You Can Make a Difference

 

A poster for a local charity states: “YOU can make a difference!”

But what is this difference referring?

It usually means a change from what was before to what is now.  How do we understand this change and just what can YOU do?

The weeks after Thanksgiving are often the time when charities—everything from wildlife, to specific disease or chronic illnesses or special appeals to help others- send out by mail their annual or semi-annual appeal to gain financial support.  It just seems that these appeals come more frequently or they ask for more money in order to carry out their tasks. But what is often missing is how your support makes a difference to people, causes and change.

Our reading from Matthew 26 occurs while Jesus and his disciples are in Simon’s home in Bethany. A woman with a jar of very expensive perfume pours it on Jesus’ head as he sat. The disciples were indignant because she wasted this perfume. The perfume could have been sold and the money given to the poor. It is Jesus’ response that startled the disciples and even us. Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me.

Jesus knows that there will always be people in need. He wanted the others to hear of this woman’s selfless gift. She prepared him for what is to come- his death, while he is alive.

With all the pleas for support especially food and supplies to food banks and shelters, we need to assess how much we have and give to others like the woman did- out of love. It is in giving out of love that we can make a difference- whether to the lives of many or the lives of a few.

Take time to look at all the appeals that come your way. Remember what Jesus did when he was torn and struggled with what to do? He prayed. So should you! Lift up each of the charities named and ask for God’s Spirit to guide you to bless the people helping others. Then discern in your heart what you might do- whether financial or gifts in kind, whether it is moving into action or writing a cheque.  But in all of these consider what Jesus says his purpose was 1) to serve (Mark 10:45) 2) to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10) and 3)  to give His life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45) and offer to the hope and promise of eternal life to all who believe (John 3:16). 

The poor will always be among you- but what if the poor do not know Jesus? How do we make a difference in their lives that lasts all of eternity?

PRAYER

God of grace and hope. We pray that we can make a difference as we strive to meet the needs of others and ourselves. As we give to support the needs of others, we pray that we will grow in faith and that the message beyond the food that is in each bag offered is the love of Christ. Bless us O God and enable us to do what we are able to seek the lost for Christ Jesus. We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

 

We all realize that there is