The modern world has the tendency of absolutizing the good of knowledge. Knowledge is of course in general better than lack of knowledge.
But many forms of knowledge are of no use or are dangerous to the knower. You see often we wish to know things of which no good can come.
You see gossip often is a form of knowledge where knowledge of which no good can come is shared. You see this is why the bible condemns gossip.
There are many forms of knowledge which are simply of no use. Some people have joked that news may make us stupid. There may be truth in this fact.
If one lives in a large city when we turn on the TV we can expect to hear of multiple shootings, a fire, a few robberies, and a few car crashes. In almost all cases people interviewed about these events give similar accounts of their feelings of them and the change they wish to see happen.
I do see some value in following news, but I see no value in constant news watching. Most of the time we are simply watching the same events unfold in an highly predictable way with different names, places, and locations. I am not diminishing these events but to watch the news is on most days to watch what one already knows statistically is already going on.
Often we delude ourselves that information is knowledge. I believe that most news coverage often falls into the realm of useless information.
News not only is often useless, but it may have a hardening affect. If we are watching news and hear all the suffering in the world are we compelled to act in some small way?
Often news and the vastness of the problem dissuades people from thinking they can help. The problem is too big so they do not take the effort to be a tiny part of a small step in the right direction.
You see we can make a difference. We just need to be humble enough to realize that our contribution may not be huge. We do not need to be a huge hero to make a difference.
It takes humility to accept that we often can only make a small difference and then take the steps as we can in that direction. Many people who wish to save the world become disillusioned and quit when they realize they can only make a small difference and then they make no difference at all.
The Bible's call to love is a call to seek the good of others. The desire to save the world which quickly becomes callused when it realizes the world is not easily saved is usually based on pride and not the Christian call of love. Love is pleased by small differences made even if they bring no recognition to ourselves.
Showing posts with label contribution. Show all posts
Showing posts with label contribution. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 8, 2014
Saturday, April 5, 2014
Action and Prayer
Prayer is a beautiful gift of God to man. God wishes for man to come into his presence to speak to him.
Not all prayer is beautiful. Sometimes prayer becomes an easy excuse in the church.
There is a problem and I will pray about it. My contribution to the problem is prayer.
You see this is often enough but sometimes as we pray we should be open to the fact that we may be part of the solution. Often the solutions to things our outside of us, but we need an openness to act.
Over time you will see there are many people who appear not open to act. They are often very open to pray, however.
Prayer and action need to be linked. Why would we pray for a solution if the solution is within our grasp?
Maybe the solution is not within our grasp but with prayer and thought maybe we can be part of the solution.
You see it is always important to desire to be part of the resolution to issues. If we have an ability to play a part than we should play a part.
Of course we should rest. We cannot minister 24/7 nor should we. Jesus rested and did not always minister.
You see many excuses that I am too tired. I am too mentally tired, or I am spiritually tired.
Sometimes it is true but often especially last two cases of being mentally or spiritually tired charitable work or good deeds of helping others often have an uplifting effect on the human psyche.
Sometimes I will feel in a terrible mood and that helping the world is the last thing I have energy to do. And then I do something to help and feel better.
You see my problem was that in thinking about myself too much I had turned inward and my mind became poisoned by my self-centeredness. When I looked to help the other I felt better because the issue was that I spent too much time thinking of myself.
It is not always the case but there is great joy in helping others. Even if our work involves helping others you see if we are paid we have received a reward for our work.
The reward of pay does not invalidate the goodness of what is done and we should do everything to the glory of God. But there is always something more uplifting about doing good when we receive no monetary incentive.
Not all prayer is beautiful. Sometimes prayer becomes an easy excuse in the church.
There is a problem and I will pray about it. My contribution to the problem is prayer.
You see this is often enough but sometimes as we pray we should be open to the fact that we may be part of the solution. Often the solutions to things our outside of us, but we need an openness to act.
Over time you will see there are many people who appear not open to act. They are often very open to pray, however.
Prayer and action need to be linked. Why would we pray for a solution if the solution is within our grasp?
Maybe the solution is not within our grasp but with prayer and thought maybe we can be part of the solution.
You see it is always important to desire to be part of the resolution to issues. If we have an ability to play a part than we should play a part.
Of course we should rest. We cannot minister 24/7 nor should we. Jesus rested and did not always minister.
You see many excuses that I am too tired. I am too mentally tired, or I am spiritually tired.
Sometimes it is true but often especially last two cases of being mentally or spiritually tired charitable work or good deeds of helping others often have an uplifting effect on the human psyche.
Sometimes I will feel in a terrible mood and that helping the world is the last thing I have energy to do. And then I do something to help and feel better.
You see my problem was that in thinking about myself too much I had turned inward and my mind became poisoned by my self-centeredness. When I looked to help the other I felt better because the issue was that I spent too much time thinking of myself.
It is not always the case but there is great joy in helping others. Even if our work involves helping others you see if we are paid we have received a reward for our work.
The reward of pay does not invalidate the goodness of what is done and we should do everything to the glory of God. But there is always something more uplifting about doing good when we receive no monetary incentive.
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