Living in the Spirit
October 3, 2016

Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7

Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. –Jeremiah 29:4-6

What have you done for yourself, your family, your community, or your country lately? Even in exile, God expected the Israelites to take responsibility for their wellbeing. Taking responsibility was something they had failed to do before the exile.

Several years ago at a church meeting no less, the speaker asked probably a rhetorical question, “How many of you like to pay taxes?” Two of us raised our hands. As a government employee, many expected my response. The other positive response came from an accountant. He very logically explained to me later that each citizen has a responsibility to pay their fair share of taxes to provide for the infrastructure that only government can provide. Police; firefighters; military forces; roads, highways, and bridges. Oklahoma is a state that often is forced to call for federal help when the weather has destroyed whole neighborhoods. We become anxious when it appears the federal government is not responding as quickly as we need. We demonstrate as strong an aversion to paying taxes as anybody.

Responsibility is not just about taxes. As a part of the family of God, we must consider the needs of all our brothers and sisters. What do you know about your immediate community? My church adopted a nearby elementary school about ten years ago. I had no idea about the problems in this inner-city school. Our volunteers sack bags of food for about 10% of the students to take home over the weekend who most likely have no other source of food than that provided through the school lunch program. These are beautiful children from hard working families in many cases. Getting to know who our neighbors are, helps us understand the breadth and depths of our response to God’s call to do justice.

Prayer: Lord, you were once asked, “Who is my neighbor?” open our hearts to understand your answer. Amen.

Picture Source www.nokidhungry.org

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.