Take time to care

It's easy to mentally check out from people's problems and not offer help to them. Especially when it's just minutes before we're about to head home after a long day, and someone needs a person to talk to. Serving others requires us to be open - and a short, kind word of encouragement before we head off home could be what is needed to ease a troubled soul.

Jesus told a parable about a king who was met with indifference from invitees to his banquet: 'But they paid no attention and went away' (Matthew 22:5 GWT). By being indifferent to people's needs, we're making the decision to put ourselves first, so that we're comfortable and don't have to get too deeply involved. Elie Wiesel once said, 'The opposite of love is not hate, it's indifference.' And, like those invited to the king's banquet in the parable, it may mean we miss out on very special interactions. When people approach us for help, it's a great opportunity to be in the centre of God's will.

Now, we're not saying we need to devote huge chunks of our time to every person with an issue who comes our way. But, in a world where there's already lack of care, God is looking for his willing followers to make the decision to show compassion and love.



So what now? Who will you be interacting with today? Ask God to highlight whose needs he'd like you to pay attention to. And take some time to care for yourself at some stage.





— SCRIPTURE —

'But they paid no attention and went away.' Matthew 22:5 GWT
— SOULFOOD —

Neh 1-4, John 18:1-11, Ps 148:7-14, Pro 29:16-21