Concern for others
Some
people prefer not to know what's going on, because
information might bring obligation.What you don't know can't
hurt you,says the old age: but is it true? In a letter to a
Mrs.Foote,Mark Twain wrote,all you need in this life is
ignorance and confidence then success is sure.But what we
don't know could hurt us a great deal here are people in the
cemetery who chose not to know the truth.The slogan for the
1987 AIDS publicity campaign was on’t die of ignorance; and
that slogan can be applied to many areas of life besides
health.
Nehemiah asked about Jerusalem and the Jews living there because he had a caring
heart. When we truly care about people, we want the facts,
no matter how painful they may be.Practical politics
consists in ignoring facts'American historian Henry Adams
said; but Aldous Huxley said,Facts do not cease to exist
because they are ignored.Closing our eyes and ears to the
truth could be the first step toward tragedy for ourselves
as well as for others.
Are we
ike Nehemiah,anxious to know the truth even about the worst
situations Is our interest born of concern or idle
curiosity? When we read missionary prayer letters, the news
in religious periodicals, or even our church’s ministry
reports, do we want the facts, and do the facts burden us?
Are we the kind of people who care enough to ask?
Think about it: "Each of you should look
not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of
others" (Phil. 2:4).
Read:
Nehemiah 1st chapter
Do you know someone
who is experiencing hardships? Until now you haven’t done
much more than pray for that person. Talk to God about the
matter. Determine to do something for that person. Even a
phone call is a starter.
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