Someone said something funny some days back. He said ‘blessed are those who finish all their December Salary in December, for they shall know the true meaning of endurance in January’. I had a good laugh. In 2012, a friend of mine sent a broadcast with pictures of people celebrating and living large during the festive season, only to become depressed in January because they couldn’t afford school fees, rent, etc. That was a good warning.
Well, sometimes people happen upon hard times even without any fault of theirs and find themselves needing help. Should we turn a blind eye and convince ourselves that someone else will meet their need even when we have the capacity to do so?
I realize it isn’t always easy to keep reaching out to others, especially when it seems there’s nothing to gain, but hey! we should be proud of ourselves because when we break the chains of injustice, get rid of exploitation in the workplace, free the oppressed and cancel debts, share our food with the hungry, take care of the homeless, and provide clothes to those who need them, we actually do the right thing.
When we pour out that with which we sustain our own lives for the hungry and satisfy the need of the afflicted, our light rises in darkness, and we are moved out of obscurity. We find that our steps are ordered into wellbeing and peace and even when there’s a famine, we are satisfied. We become like a well-watered garden and like a gurgling spring that never runs dry. Wow!
Just in case you ever wondered about what’s in it for you, think about these benefits. Are they not reason enough to keep on doing the right thing?
