The Uncomfortable Calling

Day 3 of the blogging challenge:  What makes me uncomfortable?  

Hard-working poor people make me uncomfortable.  And I don't mean just homeless people.  And I don't mean the uncomfortable feeling most of us get when a red light stops us right by a beggar with a sign or we walk by a homeless man sleeping on a street.  I am talking about the woman you see carrying her grocery bags on the side of the road in the rain.   The man whose beat up, barely breathing car is broken down on the side of the road.  The co-worker who has 2 jobs to make ends meet and they never see their family.  The friend who just had a major expense come up and they are terrified of how they will come up with the money.  The single parent who struggles everyday to curb the hurt and pain of being left alone all while having to face the reality of providing for and loving a child on their own.  The child working to support their family and siblings because their parents are strung out on drugs or absent.  This makes me uncomfortable.  Why?  Because I drive a Mazda 3 that has not broken down on me yet and it gets me easily from the grocery store to home.  Because I only work one job and it allows me to save money.  Because the Lord has provided for us financially so far and I have never gone hungry.  Because I don't know why I am blessed with so much.  I do not know why I have two loving wonderful parents who gave me a great start in life and taught me wisdom about money.  And then when I start thinking of all this I get extremely uncomfortable because I know I am not doing enough.  There is so much pain and hurt and hardship going on all around me and I am not doing enough.  

Luke 12:48 "From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked."

1 John 3:17-18 "If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?  Dear children, let us not love with words and tongue but with actions and in truth." 

Hebrews 13:16  "And do not neglect doing good and sharing; for with such sacrifices God is pleased"

Galations 6:2  "Bear one another's burdens and thus fulfill the law of Christ."

I am not giving enough of my time to serve.  I am not giving enough of my money to help- whether it be charities or a friend down on their luck.  I am not spending enough time investing in others and listening to their needs and hurts.  I am not being the love to the unloved.  I am not being the mentor, the encourager, the prayer warrior, the kind word, the friendly hand, the quick lift.  I am not keeping my eyes open to the opportunities the Lord presents to me throughout everyday to be these things.  I am way too busy with my day and my life to be used in these ways.  And that makes me uncomfortable; because I know the Lord asks this of me.  Because I know that this is important to my God and my Savior.  And because it should be important to me. 

Matthew 5:13-16 "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how will it be made salty again?  It is good for nothing anymore, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.  You are the light of the world.  A city on a hill cannot be hidden.  Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl.  Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in Heaven."

Matthew 25:35-40 "For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.  Then the righteous will answer him, '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 invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?  When did we see you sick or in prison and go visit you?'  The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'"