God Hunting …

I am currently reading Somerset Maughm’s The Razor’s Edge and, though it would probably surprise him greatly to see the direction of my thoughts have taken, it has caused me to think about our materialistic world’s concern for the equality of all. This brings me to thinking on the problem of poverty – those who suffer want and whom we commonly refer to as “the poor.” Maughm speaks of them, through one of his characters, as “the scrubby, unwashed people.” (Maughm 1948, 64).

There is, in current thinking, a presumption that making sure the poor are looked after, working so that all have equality of wealth, opportunities and comfort in life is the most noble thing we can do. This thought is present in secular thinking, of course – because the predominant philosophy of this age is humanistic and materialistic – but it has also seeped into Christian thinking. This has been a challenge to the Church since its inception: the world’s mindset leaking into the assumptions of the people of God. As the people of God, we end up by becoming so hopelessly enmeshed in the affairs of whatever world we’re living in that we can no longer perceive existence from the perspective of the Creator. We become petty people moving in tiny worlds of our own creation, believing that these are the only worlds that exist.

The truth in this matter is that, seemingly, from God’s perspective, there is not a lot we can do about solving human poverty. Jesus made this clear in His statement: “The poor you will always have with you …” (Matthew 26:11, NIV). This is so, firstly, because it is a result of human sin – both in act and in nature – and, as such, the cure will never be found in providing more food or higher salaries or better medical care or more comfortable housing or greater personal security. Secondly, because the first is true, it becomes the task of God’s people is to further His purposes as He reveals them to us – in the general sense, in His Word and, individually, in our daily relationship with Him. Human efforts to reduce human poverty are not evil – they are good but they are misdirected! Now, we know that it is a normal expectation for everyone to have food, money, good health, good housing and security. That is not the issue. The issue is that, rather than finding our way to God, we are distracted along the way with all the “things” that need to be done. Generations are witness to the fact that straightening out their relationship to God results in straightening out their priorities so they are no longer simply distracted and, so, do the things that need to be done in their proper time and place. As Jesus taught, we should, “ … seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness …” (Matthew 6:33, KJV). Everything else falls into place if our relationship to God is the priority.

Human nature satisfies itself with attacking the problem but ignoring the root cause. Perhaps this is so because there is an unconscious realization that we cannot, ourselves, fix the root cause, therefore we busy ourselves with those things which surround it hoping that we can draw God’s attention away from our real problem – our sinfulness.

Now, this does not mean that we should not be humanitarians and work to alleviate poverty, suffering and destruction. Rather, as we do these good things, we need to be doing them from a proper perspective, with the goal of accomplishing the purposes of God. The Message paraphrases Jesus’ words in Matthew 6:33 – “Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.”

Think on these things!

Profdifficile.