Keith's uncle and aunt, who live in Atlanta, sent our family a big box of beautiful books this past winter. We had such fun examining them, since there was something for everyone. I immediately latched onto the latest edition of Operation World (and after I discovered what they retail for at the local Christian bookstore I think fond thoughts of Uncle John every time I pick it up!).
Anyway, it has provided much fascinating reading in just the right "moment-size" amounts that is pretty much all I can count on getting throughout the day! There are tons of tidbits that set me to thinking....here is just one of them.
For each country, there are a few sentences about what drives the economy. There are quite a few countries---mostly small islands with little developed industry, although not all fit this category--- that have "remittances" listed as the major source of income for the population. I guess the migration rate is very high, and those who have gone in search of a better life elsewhere are diligent about sending money to the folks back home. I imagine the wage-earners mentally weighing their purchases, choosing to deny themselves certain things, all for the love of family (or, in some cases, I'm sure it is simply a strong sense of obligation. Either way the end result is the same).
Maybe you know me well enough to guess where I'm going with this one. We, as Christians, are part of the global family of God. We have brothers and sisters living in desperate situations. And we aren't exactly off the hook for the rest of the world, either, Christian or not. With a few exceptions, the biblical references to the poor, the neglected, the widows, and the orphans do not make a distinction between "believer" and "pagan." Does love prompt us to sacrifice? Do we feel the weight of our responsibility? Would our attitude change if those in need were our own flesh and blood? Picture your mom and dad, your kids....How would we redefine our "needs" and "wants"? What would be the amount of our remittances?
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