I received an email this morning from my friend, Oscar, who along with his precious wife and helper, Emma, care for several orphans along with their own 3 children. They also provide when they can to other children in their village who have very little due to the health of their parent or guardian. Sometimes all these children really have is a roof over their heads, but they have Oscar and Emma, and he does not turn a blind eye to their needs. Even when he has so little for the 12 orphans for whom hw cares, he still shares with the other children and some widows who are also living in desperate circumstances.
The Happy Choice compound has been transformed over the last few years. God has invited some of His children to be part of this work in a little village outside Kisumu in Kenya. Because God is faithful to provide, they now have a new hostel with bunk beds and blankets and mattresses, a new kitchen, a new latrine, water piped in from Kisumu and now electricity! Who would have ever believed that this was possible? Not me, I'm afraid. I didn't have that kind of understanding and faith. I do now. Praise God!
I am continually amazed at how God touches hearts for the children in this small villlage. How Oscar and Emma walk by faith, believing that God can do anything. And once again, He has provided through His children, electricity to the compound!
Our women's class is doing a study of James (which, by the way, I highly recommend.) and the lesson I did this morning was on pure and undefiled religion - "to care for the widows and orphans"... The prayers and financial support that is given by "well wishers", as Oscar calls them, is "pure and undefiled religion" - showing love and concern for those who cannot provide for themselves; loving our neighbor with actions instead of just empty words.
James asks the question: "Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom He promised those who love Him?" James 2:4
Oscar and Emma are rich in faith and it is clear that they love the Lord with all their hearts. When we help them, we are doing exactly what God has called us to do.
Sometimes it feels like what little I can do doesn't matter. There is always a need to be met that I personally cannot meet. I can only imagine how Oscar and Emma feel when they are confronted with with no food for the children, but they don't choose to do nothing, just because they cannot do much. They do what they can and trust God to provide. After all, He fed 5000 men with 2 loaves and 5 fish. I sometimes forget that.
James, the half-brother of Jesus, hits hard on this point of caring for those who cannot care for themselves.
James 2:14-17
What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead."
God keeps reminding me to do what I can do. He doesn't require that I do what I am unable to do, just that I do what I can. This is how we show our love to God; we care for his people who are hurting.
I'm reminded of Lazarus and the rich man. The rich man had everything on earth and apparently couldn't even "see" Lazarus as he sat outside his gate, hungry and and in need of basic necessities.
But God saw Lazarus.
When they both died, Lazarus became the rich man and the rich man was in torment, begging for the salvation of his brothers who were still alive, but it was too late.
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Oh, Lord, help me not get so caught up in my "wants and needs" that I fail to do what I can do to help those with less. Help me to do whatever I can do, no matter how insignificant it may seem.
In the Bible, You told us of the widow who gave all she had, and even though it was next to nothing, You honored her and even gave her a place in Holy Scripture - because she gave even more than she had. How will I ever be able to stand with those believers who are so self-sacrificing? Those precious believers like Oscar and Emma? Bless them, Lord, with riches greater than we could ever imagine! I sit at their feet, humbled by their love for others and their complete faith in You. I'm so thankful to know them, and I'm so thankful that Christ wraps me in His righteous as I stand before You, Father. Change my heart, make me more aware of the suffering around me instead of my focusing on my own little struggles. All Glory and Honor and Praise to You, because You alone are worthy to be praised! In the precious name of Jesus, our Savior, I pray. May Your perfect will be done. Amen.
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