It’s Our Business
Today, my brother, niece and mother came to Fort Collins for a visit. It was good to have them here and for my niece Kate, to see our home for the first time. We had a nice visit, enjoyed strawberries from the garden and a visit our neighborhood pool.
I wanted to see grandson Riley’s baseball game, since their season is coming to an end and they were playing in Arvada. My plans and timing ended up being curtailed by the afternoon traffic and some adverse weather, but I made it in time to see most of the game. Riley played well, hitting the ball at every at bat and ended the game at catcher, after playing second base for most of the game.
The rain began just as the gamed ended, so that was good. My trip home went better, but delayed the posting of my daily blog.
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “If you see someone on their way to death or in danger of being killed, you must do something to save them. You cannot say, “It’s none of my business.” The Lord knows everything, and he knows why you do things. He watches you, and he will pay you back for what you do.” Proverbs 24:25 (ERV)
I have been reading Proverbs in what is called the “Easy to Read Version.” This verse above is from Solomon’s “thirty wise sayings.” As I read it I thought of two things.
First, we have heard of the situations where someone was being attacked or in need and was ignored by several people who witnessed the crime or saw the person in need. When confronted, “they didn’t want to be involved.” It is like a modern day “Parable of the Good Samaritan.” You will recall that the man robbed, beaten and left for dead was ignored by the Priest and Levite, but got the attention of the Samaritan, the most unlikely person in the eyes of the Jews of the day to stop.
Second, I thought of the spiritual application and our obligation to share the “good news” of Christ’s love and forgiveness with others. The Bible is clear that those without Christ in the center of their lives are headed to a certain death. The Lord has called us to be those who are the warning signs on the road of life to those headed in the wrong direction.
The proverb also says the Lord knows our motives; why we do what we do. Our initial impulse can be to view that as a negative and assume that our motives and those of others are suspect. But as we follow Christ and are sensitive to His direction in our life, we can have confidence that the Lord sees our hearts and actions and even if we aren’t recognized for our positive actions the Lord sees and will reward us.
In our life we need wisdom and discernment as to who to help and when and the same applies in sharing our faith. But when it comes to an eye towards those who are in need and those who are in danger; physically, emotionally and spiritually, it is our business to take action. That is what the Lord compels us to do.