Rich Malaysia, Poor Malaysians (2017, 2018, New and Expanded Edition) by Anas Alam Faizli, Book Review

Rich Malaysia, Poor Malaysians (2017, 2018, New and Expanded Edition) by Anas Alam Faizli

The title of this book says it all. “Malaysia’s socio-economic structure can be summed up in four words: ‘Rich Malaysia, Poor Malaysians.’ Malaysia is blessed with abundant natural resources, with petroleum being the most precious,” writes Anas in Chapter 9 Malaysia: High Income Nation, Low Income Rakyat. “Land, resources, a large youthful population - Malaysia has all the essential ingredients to flourish. How did this small countries of 30 million people manage to gain the unsolicited title of being among the region’s most unequal nations of rich and poor? What happened?” As of this writing, by the end of 2020, the population in Malaysia is expected to reach 33.1 million. Everything mention in this book is still happening - even worst. So, what happened?

Maybe I’m too pessimistic and over-simplistic. As I finished reading these 34 essays on “Malaysia’s problems,” the impression that I get can be boiled down in one word: Corruption. Corruption to the core. There are three key issues that Anas tackles in this book, namely - Energy (or Resources), Education and Economy - to borrow Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz’s 3E in the foreword of this book. The first part about Malaysia’s petroleum resources hit hard on me as Sarawakian, especially in Chapter 5 Higher Royalty Versus State Ownership of Petronas, which is an issue that we still fight until today. Yes, rich Sarawak, poor Sarawakians. In the second part, Anas highlights socio-economic issues such as education, health care, inequality, foreign workers, poverty, welfare, women’s empowerment, environment, Islam, etc. To me, his insight on education is very interesting and persuasive. While I do not totally agree with all of Anas’ analysis (as with some other subjects too), I wholeheartedly believe that “education is one of, if not the most, important solutions to all the problems that we are facing today.” In parts three and four, he expands on the previous subjects and added some other issues.

This book ends with a positive note. In fact, every chapter ends with some potential solutions and proposals for a betterment. There are “endless possibilities,” said Anas. “Nothing is impossible, no matter how hopeless the situation seems. Always remember that the sun only comes out after the darkest point of the night. The same goes for Malaysia.” To be honest, I’m almost giving up on Malaysia. But books like this, by caring fellow Malaysian, never fail to rekindle my fire and hope for Malaysia. Read it! Thank you Anas Alam Faizli. May the Lord Jesus Christ bless you.

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Young Men, Consider the Head of Jesus

“On his head are many crowns”
(Revelation 19:12, NIV)

The head is the control tower of the body. From it, impulses and messages are transmitted to the farthest limb. It is the dominant part of the body. Our Lord’s head is mentioned several times in Scriptures, sometimes in its humiliation, sometimes in its exaltation.

He was a homeless head. “The Son of Man has no place to lay his head” (Luke 9:58). In these graphic words, Jesus indicated His rejection by His people. There was no bed for Him in the inn. Many were the night His head never touched a pillow. During His ministry, He had no home and was dependent on the hospitality of others.

But it was also an anointed head. In the extravagance of her love, Mary broke the priceless box of the fragrant anointing oil and poured it over His head (see Mark 14:3). Her act of love was to Him a green oasis in the dreary desert of rejection, a refreshing drought on the desolate road to the cross. Not everyone rejected Him.

His head was callously struck by His tormentors. “[They] twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head… They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again” (Matthew 27:29-30). The staff, mock royal scepter, was used to bruise and degrade the head of the Son of God. “He was crushed for our iniquities” (Isaiah 53:5). And those who struck Him were representative of us all.

His head was crowned in mockery (see Matthew 27:29). Thorns, a symbol of curse, adorned the brow of the Lord of glory, every thorn a point of fire.

“Is their diadem, as monarch,

That His brow adorns?

Yea, a crown, in very surety,

But of thorns”

(Author unknown)

“He bowed his head and gave up his spirit” (John 19:30). All through the ghastly ordeal of crucifixion, His head had remained erect. The curse broke His heart but did not bow His head. Now His work was finished.

Again we see His head in dazzling majesty. “His head was white like wool, as white as snow” (Revelation 1:14). It is again erect and radiant. Never again will He bow it before His creations. In His hand, there is no longer a mocking staff, but the scepter of universal dominion.

Our final view of His head is crowned with many crowns (Revelation 19:12). He is crowned with glory and honor, the reward of His obedience unto death.

[Edited, modified and modernized from considering Him (1976) by J. Oswald Sanders]

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Jesus Reminds Us: Material Things have No Future and Will Pass Away (1 John 2:17)

“[This] world is fading away, along with everything that people crave.

But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever”

(1 John 2:17, NLT).

Apostle John concludes this section (v.15-17) by reminding us material things have no long future. It all will “fading away”; they soon become outdated, fall apart, and get thrown away. They simply have no future. Apostle Paul put it this way: “Those who use the things of the world should not become attached to them. For this world as we know it will soon pass away” (1 Corinthians 7:31).

What a difficult lesson this is to learn! We are living in a world where material things are often a measuring stick of our popularity, power, and value (Just browse through your Facebook page. See the many Ads). We need to recognize them for what they are. It certainly is nice to be able to dress in the latest fashions, enjoy luxurious good food, listen to good music, own the latest gadgets, have four digits part-time income, etc. But if these things become all we think about, we have made them our gods.

But, as John says, “anyone who does what pleases God will live forever,” with God at the center of our lives, we are hooked on what will last forever and bring us long-lasting joy. Remember: It’s what we think about and what we do that determines what is real and important for us. Our words are not enough; it is our actions, based on God-given values and thoughts that show what is ultimately important. The bible verses above are practical and important for our lives. The world and all of its goods can certainly influence us. We can draw into making these things our gods – what we see, what we want, trying to impress others with what we have and want. But to commit ourselves each day to God by saying, “Today Lord, I want You to be the center of my life. Help me want what you want, what will truly last forever. Let me have Your perspectives. Thank you for your loving care. Amen” is to change our attitudes to be what God wants for us.

Ask yourself: How is it true that material things have no future and will pass away?

What examples of this truth come to mind?

For example, what things did you have 5 or 10 years ago

that has since fallen apart and been thrown away?

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Jesus Loves and Cares for Children

I personally loves this picture.
Jesus is so loving that children are not afraid of him. 

Over and over in Scripture, we recognize God’s heart for those who have no voice, for the captives and the oppressed. There is a divine passion for them, a heavenly desire for their well-being, because God prizes them highly and His heart breaks to see them suffer.

The Scripture is crystal-clear about God’s heart for children. The best place to look is at Jesus, because He is the exact representation of the Father’s nature (see Hebrews 1:3). Jesus Himself says, “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9). Therefore, we can be sure the fullness of God’s heart for children was perfectly reflected in the life and words of His Son. So what can we learn from Him?

Throughout the Gospels, we see Jesus repeatedly speaking about how important children are to Him and to the Father. In Mark 10, we encounter Jesus surrounded by people, teaching them the truths of God. Some of the parents in the crowd started bringing their children to Him so He could bless them. The disciples rebuked these people and started practicing crowd control. They may have said something like, “The Master is teaching an important message. Please sit down and keep your children quiet.”

This passage states that when Jesus saw what was happening, He was displeased and told His disciples, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God” (Mark 10:14). He actually interrupted His teaching, put His hands on them and blessed them. In the midst of His busy ministry, Jesus stopped everything He was doing to show these children His love and interest.

In Mark 9:37, Jesus said, “Whoever receives one of these little children in My name received Me.” What does His statement mean to us?

Imagine that you have worked all day and finally sitting down to dinner with your family. Suddenly, you hear a knock on the door. You aren’t expecting anyone, so you look through the peephole thinking you will maybe see a salesman or someone who wants to mow your lawn. Instead, you see the King of the universe.

You would break down your front door to welcome Him in!

But what if you see a starving child, half-naked, with more holes than cloth in the rags she is wearing? Her hair is unkempt and filled with lice; her face is covered with dirt and sweat. Would you break down your door to welcome her in?

Jesus tells us that anyone who embraces little children, who loves them and who gives them dignity and value in His name is actually doing these same things for Jesus Himself (see Matthew 18:5). But there’s more to it than that. Jesus is so happy with anyone who cares for children in His name, that He will come and be with them is special way. He tells us further in Mark 9:37 that we receive not only the Son, but God the Father also. So there is a special blessing for those who share the heart of the Eternal for His children.

[Taken from No Longer a Slumdog (2011) by K.P. Yohannan]

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Pray for Persecuted Church: Somalia

[The Voice of the Martyrs prayer calendar] Somalia has experienced continuous conflict for more than a decade and has not had a functioning government since 1991. Transparency International ranks Somalia as the most corrupt country in the world. Islam is the official religion, and there is no official religious freedom. Out of 22 people groups in Somalia, 16 are unreached by the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Category	Restricted Nation
Religion	Muslim 99.7%, Christian 0.3%
Ideology	Islam
Head of State	Hassan Sheikh Mohamud

Most Somali Christians are secret believers who worship in house churches. Persecution has intensified in the past 15 years amid increasing lawlessness and diminishing authority of the central government. Islamic radicals, such as the al-Shabab group, have vowed to eradicate all Somali Christians. The murder of Christians, specifically Muslim converts to Christianity, is increasingly common. Conversion to Christianity is not illegal, but it is socially unacceptable. Persecutors include family members, clan members, Islamic extremists and local administrators. Distribution of the Somali Bible is possible only in refugee camps and outside the country. On May 10, 2009, the parliament approved implementation of Shariah Law nationwide in an effort to appease the militant Islamic groups. The transitional government has also banned proselytizing. A 17-year-old girl who converted to Christianity was shot to death in an “honour killing” on Nov 25, 2010.

Pray for Pastor “Abu” and for Voice of the Martyrs (VOM) safe house

that shelters persecuted Somali Christians.

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Jesus' Birth Announcement: Poor Timing, Insignificant Audience, Odd Location and Over-the-Top Emcee

“That night [when Jesus was born] there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guiding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. ‘Don’t be afraid!’ he said. ‘I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Saviour – yes, the Messiah, the Lord – has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger’”
(Luke 2:8-12, NLT)

Generally, the importance of an announcement is judged by the audience to which it is made. Today, significant proclamations call for a televised press conference with a written press release. (If God ask me first, I would ‘advise’ Him, ehemmm… to proclaimed good news during sunny day at the busy marketplace, choose rather noble and honourable audiences such as the Pharisees and Sadducees, send written news to every town in Israel before the actual event start and at least let Jesus born in a luxury 5-stars hotel. And spotlight from heaven… But… God doesn’t ask for my ambitious advice… He don’t need one!). See, God broke every rule of effective media management at the birth of his Son: He chose poor timing (the middle of the night), an insignificant audience (shepherds), an odd location (hillside pasture), and an over-the-top spokes-angel. Those inexplicable contrasts give Jesus’ birth announcement a distinct ring of truth.

Happily, the angel’s announcement included a note of “Don’t be afraid!” that applies far beyond the immediate circumstance and flows from the fact that the Saviour’s birth will “bring great joy to all people” – including us! As if unable to restrain themselves over the good news, the angelic choir breaks out with a song of confirmation and the hopeful word that the impact of the news – “The Saviour, the Messiah, the Lord… has been born today” – will be “glory to God” and “peace” to people as a result of God’s favour. Furthermore, the shepherds, untroubled by their low social status, set their feet in motion. And having received the truth they had been told by acting on it themselves, they then told others and they joyfully thanked God.

Shepherds were at the bottom of their societal structure. They knew their unworthiness as recipients of the news and its meaning. They simply accepted the fact that they now had a Saviour, the Lord. We, therefore, must place ourselves in their sandals when we realize we are equally unworthy, and yet God has offered to us the same good news of a Saviour, Jesus Christ.

“After seeing [baby Jesus], the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child” (Luke 2:17). Think about this: The gospel writer, Luke, tells us that those who heard the news second-hand from the shepherds “were amazed” (Luke 2:18). This response may or may not have been belief that lead to faith. It doesn’t matter. The crucial lesson for us is not the effect but in the effort. What I mean is, it is not our responsible to convert people (effect), only God can and able to do that. But it is our joyful-responsibility to tell others about Christ (effort). Share the good news!

How often do you simply and joyfully let others know

what you found when you acted on the news about Christ?

See again the shepherds respond when they heard and seen Jesus first-hand.

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The Smell of Money, A Folktale

Not recorded in the Bible. A legend, folktale about King Solomon told by Jewish rabbis. Nevertheless, this story is rather funny and amusing and at the same time – teach us lesson about justice and the use of wisdom. Very make sense! Here is the story:

Hannah earned money for her family by making brooms. She gathered long stiff grass into a bundle, then tied the bundle to the end of a long stick to make a broom. She carried her brooms to the marketplace and stood there all day, selling them to earn a few coins.

At the end of the day, as she was walking home, she passed a bakery. “Oh,” she thought. “Maybe I could spend one coin on something tasty.” Then she decided, “No, my family needs the money. I’ll just enjoy the smells and be on my way.”

So Hannah stood outside the bakery door and smelled the freshly baked bread, the warm honey cake, and the sweet almond cookies. The baker saw her at the door and grew suspicious. “What are you doing?” he asked her.

“I am smelling your delicious breads and cakes,” she answered. “It’s almost as good as eating it.”

“Smell my breads and cakes? You will have to pay for that.”

And he tried to grab her sack of coins.

“But I didn’t eat anything,” she cried. “I didn’t eat them. I just smelled them.”

Everyone in the market came rushing when they heard her. Some said the baker should be paid. Others said the girl owed nothing. They argued more and more until someone shouted out,

“Ask the king. Let Solomon decide!”

So they took Hannah and the baker to King Solomon, the wisest king of all.

Solomon sat on his throne. “Speak,” he said. “I will listen and I will judge.”

The baker pointed his finger at Hannah and said, “That girl has to pay for what she took. I worked all day to make bread and cake and cookies. She stood at my door and smelled it all. It filled her with pleasure. She even admitted that it was practically as good as eating it.”

“I should not have to pay,” said Hannah. “The smell of the food was floating on the air. I only breathed the air. Do I have to pay to breathe?”

“Baker,” said Solomon. “Do you care so much about money that you want to be paid even for the air around you?”

“The law says that you must pay if you take something that someone makes. She took the smells of the food that I make, so she must pay.”

“That is the law,” said Solomon. “The young woman must pay for what she took.”

Everyone in the crowd looked at each other in surprise.

“Young woman,” said King Solomon, “take out your money.” So she did.

“Now shake the coins together in your hands.”

She shook them once, twice, three times.

“Did you hear that?” said Solomon to the baker. “Now she has paid you.”

“What do you mean?” he asked.

“She has paid for the smell of your breads and cakes with the sound of her money.”

Hannah shook the coins again and again, and everybody else shook with laughter.

This is funny! [Smile]

The “sound” of money is the right kind of payment for the “smell” of cakes.

One sense exchanged for another sense makes sense!

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Softening a Heart

Refer to previous post. Here is the continuation of another story on how Jewish rabbis (or teachers) were always encouraging people to be charitable. They felt that charity improved the life of whoever received it, and it also improved the spirit of however gave it. Here is a tale of a Jewish rabbi who have found a way to softening a heart…

A rabbi asked a wealthy man to give charity. The man scornfully tossed him a penny. As the rabbi picked up the penny, he praised and thanked the wealthy man.

The rabbi’s assistant asked,

“How can you be so kind to such an unkind person?”

The rabbi answered,

“That man has never given even a penny before now. I must encourage him ever if he only gives a little. He needs to be taught how to be generous.”

And so it happened. Each time the rabbi returned, the man gave a little bit more. Each time the rabbi praised and thanked him.

On the fourth visit, the man burst into tears, and to everyone’s surprise, he gave the rabbi a tremendous sum. The rabbi was about to praise and thank him, but the man shook his head and said,

“You deserve my praise and thanks, Rabbi, because you kept believing in me. You have taught me how to be generous.”

We can force people to give,

Or we can teach people how to give.

Forceful will harden a heart; praise, thanksgiving and encouragement will soften a heart.

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Changing a Mind

Throughout the centuries, almost all governments did not take care of the poor or the sick justly. Instead, families and communities had to take care of their own. As it is difficult for the poor and needy in Malaysia (maybe not that worst) it was especially difficult for the Jews of Eastern Europe. I read the Jewish history, many were poor and few were rich. So Rabbis (or teachers) were always encouraging people to be charitable. They felt that charity improved the life of whoever received it, and it also improved the spirit of however gave it. Here is a tale of a Jewish rabbi who have found a way to changing a mind…

A wealthy miser refused to help anyone in the village (Miser means a stingy, money-hoarder person). The rabbi came to visit and told the miser,

“Look out your window.”

The man saw a street full of people. The rabbi then said,

“Look at your mirror.” The miser saw only himself.

The rabbi asked, “Your window and your mirror are both made of glass. What makes them different?”

The miser said, “The window glass is clear, so I can see outside. The mirror glass has a silver coating behind it. The silver stops me from seeing through. It reflects back so I see myself.”

The rabbi said,

“Your love for sliver has changed your soul. Once, your soul was a clear as the glass of a window. You could look out at the world and see everyone. But you have coated your soul with silver. You no longer see anyone but yourself.”

The miser understood. He was overcome with shame and changed his ways.

Look at your soul, what do you see?

A window glass or a mirror?

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Be a Generation that Wants to Make God Happy

I am hopeful about the future of Christian engagement because I think Christians are merging faith and action more than ever. I’ve been reading a book called What Have You Done for Me Lately? that documents the history of Christian contribution to culture. Anyone who is a serious student of history would have to say that Christianity and its underpinnings have been, in most cases, the fuel in the engine of social revolution.

Even though Christians have historically been at the forefront of these kinds of movements, I believe in these days it is being embraced as much as ever – it’s all about faith plus works. You will show me your faith by your works… it is the merging of these two things together that brings amazing power.

Our organization, Passion, recently hosted a global gathering in Atlanta of over 23,000 college students who consider themselves Christians. Instead of the typical Christian conference with a consumerist appetite for great speakers and music, we made the centrepiece of these four days the “Do Something Now!” campaign. We put eight global opportunities on the table and said to students, “We think you have money in your pockets to change the world.”

And sure enough, they responded.

Those poor college students pledged or gave over one million dollars to build fifty-two wells in Africa, to provide New Testament translations for six people groups of Indonesia, and to combat the human sex trafficking industry.

It is clear to me that something significant has absolutely shifted with this generation. I think it is God’s great kindness stirring our hearts to show his great kindness to the world. With this behind us, the students at Passion aren’t the ones who look good, and this generation doesn’t look like a hands-on, get-involved, do-something generation. God looks good. And God looks like a hands-on, get-involved, do-something God. I think that is what this generation wants – an action-based worship. There is nothing wrong with jumping to a David Crowder tune and telling God he is great – that is worship. But worship is also doing the right thing and sharing with others in need. Those are the things that make God happy, and this is a generation that wants to make God happy. They demonstrate this by moving in action to touch the last and least of these in the world.

Louie Giglio

Pastor, writer and founder, Passion

Quote from Unchristian by David Kinnaman and Fermi Project (Baker Books, 2007) pg. 143-144

Original title as ‘Emerging Faith and Action’

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Kuchingnites, You Can Make a Difference this Christmas: Give Gifts to the Needy

God has given us two hands – one with which to receive and the other with which to give. What if this Christmas instead of waiting for people to give you gifts, why don’t you give? What if you take initiative and start giving with what you already have instead of making excuses and delay your action? What if you be the change rather than asking for things to change and be the worship song that you sing and be the answer to your prayer to make a different in someone else’s life? What if – regardless of your race and religion – you embrace the spirit of Christmas that is the spirit of giving for the good of your community? What if your gift can make those who are less fortunate smile this Christmas, would you like to do that?

Here is (one of) your opportunity to do so. BB Love Box, a community project by the Boys’ Brigade (BB) in Malaysia (2^nd Kuching Company) is organizing a project that is design to collect and distribute gifts to the less fortunate people during Christmas Season, irrespective of their races and religions. BB mission is to share LOVE and JOY with the needy. The Boys are passionate to promote the spirit of CARING and SHARING among the people of Kuching. The recipients are identified with the help of welfare and social organizations/groups, religious and voluntary bodies. It consists of children (from infant to 17 years old), families and elderly folks from various villages around Kuching area, old folk’s homes and ophanages.*

There are three categories of recipients in this project:

1)    Children. Their wish list range from toys, school stationary, school bag, exercise books, colouring books and story books.

2)    Elderly folks. Biscuits (in tin), beverage (min. 500g/ in packet or tin), milk powder and bath towel.

3)    Families. Rice (10kg), canned food (halal) and instant noodle.

WHEN, WHERE and HOW can you fulfil the recipients’ wishes?

BB Love Box gifts collection booth and wish trees will be set up from 1^st November to 7^th December 2014, 10.00am to 8.00pm at Crown Square and Plaza Merdeka, Kuching. Go there and pick up a Wish List (or more) with the recipient’s name and wish item from the wish trees provided. Shop for the gift stated in the list(s) that you choose. Then, wrap and return the gift(s) to the booth where you pick up that list(s) together with the Wish List(s) securely attached to it. Easy, right? You can do this.

What are you waiting Kuchingnites? Come and fill BB Love Box booth with gifts, joy and love! John Bunyan writes, “You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who cannot pay you back.” Calvin Coolidge once said, “No person was ever honoured for what he received. Honour is the reward of what one gives.” “We make a living by what we get,” remind Winston Churchill, “but we make a life by what we give.” Kuchingnites, we can give without loving, but we cannot love without giving. Blessed are those who give with love! Amen.

Imagine the children’s smiles

Picture the elder’s gladness

Don’t you want to see a family having a dinner together this Christmas?

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Rich Malaysians in an Age of Hunger

What a typical Malaysian family would need to give up if we were to adopt the lifestyle of a typical family living among our marginalized, unseen and poor neighbours? Let us imagine:

“We begin by invading the house of our imaginary typical Malaysian family to strip it of its furniture. Everything goes: beds, chairs, tables, Astro and television set, lamps. We will leave the family with a few old blankets, a small kitchen table, and a wooden chair. Along with all of these, so goes the clothes. Each member of the family may keep in his ‘wardrobe’ his oldest suit or dress, a shirt or blouse. We will permit a pair of shoes for the head of the family, but none for the wife or children.

We move to the kitchen. The appliances have already been taken out, so we turn to the cupboards… The box of matches may stay, a small bag of rice, some sugar and salt. A few sweet potatoes (or ubi kayu), already in the rubbish bin, must be hastily rescued, for they will provide much of tonight’s meal. We will leave a handful of onions, and a dish of long beans. All the rest we take away: the meat, the fresh vegetables, the canned goods…

Now we have stripped the house: the bedroom has been dismantled, the running water shut off, the electric wires taken out. Next we take away the house. The family can move to a smaller house with no fan… Communications must go next. No more newspapers, magazines, books, smart phones, tablets, computers – internets! – not that they are missed, since we must take away our family’s literacy as well. Instead, we will allow only one old radio instead…

Now government services must go. No more policemen, no more firemen, no 1Malaysia shops. There is a school, but it is three miles away and consists of two classrooms… There are, of course, no hospitals or doctors nearby. The nearest clinic is ten miles away and is tended by a midwife. It can be reached by bicycle, provided that the family has a bicycle, which is unlikely… by boat if the family can afford to buy petrol… Finally, money. We will allow our family a cash of RM15 daily. There are no way to apply for BR1M because nobody care for marginalized people anymore, not even valid Malaysian citizen with I.D. card. The family may get a one-time cash of RM6k if only they ‘sell’ their soul and faith for a religious. Most of the time, ignored.”*

How many of our brothers and sisters confront that kind of grinding poverty today? (Maybe less, but surely happening today). Probably at least hundreds (or thousands, who know) of people in Malaysia are as poor as this. They know hunger in a way that most of us have never known. Why? Not because it doesn’t exist, but because we don’t care to know and see. Jesus through the apostle John is telling us now: “[If] anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth” (1 John 3:17-18, ESV). For the sake of Christ, are we identified with the hunger and the poor (as above imaginary family situation)? Do we care for the marginalized and the oppressed? Do you love Christ?

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

*I use and modified the imaginary family analogy above from Ronald’ J. Sider’s Rich Christians in An Age of Hunger book (Introduction, Part 1).

God Speaks for Himself: The Gospel and the Poor

We live in an imperfect world with a huge imbalance of wealth and power. God is a God of justice and wants His people to make a difference in the world, standing up for those who cannot stand up for themselves and sharing what we have with those who have nothing. God is love, and love seeks people to be loved – just like Jesus. Here are 10 quotes from the Bible, that probably not so popular among Christians today. May His Word speaks to your heart, produce actions and revive your faith in Him:

“If in any of the towns in the land that the Lord your God is giving you there is a fellow-Israelite in need, then do not be selfish and refuse to help him. Instead, be generous and lend him as much as he needs”. 
Deuteronomy 15:7-8

“I, the Lord, command you to do what is just and right. Protect the person who is being cheated from the one who is cheating him. Do not ill-treat or oppress foreigners, orphans, or widows; and do not kill innocent people in this holy place.”
Jeremiah 22:3

“No, the Lord has told us what is good. What he requires of us is this: to do what is just, to show constant love, and to live in humble fellowship with our God.” 
Micah 6:8

“Rich people who see a brother or sister in need, yet close their hearts against them, cannot claim that they love God”. 
1 John 3:17

“Suppose there are brothers or sisters who need clothes and don’t have enough to eat. What good is there in your saying to them, ‘God bless you! Keep warm and eat well!’ — if you don’t give them the necessities of life?” 
James 2:15-16

“Learn to do right. See that justice is done — help those who are oppressed, give orphans their rights, and defend widows”. 
Isaiah 1:17

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has chosen me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind; to set free the oppressed and announce that the time has come when the Lord will save his people.” 
Luke 4:18-19

“None of you should be looking out for your own interests, but for the interests of others”. 
1 Corinthians 10:24

“Share your belongings with your needy fellow Christians, and open your homes to strangers”.
Romans 12:13

“Don’t take advantage of the poor just because you can; don’t take advantage of those who stand helpless in court. The Lord will argue their case for them and threaten the life of anyone who threatens theirs”. 
Proverbs 22:22-23

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

This is Where We are Most Unjust to the Poor - We Don't Know Them!

On Our Life of Service and Evangelization, Mother Teresa writes:

“Sometime ago a man came to our house and said: ‘Mother, there is a Hindu family that has eight children. They have not eaten for a long time. Do something for them.’ So I took some rice and went. When I arrived at their house, I could see the hunger in the children’s eyes. Their eyes were shining with hunger. I gave the rice to the mother. She took it and divided it into two, and she went out. When she came back, I asked her, ‘Where did you go?’ she said, ‘They are hungry too.’ Her neighbors were also hungry. What struck me most was not that she gave the rice but she knew they were hungry. Because she knew, she shared. I did not bring more rice that night. I waited until the next morning so that they could experience the joy of sharing and loving.

Love, to be true, has to hurt, and this woman who was hungry – she knew that her neighbor was also hungry. That family happened to be a Mohammedan family. It was so touching, so real. This is where we are most unjust to our poor – we don’t know them. We don’t know how great they are, how loveable, how hungry for that understanding love. Today God loves the world through you and through me. Are we that love and that compassion? God proves that Christ loves us – that He has come to be his Father’s compassion. Today God loves the world through you and through me and through all those who are his love and compassion in the world.” And I [Richard] say, Amen.

[Quote from Mother Teresa: Contemplative at the Heart of the World. Page 118-119]

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Do We Treat the Poor as Our Dustbins to Give Whatever We Cannot Use or Eat?

In the book Mother Teresa: Contemplative at the Heart of the World, she writes,

“Do we treat the poor as our dustbins to give whatever we cannot use or eat? I cannot eat this food so I will give it to the poor. I cannot use this thing or that piece of cloth so I will give it to the poor. Am I then sharing the poverty of the poor? Do I identify myself with the poor I serve? Am I one with them? Do I share with them as Jesus shared with me?

This is the wonderful part of our vocation, that as M.C.s (The Missionary of Charity Sisters, she founded) we have created an awareness of the poor in the whole world. Twenty years ago no one would believe that there were hungry, naked men and women around. Today the whole world knows our poor because of our work. Because they know they want to share.

The other day, a group of Hindu school children came from very far. They had won prizes in a contest at school and had asked the headmistress to give them money instead of the prizes. Then they said, ‘Now, take us to Mother Teresa. We want to give this money to her poor people.’ How wonderful it was that they did not use that money for themselves! Because we have created this awareness the whole world wants to share with the poor.

Whenever I accept money or an award, I always take it in the name of the poor, whom they recognize in me. What am I? I am nothing. It is the poor whom they recognize in me and that they want to give to, because they see what we do. Today people in the world want to see. Why is our congregation spread all over the world today? It is because people see what we do: feeding the hungry Christ, clothing the naked Christ, taking care of the sick, the dying, the leprosy patients (she was referring to Matthew 25:34-36). Because they see, they believe. How sad it will be if we are not sincere in what we do.

Our poor people suffer much, and unless we go with joy we cannot help them. We will make them more miserable.”

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.