to help our neighbour

a verse or two

Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. The commandments, 'You shall not commit adultery; You shall not murder; You shall not steal; You shall not covet'; and any other commandment, are summed up in this word, 'Love your neighbour as yourself.' Love does no wrong to a neighbour; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law. Romans 13:8-10

Spiritual Walk and Musings: To help our neighbour.

After I got back from the Hanmer Springs Presbytery gathering, the headline news on the radio last Friday was the NZ dollar going down and the share market doing it’s thing. I must admit it was good to be away for a few days from all the so called “news” because I question if the dollar doing its thing is really headline news? Of course the dollar would go down sooner or later, and does it really matter? I’m thinking of this in the light of Jesus’ teachings which suggest we ought to prioritise other things over material things; of Jesus’ words describing how storing up stuff that will rust or that moths will destroy is rather pointless.

Surely the famine in the Horn of Africa is much more important and should be on the news more than it is (and in ways that are helpful and informative instead of sensationalist ways that just leave us more numb to it all). To all St. David’s folk, is there something you can do to help regarding the famine? I know I’m just spinking but perhaps we could all fast for a couple of days and the money saved by not buying food could be sent to an aid organisation.

On the Bible reading above, Peter Graystone says the following. “Here are two dangerous questions: 'Have I obeyed all the commandments?' and 'Who is my neighbour?' The first is dangerous because it is possible to think that we have fulfilled our duty toward God by deciding, 'I have obeyed enough.' But the question God wants us to address is, 'Have I loved enough?' and to that we can never answer yes.

The second is dangerous because once we have worked out who our neighbour is, it is tempting to go on to ask, 'Therefore who isn't my neighbour?' When Jesus loved the world to the uttermost it went beyond rules and commandments, and it did not stop until it encompassed every human of all times and places. That is the extent of the love which we are called to copy. Daunting!”

Something to do: Give help towards the 12 million people starving in the Horn of Africa.

Why not visit someone in church who has the internet and then together over coffee (Fair Trade stuff mind you), explore websites like Oxfam, TEAR Fund, World Vision or Christian World Service and see how you can help – because it does help. (Our Church website has links to some of these aid agencies http://stdavidschurch.co.nz.)

To Ponder and Pray: For the Horn of Africa.

See the insert in today’s Parish News. It has answers to some Frequently Asked Questions, a list of prayer points and a written prayer. Take it home and knock hard on God’s door!