Lynne Stevens
May the season bring you “peace on earth and tidings of comfort and joy.”
We are told that on the night of Jesus’ birth, the stars shined brightly and guided three wise men to the Savior to honor him. They found Jesus wrapped in simple cloths in the barn, not clothing of fine linen. The humble beginnings were surely not an accident, but an intentional message to humanity from God.
What message? Perhaps that real kings do not have to be rich and dripping in fine surroundings – but rather like a shepherd, always tending to do what is best for the flock. A good shepherd will always be there to defend his flock from harm.
In general, kings at the time of Jesus were not kind and cared more about their wealth than welfare of citizens. They tended to be vain and – in many ways – cruel, with little that could be recognized as justice. Rich men could break laws with no consequence, while poor citizens got harsh treatment for minor infractions.
In America, we should all expect to have a reasonable, safe and comfortable life. Those who go to work and only aspire to wealth may not find the happiness they seek.
During the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught that we can not serve two masters: God and money. Jesus talked very directly about excessive wealth and how we tend to become attached to our possessions.
In today’s time, could He mean that human nature selfishly hangs on to excessive wealth and seeks more, no matter how much they have? Very wealthy people witness the poor and homeless in the cities and towns in which they live, with no intention of helping them unless they get a tax break.
The right thing is an act from within, expecting no reward except the feeling of a warm heart for having helped another in need. When someone from our town is hurting, a bulletin in the post office alerts us that one of our own needs help. This is genuine giving of our personal wealth to a neighbor in need. Jesus is pleased.
America used to be very generous to the needy around the world, until we left tons of food grown by our farmers to rot on docks and not distributed to starving people. Medicine from our generous country ran past date-of-use, jeopardizing the health of many. Our country used to set an example of giving its treasure to those at home and abroad who are desperately in need.
This is what a moral nation is tasked to do. What our country does is in the name of all of us.
Christmas is not a one-day deal. The teaching of Jesus applies not just to an individual, but to the morality of our town, state and country governments.
Will religious leaders follow Jesus’ teaching and pressure governments to re-discover America’s moral compass, to protect those here and others in desperate circumstances around the world?
Lynne Stevens writes a bi-weekly column for The Graham Star. She can be reached via email, geminga@mailfence.com.