Love God. Love People
By Sheryl Martin Hash
Guest Blogger
I recently read an article about Mary McDowell, a woman from a privileged background, who led a crusade against the horrific labor conditions of stockyard workers in Chicago during the 1890s. She was so moved by their plight that she decided to live among them – ministering to their needs, including teaching their children at a school in the back of a feed store.
Advocating for better conditions for others – even when we are not directly impacted – is something Esther did, as well. She risked death by approaching the king about the circumstances of the Israelites in Persia (now known as Iran). The Jewish Queen could have ignored her people’s pleas for help, but she stood up for them instead (Esther 10:4-17).
While most of us aren’t able to take on massive causes like Mary McDowell or Queen Esther, we can choose to see the needs of others and help them.
Showing the love of God
Two questions at the end of the article on Mary McDowell drove that point home: How are you using what you possess to help others? What role can you play in providing for those who may not live near you?
As Christians, I believe we all should be asking ourselves these questions. It’s easy to get sidetracked by worldly “needs” – houses, furnishings, cars, clothes, trips, jewelry, etc. But I’m reminded of what Jesus said in Matthew 22:39 about the second greatest commandment: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Our neighbors aren’t just the folks who live in our community, our school district, our county, or even our state. The “neighbors” Jesus was talking about are people near and far. We, as His followers, are to show His love to the world.
That’s why this ministry is so passionate about helping disadvantaged women and vulnerable children in places like sub-Saharan Africa. Most of us in America have never known abject poverty. We have never been homeless. We have never experienced starvation. And, God forbid, should we ever find ourselves in these circumstances, there are a myriad of local, state, and federal government programs available to help.
There are no such programs for the women and young people this ministry is trying to support. When a child is repeatedly raped by a family member, there is no cry of indignation from the community. The police don’t swoop in and haul the offender to jail. More often than not, the little girl suffers alone. Even if she tells her parents, chances are she will not be believed. And it somehow becomes her fault. Because of the shame she has brought to her family, she is usually banished from her home.
A burden no child should bear
Imagine your 11-year-old daughter, granddaughter, sister, or niece having to live on the streets – while she is pregnant. She has no support, no education, and no one she can turn to for help. She is hopeless … and wonders what she did to deserve such treatment. This is a burden no child should have to bear.
The child mothers we tell you about in our newsletters, blogs, and social media posts live this story every day. That’s why your support of our Youth at Risk initiative is so crucial. We learn of these child mothers through trusted contacts who join us in rescuing these girls and placing them in our Youth at Risk Home or with Christian families. They receive shelter, food, clothing, an education, medical care, and biblical mentoring. And, for the first time, they are introduced to a Father who loves them unconditionally.
These are not throw-away children! They just have never been loved or nurtured. The only life they’ve known is one of hardship and instability.
Every week as I head into church, I walk past a big sign that says: “Love God. Love People.” Four words … the message is simple, but the words are powerful.
In Matthew 25:31–46, Jesus’ parable makes the point that when we serve others, we serve God. After listing acts of service – such as providing food to the hungry, drink to the thirsty, lodging for the homeless, clothes for the naked, and healing for the sick – Jesus concludes, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”
Visualizing Jesus as the ultimate recipient of our kindness should motivate us to serve those around us – whether they live in our neighborhoods or on the other side of the world. When Christ prompts us to sacrificially invest in the needs of others, we serve Him. And when we love God … we love people.
