Consider these recent headlines:
- Situation in Horn of Africa set to get worse for millions of children
- UN declares famine in two regions of southern Somalia
- First famine of the 21st century in Somalia, East Africa
- 10 million at risk from East Africa drought
- UN: Nearly 17 million need food in Horn of Africa
Now, consider this:
“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink …” –Matthew 25:35-36
And this:
As Christians, what responsibility do we have to care for the world’s poor?
And, lastly, this:
“For I was hungry, while you had all you needed. I was thirsty, but you drank bottled water.”
The following is an excerpt from Rich Stearns’ latest article on the Huffington Post, “Reflections on the Horn of Africa Drought: Jesus, Stalin and Casey Anthony”:
“I fear that for many Americans — Christians and people of other faiths or no faith — will devote little time or attention, let alone resources, to the people suffering in the Horn of Africa. Rather they are preoccupied with ‘First World problems’…
Read the full article on HuffingtonPost.com.
Read related posts about the drought and food crisis in East Africa.
I think God places people on each of our hearts. Some feel the need to help relieve suffering in Africa, some in China, and some in America. The thing is we need to respond to the burden placed on our hearts. We fail to fulfill the scriptures when we either ignore the suffering or throw our hands up and give up because the problem is too big…nothing is too big for God. Maybe all we can do right now is pray. That doesn’t seem like much on this side of eternity but one day, I think we will be surprised at how much our simple prayers accomplish. Pray for those suffering no matter where they are and He will open our eyes to what we can do. Then, let us do what is set before us with all our energy. In the end we can only control our own response to these situations. Let’s not scoff at the insensitivity of our neighbor. Let’s just keep our eyes on our own paper so to speak and do what God has given us each to do.
In the article, he isn’t talking about overlooking those in America that are hungry, he is saying in America, we are more concerned about our next car purchase, where we go on vacation, what movie to see this weekend, etc. Our thoughts, alot of the time, aren’t on any of those in poverty, here or abroad. The point is to help those that are needy whether here or there, he even says that very clearly.
I support WorldVision through Child Sponsorship. But it is absolutely appropriate for us to worry about the situation in our own country, whether we are “First World” or “Third World”. There is poverty and hunger everywhere.
For most people in America, we are not making choices between bottled water and tap water.
We are making choices between rent and food.
Huffington Post is also not a site that I wish to get my preaching from.
while my heart bleeds for these children, and children all over the world in similar situations, there are many children right here in the USA that are hungry and in need of the basics, having raised a child who went to bed hungry on many occasions, I prefer to help them first. If I could fix the world I could…..Thanks for your work, though
hello, I’m also concerned with children because I have 2 baby nephews also. I’m not that rich because I only had a job but I know how hard it is to have no food because I once experienced when I am still studying. I can pray for the little children