What is religion? Some would answer that question by saying that it is religion which defines our relationship with God. Others say that religion is believing certain teachings or doctrines. Still others think that religion consists of performing certain rituals such as fasting and saying prescribed prayers. According to the Bible however, religion is more than acknowledging God. It is more than believing certain things. It is more than going through rituals. Our religion should also affect how we live and how we treat those around us. Scripture says, “Religion that God our Father accepts is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” (James 1:27 NIV)
This concept, that true religion includes social responsibility agrees with what God said hundreds of years ago to the nation of Israel through the prophet Isaiah. “…day after day they seek me out; they seem eager to know my ways, as if they were a nation that does what is right and has not forsaken the commands of its God. They ask me for just decisions and seem eager for God to come near them. ‘Why have we fasted,’ they say, ‘and you have not seen it? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you have not noticed?’ Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please and exploit all your workers. Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife, and in striking each other with wicked fists. You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high. Is this the kind of fast I have chosen, only a day for a man to humble himself? Is it only for bowing one’s head like a reed and for lying on sackcloth and ashes? Is that what you call a fast, a day acceptable to the Lord? Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter – when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?” (Isaiah 58:2-7 NIV)
This kind of helping, and sharing our possessions with each other is especially critical during times of crisis. Often it is the times of trouble, not times of prosperity, which show us whether our religion is genuine. God sometimes uses earthquake, fire, flood or famine to reveal who is religious in name only, and who serves Him from the heart. If the Spirit of Christ is in us then we will have the same sort of compassion for others that Christ had. When disaster strikes, we will want to help those in need. Even if we ourselves have suffered loss, we will still want to help others; we will share what we have to ease someone else’s need.
This raises an important question: How can we help others when we ourselves are in need? How can we give to others when we don’t have enough? The Apostle Paul addressed this problem when he urged the followers of Christ in the Greek city of Corinth to take up an offering for the poor in Jerusalem. He pointed out that what makes a gift acceptable to God is not the size of the gift, but the heart of the one who gives it. “For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.” (2 Corinthians 8:12 NIV)
This agrees with the teaching of Jesus. “Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything – all she had to live on.”” (Mark 12:41-44 NIV)
Though our offerings, no matter how small, are acceptable and pleasing to God if they are given with a willing heart, how can they really help? During a disaster or natural calamity our ability to give and to help others is almost nothing compared to the need. One answer to this question is that though it is beyond the ability of any one person to meet the needs during a disaster, much of the need can be met if everyone is willing to share what he has with those who have less. The Apostle Paul wrote this to the people whom he was asking to help the poor in Jerusalem, “Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality, as it is written: “He that gathered much did not have too much, and he that gathered little did not have too little.”” (2 Corinthians 8:13-15 NIV) Though we may not have much to give, if everyone is willing to give what he can, the burden will be shared by all.
A second answer to the question of what is the point of giving or helping when we ourselves only have a little, is that God can do mighty things with the little we have. Our small gift is like a seed which grows and produces many other seeds. Paul writes, “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver… Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.” (2 Corinthians 9:6-10 NIV)
We have seen that during a time of disaster we should try to help others even though we have little to give. But who should we help? To whom should we give? How long should we help? The Apostle Paul answered these questions when he wrote, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” (Galatians 6:9-10 NIV)
So, we are to help whenever we have the opportunity. We are to help everyone – without discriminating against them because of their nationality, the color of their skin or their religion. This is why the followers of Christ are often the first to provide aid and help during times of trouble. This is why the followers of Christ give helping hands to people of all races and religions. However, in our desire to help others we should not neglect the followers of Christ who are in need. They should be our first priority.
Christ illustrated the teaching of giving help to all in a parable about a Samaritan. The Jewish people looked down on the Samaritan people, not only because they were of mixed blood, but because the Jews considered them heretics. “On one occasion an expert in the Law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” He answered: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.” But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But when a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”” (Luke 10:25-36 NIV)
Just as the Samaritan was a true neighbor to the man who was robbed, even though he was of a different race and religion, we also should help others as we have the opportunity.
The next time disaster strikes will you be a neighbor to those who are less fortunate?