INTERESTS

I Was Just Thinking About – INTERESTS.

Yesterday, we received a Donation Request Card from Palmer Home for Children in Columbus and Hernando, MS. This dependable and effective ministry is deserving of one’s support. Their goal in ministry is: “Making Lives Whole Through Healing and Restoration, Serving individual children and sibling groups, Palmer Home for Children provides a family and community to children in need regardless of race, gender or background.” The Card features one child named Cassie. It states: “Many of these young people, like Cassie, have experienced the pain of loss, neglect, or abandonment.” There are other ministries that provide similar compassionate ministry such as, Big Oak Ranch and French Camp Academy. They attempt to provide a “home” for those who are enduring the pain of loss, neglect or abandonment, as well as offering them encouragement and incentive to develop into the potential person they can be by God’s Grace.

A natural question one could ask is, “What can I do?” A Scriptural emphasis is stated in Philippians 2:3-4 indicates, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

Using Alabama as an example, the webpage, “Adopt Us Kids” has posted: “Information on Alabama's waiting children - There are approximately 5,000 children in an out-of-home placement who are in the custody of the Alabama Department of Human Resources. Of these children, approximately 250 have a plan of adoption where an adoptive family has not been identified.”

In our own family, a Granddaughter and her husband adopted a young boy from Hungary. Later on, our son and his wife adopted a young girl from Ukraine. Both are lovely and appreciative. They have easily fit into family life and lifestyle. Our son’s daughter is now associated with Bridges of Faith that has ministry with children/young people who are feeling and experiencing the pain of loss, neglect, or abandonment.” She can easily relate to them and build a bridge into their lives.

The words in Philippians 2 is emphasizing how Biblical Christians are to relate to others. What one does should never be done “out of selfish ambition or empty pride.” What should be the motivation for the Biblical Christian? The passage indicates: “In humility consider others more important than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” It is not just the abandoned child and young person that are in view. Almost every time I see a homeless person, I cannot help but wonder: “How did this situation occur? What brought a person to this place and living this lifestyle? Do they fit into the above passage of Scripture? How should I react/respond to all of the needs mentioned above? One commentary (Calvin) states: “In lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.” Another commentary (Pulpit) suggests: “Not making one's own interest the one only object of life, but regarding also the interests, feelings, wishes, of others.”

Does any of this relate to us? It should! Do these verses describe who I am and must be/do? They should! Have we become too absorbed in our own lives and lifestyle that we have missed the plight of those who are experiencing the pain of loss, neglect, or abandonment? Have we become desensitized to the “need factor” present in our world and communities today? I pray and hope not!

Prayerfully – consider these things with me!