Flint, Michigan has been in a crisis for years. They were sabotaged. They were utterly failed by a flawed system and left to fend for themselves during an attempted genocide. The world was watching for a mere moment during the monumental catastrophe. After the media buzz was lifted leaving only remnants of exposure found on documentaries that only socially conscious and otherwise "woke" people spectate, people were less charitable. Slowly help started to cease and eventually came to a screeching halt. People can't cook without opening countless bottles of water a week. For me the number is countless, but for the citizens of Flint they count every single day as the time continues for them to have no clean running water. Though I'm only one person, my heart was pained on behalf of these people in a situation that I can't even fathom living in, so I wanted to do something. Water is life, and they were and are still dying. I decided to donate and called my cousin. Together we packed up my truck and set out to a church in Flint. My nephew was along for the ride and in retrospect I'm glad because he's at an impressionable age, so seeing charity should be a lasting image in his head. I don't want a pat on the back for striving to be a decent human being, but I share this to ask, what are you doing?
If you call yourself a Believer or just a decent human being but don't believe in sharing people's loads and giving back, stop lying. Everyone goes through seasons of famine and seasons of surplus. When you are lacking, wouldn't you want someone to spread their overflow with you? Kids learn to share in Kindergarten, yet adults think the principle is forgotten.
"What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." James 2:14-17 NIV. If you have the ability to help someone and the Spirit convicts you to do so but you don't, you have deceived yourself. Now, if all you have are words of encouragement and prayer, then so be it pray and on the next occassion we hope God blesses even more. "Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute." Proverbs 31:8 NIV. If we see the problem, but say nothing putting on the charade of neutrality, we have failed and denied our charge. "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." John 13:35 ASV. If you claim to be a Believer of Love (the God of Light is Love) yet exude none and bear no fruit, re-examine yourself.
With all that being said, if you are going to take the charge of being a good neighbor, when you share deeds let it be to raise awarwness of the cause not to make yourself look good soliciting for accolades. Remember if you do good deeds to be seen, you have gotten your reward and therefore void your reward in Heaven (see Matthew 6).
Take up your place in the village garden. Be a part of the solution. Love on purpose and spread life.
If no one has shown you today, I love you but God loves you better.
Be blessed.
-K.T. Braxton