What To Do With This World's Goods

If anyone has this world's goods and sees his brother in need but shuts off his compassion from him — how can God's love reside in him? - 1 John 3:17

When in Africa, we lived behind a wall. Theft and home invasion are a reality in all under-developed countries and since ours was the second poorest in the world, we took all the necessary precautions. In addition to the wall, our company provided a night guard and our house-helper doubled as a day guard. These men controlled our gate to make sure that the people coming to our door had a legitimate reason to do so.

Though our circumstances in Africa required that we restrict access to our property, the Bible clearly teaches that we are to never restrict access to our lives, our hearts. We are always surrounded by "need" and while not all need is legitimate, every need should be compassionately seen, observed, examined, and if possible, met.

Certainly, no one likes to feel "taken in" by the deceit of another, but let us not build walls of apathy that lead us to ignore the true needs of others, especially those within the Body of Christ.

To be shelter less and alone in the open country, hearing the wind moan and watching for day through the whole long weary night; to listen to the falling rain, and crouch for warmth beneath the lee of some old barn or rick, or in the hollow of a tree; are dismal things, but not so dismal as the wandering up and down where shelter is, and beds and sleepers are by thousands; a houseless rejected creature. - Charles Dickens