Care and Share

Ira Byock, in the book: ‘The Best Care Possible’ quotes Margaret Mead an anthropologist. She opined that the animals with a broken leg did not survive for long so that it is healed. With a broken leg an animal cannot hunt for food or drink from a stream. The animal dies of hunger or is hunted by other beasts. According to Margaret: Humans are different. A broken thigh bone of a human is healed is the evidence that someone cared for the person: bound the wound, ensured safety, provided food. Thus, civilization began. Humans survive and grow by serving one another.
God created humans to be caring and sharing with others.
1) Brother’s keeper: Cain killed Abel, his younger brother. When God confronted him, he feigned innocence and asked: Am I my brother’s keeper? God expected Cain to be guardian of Abel and not murderer. All humans are brother’s keeper – responsible for one another.
2) Love your neighbour: The Law of Moses mandated children of Israel to love their neighbours. (Leviticus 19:18) Lord Jesus affirmed that as one of the two Greatest Commandments. (Mark 12:31)
3) Compassion: Our Lord Jesus Christ is our model. When he saw people in distress, he was moved with compassion and touched their lives. Lepers were healed, eyes of blind opened, dead raised to life, feeding the five thousand…etc.
4) Generosity: The Lord taught us to be generous to others. Giving to the poor was equated with giving to the Lord, with sure return or reward. Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the LORD, and He will repay him for his deed. (Proverbs 19:17)
5) Sacrificial sharing: Generous people will be blessed as they share food with the poor. (Proverbs 22:9) Paul writes that we should work hard to support those who are in need. (Acts 20:34)
Disciples of Lord Jesus Christ have demonstrated this throughout history. Tertullian (AD 160-220), the first reputed North African theologian could attest Christian community living with love, expressed in sharing, caring for one another and ready to die for each other.
Do I love, care and share for my neighbours?