Dilution is the Solution to Pollution
When 172 million gallons of oil spilled into the Gulf of Mexico in 2010, one of the environmental experts put this out. Greenpeace was appalled, but the principle stands.
The reverse is true too. And it can help us understand “the more you have, the less you care.”
When people struggle to stay alive, not much else matters. They’re focused, resourceful and yes, generous. People have great empathy for others facing the same circumstances and they’ll do just about anything to help. But as we climb out of poverty and move beyond survival, we start to think more about ourselves. And that’s the beginning of selfishness.
So why is it true that “the more you have, the less you care” ?
1. Dilution – We can only focus on a few things at a time. As we start to accumulate “stuff”, it takes our attention, energy, and money. We have wives, kids, pets, houses, cars, toys, hobbies and friends. There’s so little bandwidth left, we can hardly remember to pray for the poor, much less do anything to help.
2. Distance – “Orphan” is just a word until you hold one. We see images and use our imaginations, but unless we go to developing countries and experience things personally, we are rarely convicted to act beyond stroking a check. Since most of the poverty and pain in the world is somewhere else, “Out of sight, out of mind” holds true.
3. Deception – We are deceived into thinking we can’t make a difference. We’re deceived into thinking someone else will do it. And we’re deceived into thinking it is Divine Providence. ‘The poor will always be with you’, right? So we’re off the hook?
Here’s a sobering thought.
All the resources needed to feed, clothe, shelter and heal the world’s population are in the world right now.
On a “macro” level, we can believe that, but what can we do about it?
We can do something on a “micro” level. We can pick a child, pick a ministry, pick a country. We can connect, consider, and then commit.
Our family is considering committing to a church orphan home in Indonesia through Warm Blankets Orphan Care. (www.warmblankets.org). It’s an awesome opportunity to make a long-term difference in the lives of 5 widows and the 25 orphans they’re raising. But it’s also an opportunity for us, our kids and our grandkids to put a ‘stake in the ground’ and say “we’re in”; ”we’re going to do for a few what we wish we could do for a bunch.” And if we do this, we’re not going to just write a check and move on; we’re going to get connected and stay committed for the long term.
I read that you can’t change culture, you can only create more of it. We can’t change our culture back to that of the first century church. But maybe we can re-create a little bit of it.
Question: What will you do? If you’d like to comment, you can do so here.
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Responses (3)
Regi,
Thank you for sending out the good word today. I have been reading Richard Stearn’s “The Hole in our Gospel”, which I had heard was strongly recommended by Mark Richt. It has been convicting to say the least. After having my first child last year, I have realized that my burden/niche that I want to get involved in is the ministry to orphans. I have to be honest- I have not begun researching opportunities just yet due to quite a few distractions. However, I am about ready to jump in, and after reading your post below, I wanted to see if you had any advice on where to start the process? Warmblankets.org sounds like a great organization. Did you look into similar opportunities around the world or in the US? Any feedback that you could provide would be appreciated. Thanks!
Jon Ostenson
I’ve read Richard Stern’s book as well as “Radical” by David Platt. Both convicted me big time. To answer your question, I have not done an extensive search for organizations involved in orphan care. We have several Compassion kids and have had for years. But when I opened the door to meeting human needs, not just child development, I found Warm Blankets right away. Their work also touches child trafficing and the slave trade which are egregious crises in their own rights. So that’s where we’ve landed without much further research.
It is a religious guantlet to “stay committed for the long term”.
Galatians 5:1Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage…
James 4:13 Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: 14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. 15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. 16 But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil. 17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
Like it or not, we cannot boast of what we would do tomorrow and making a commitment to stay on keeping it IS making an excuse not to attend the Marriage Supper of the Lamb in His honour.
Believers need to ask Jesus for forgiveness as well as for deliverance from this bondage of vanity so that they may be free to go and leave the cares of this life and those depending on that provision behind in His hands.
One cannot say that they can continue to keep that commitment and any other commitments then leave when that bondage is a testimony of your sin when leaving for not staying on keeping that commitment.
Therefore, ask for forgiveness, ask to be set free, and boast no more of that commitment to a charity, as you are free to give as the Lord enables you to give until it is time to leave.
Jjust as you are free to follow the Lord as He enables you to follow Him as the just shall live by faith in Him & His promises to us till the Bridegroom comes for the ready & willing bride of Christ that is free to go by His grace & by His help attend to the Marriage Supper above in His honour as no flesh shall glory in His Presence.