Living in the Spirit
Light a Candle for Children
September 13, 2014
Scripture Reading: Matthew 18:21-35
‘For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. When he began the reckoning, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him; and, as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions, and payment to be made. —Matthew 18:23-25
This story from Matthew is from ancient history, but while we do not call landlords kings now and we do not call employees slaves, the scenario in this story is now being played out in cities and towns across the USA. The high cost of housing, is forcing families with children out of homes and onto the streets. The car breaks down, a child gets sick, dad gets hurt on the job and cannot work for six weeks, and the rent or mortgage payment doesn’t get paid. Add that to the number of people who are up-side-down with their mortgages due to the recent financial crisis and we get more and more families living on the streets or in their cars or sharing a too-crowded home with relatives.
A family is considered to be living in a household with a high housing cost burden when more than 30 percent of the monthly income is spent on rent, mortgage payments, taxes, insurance, and/or related expenses. The 30 percent threshold for housing costs is based on research on affordable housing by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban development (HUD). According to HUD, households that must allocate more than 30 percent of their income to housing expenses are less likely to have enough resources for food, clothing, medical care or other needs.*
I went with others from my church to serve food at a program for the homeless in downtown Oklahoma City yesterday evening. We took cold food —sandwiches, cookies, bananas—because it was hot. A wise women thought it a good idea to include for children some peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. They were needed.
Oklahoma Fact: in 2012 29% of children were living in households with a high housing cost burden
Prayer: Lord, we pray that every child has a place to live, where each has a safe place to grow, a secret place to hid treasures found, a warm bed at night, and a cool haven to rest after playing in the summer sun. Amen.
All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.