Focus On What's Important - The Big Picture

Why do so many people focus on unimportant things? There are over 7 billion people living on this planet. A LOT of them are in desperate need of food, water, shelter, medical attention, and protection. As Christians, our top priority should be to help those in need. Yes, I am aware that we are called to worship God. However, the two commandments given by Jesus were to love God and love our neighbors. We’re told that we show our faith and worship through our actions. This would mean that by showing our neighbors love, we are showing God love and are worshiping Him by honoring His son.

So, why do so many of us, Christian or otherwise, choose to not help those around us? We see a person sitting out in the cold or stranded on the side of the road and we can’t take two minutes to figure out if they need our help. Instead, we spend half a Sunday in church and call that worship so that we can feel less guilty about turning our head to the homeless man’s sign or driving by the broken-down car on the interstate.

Our priorities have become arguing over the age of the earth, universal expansion, evolution, the global atmospheric chemical composition, and so on. None of these things are important. Does it really matter if we evolved from monkeys or were created as we are now? Does it really matter if the earth is 4,600,000,000 years old or just 6,000-10,000 years old? Why do we care so much about the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere? Yes, it is a greenhouse gas and arctic and glacial ice might melt, but the IPCC hasn’t created a realistic model yet. Besides, there are several other greenhouse gases and aerosols that can impact global weather patterns and climates. You also have to ask yourself, what is the significance in reducing carbon dioxide emissions? Are we doing it to help other people, help the planet, reduce personal guilt, or alleviate unnecessary fear?

We either care about people, and their needs, or we don’t. We need to stop pretending we care. People around the world don’t care about scientific theories. They certainly don’t care about how much carbon dioxide we produce. They care about knowing where their next meal is going to come from. They care about how to find enough clean drinking water to sustain life for another day. They care about finding shelter from the next big storm. They care about finding refuge from the violent militants sweeping their countries. They care about getting medical care that can save their lives. And what do we do to help? Usually nothing.

I’m glad that people love humanity enough to attempt to preserve the planet, but if we don’t start helping each other, this won’t be a planet worth living on. How many people around the world are starving? How many people around the world go years without getting healthcare? How many people around the world go without adequate education to become self-sustaining? How many people are abused every day? 

Lastly, how many times have we turned a blind eye to it?

I know that no one person can help everyone. However, if we all helped anyone this world would be a much better place. I know I will hear, “We need to help our own country before we can help other ones.”, and that is fine. Why? Because, even in first world countries we have these issues every single day. Helping your own country first is no longer an excuse to do nothing.

Feed someone. Clothe someone. Take someone to the Doctor. Help someone with transportation to school. House someone. Do something. 

You don’t need to make a lot of money to invite someone over for a meal. You don’t need to make a lot of money to give someone your hand me downs. You don’t need to make any money to show someone love, respect, and dignity. Everyone deserves those three things and those three things are free. If you won’t, or are unable to, help someone in ways that require money then, at least, give them those three things. Every person living on this planet deserves those three things.

Matthew 25:35-40

"For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you made me your guest, 

I needed clothes and you provided them, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.' 

Then the people who have done what God wants will reply, `Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 

When did we see you a stranger and make you our guest, or needing clothes and provide them? 

When did we see you sick or in prison, and visit you?' 

The King will say to them, `Yes! I tell you that whenever you did these things for one of the least important of these brothers of mine, you did them for me!'"