Liz's Devotion: What does a person in need look like?

The following devotion comes from reading the story of Elijah, who, after being threatened with death by Jezebel, goes and sits beneath a juniper tree where he becomes so depressed that he prays for death.  (1 Kings 19:1-18)

Is it the one whose skin is beaten, and eyes are bloodshot?  Is it the one who looks homeless or evicted?  Is it the one who struggles after having a stroke, cancer, or AIDS?  Is it the one who uses drugs or alcohol?  Is it a thief or the killer?  How about one labeled the adulterer or prostitute?  Is it the one who sits under a tree? 

Just what does a person in need look like?

Perhaps the statements above describe the consequences of an ignored person in need.  Is this the result of symptoms that have been ignored for too long?  Are these things that should have been seen, recognized, and attended to all along?

Are we making any attempt to practice preventive Christianity? Do we take the time to care enough to nurture, counsel, teach, and/or encourage other Christians before they reach the world’s definition of a person in need? 

We go to the doctor at least once a year.  We visit the dentist.  The medical profession is so concerned about catching a problem before it becomes a full-blown incurable problem that we are given free or inexpensive yearly checkups called preventive and well person doctor’s visits.  How about doing the same for our soul? We could ward off and prevent so much of what causes a person to cross over into the world of being needy.

People in need started life like everyone else and looked pretty much like you and me.  Somewhere along the way, their needs were ignored.  I would surmise that many “people in need” have come through the doors of Church and their needs were ignored. Have you looked around you lately to see if there are signs of a fellow Christian being troubled?  Are we ignoring what is right under our noses? 

You might ask what in the world can we do to help?  We might not be able to supply material needs.  But what about working groups that address the problems that lead a person to seek help.

Do you have a young married group that provides an arena for couples to get positive reinforcement and encouragement so marriages will no longer fail and couples can learn to seek true happiness?  Do we have strong programs that explore the turmoil while promoting the healthy side of being a teen?  Are we just strutting our personal success stories and never bothering to let on that we weren’t always so successful, tithing on the ball models of Christianity.  Are we so busy being affluent that we forget that there may be those among us who are not and who don’t need pity.  They need encouragement and to know they are not the only ones striving to make it.

Take a child who steals.  There are signs that should be noticed before the child grows into an adult who steals.  But something was lacking before the child took the first thing and somewhere stealing became okay.  Efforts to teach the child that stealing was wrong did not work.  Once it was realized that the effort did not work why continue on that same path instead of changing the teaching strategy?  Do we stay course or give up, and leave it up to the child to meet their own needs?  

It’s not only theft. Teens have been pregnant two and three times. There are too many addicted teens.  Detention and jail seem to be the harsh result because upon discovering the downward spiral, adults, leaders, teachers, ministers did not change the plan/ try another tactic – Did not see that they were in need of something.

Sometimes we look down at those who drink or smoke.  But I know some drinkers and smokers who are better Christians than some who do neither.  Those with vices can have loving and kind spirits and will go out of their way for others. Some people who stand in need themselves will open their hearts and homes to others.  While some Christians take every opportunity to stir up confusion, bring down the spirit, and all in the name of Christianity.

What are we playing at and when will we turn our hearts and minds around?  We are often the ones that can help with despair when others have not learned to lean on Jesus or who have turned away from their faith.  We must seek guidance from God and become determined to help. 

Do you know what a person in need looks like?  Maybe we are the ones in need.