Chretien pour l'Abolition de la Torture) Join a letter writing campaign to seek the release of those held illegally in prison or being tortured. Alison Coulavin will provide you with all the information and material, including English translations. Since English is more widely read abroad than French we can have a specially useful input. Web site (in French) ACAT We do not give money as a Church, but encourage the letter writing.

ICS (Intercontinental Church Society) This 180 year old anglican evangelical mission supports Churches like ours throughout Europe (+ some in South America & North Africa). The aim being to share the gospel with English speakers, including those for whom it is a 2nd or 3rd language. Good prayer material via Alan Golton. We are partnering with them in establishing a ministry in the Morzine area, where many English speakers ski. Web site ICS We give €1000 (including gifts on our annual ICS day), plus €1000 for the Morzine initiative.

Barnabas Fund A UK based Christian organisation, which supports & campaigns for Christians worldwide being persecuted for their faith. Good magazine & prayer diary, which makes challenging reading. Our Church has just sent €1000 to their appeal to help victims of the school massacre in Beslan, North Ossetia, most of whom are Christians. Web site Barnabas Fund

Romania We are sending €700 to the Christian College at which John Lenton teaches, for washing machines. We have also sent money to a sick family in Bucharest, with whom we were brought into contact.

Burkina Faso €1000 sent to the Christian training institute in which Damien Confort worked for 2 years. He or Lara can tell you more about this work.

L'Echoppe This is the local Eglise Reformee food distribution outlet in Tesseire. We give them gifts of food from our Harvest next week and our Christmas Carol Service Collection. Alison Coulavin serves on the management committee.

We also help with the annual France-wide food collection outside supermarkets in November (27th this year), the Banque Alimentaire. Sarah Paul will be glad if you volunteer for this.

Stephen recommends Every Home for Christ is a US based mission which distributes Christian literature worldwide. It has Australian & UK arms also. The latter produces an excellent monthly prayer diary/newsletter. Although our Church does not support this organisation, Stephen does & recommends it as an agency for purely evangelistic work. Web site at Every Home for Christ, though this is not very informative.

CMS (MAM) The Church Mission Society is one of the Anglican Church's oldest. Stephen & Marian worked in Burundi for its Mid Africa Mission, which has obviously given them a special concern for its work there. Stephen helps produce an e-mail prayer bulletin for them & they have a mission partner visiting them next Sunday (Sheena McBain), who's studying French ready to go to Burundi, having worked in Uganda for them. Web site at Church Mission Society

Your tithe ought to support your local Church. It should also support other organisations helping those in need (especially Christian ones). Pray about what percentage of your tithe you should give to each & aim for a balance of sharing the Christian gospel and meeting the physical needs of people (as Jesus did).