Ecclesiastes 7
Sorrow is better than laughter, because a sad face is good for the heart, v3.
I am known for my optimism, for being positive and happy.
But those who really know me also see sadness in my eyes. Over the years missions has ruined me. It has brought me to the place of embracing frustration and sadness into my heart. I laugh so easily, however, tears come without warning. This is who I am. Very unpredictable! But the Great Commission did this. Let me explain.
The authors of the book “When helping hurts” explain how the World Bank tried to alleviate world poverty in the 1990s. They asked the poor from 60 low-income countries this question: what is poverty? Here are some of the answers:
From Guinea-Bissau: “When I don’t have any [food to bring my family], I borrow, mainly from neighbours and friends. I feel ashamed standing before my children when I have nothing to help feed the family. I’m not well when I’m unemployed. It’s terrible.”
From Uganda: “When one is poor, she has no say in public, she feels inferior. She has no food, so there is famine in her house; no clothing, and no progress in her family.”
From Moldova: “For a poor person everything is terrible—illness, humiliation, shame. We are cripples; we are afraid of everything; we depend on everyone. No one needs us. We are like garbage that everyone wants to get rid of.”
Today the Christian doesn’t need to go overseas to see poverty, they just need to come out of the churches and walk across the street. But the further you journey you will see an increase not just in the lack of essentials that we take for granted, but that also of shame, inferiority, powerlessness and a voiceless humiliation. The journey you make doesn’t have to be physical it can be that of awareness.
I appeal to you today to get involved in the Great Commission. To become missional. To embrace sadness into your happiness.
Solomon says it is good for you.
Missions Paul 