I was struck by a sentence on page 40 of this book, where the rich locals in this North African country were very proud to be friends with the Foremans, who were Americans, because in their minds an American was automatically a rich person. And so they got quite a kick out of getting close to the Foremans as they settled into this community.
But then on page 40, Emily says: “Some in the upper class grew cooler around us when they realised we associated with the poorest of the poor as well. They seemed a little bothered that we gave equal friendship to people in the worst areas of town, sitting in the dirt and eating from the same bowl with our low-class friends.”
Then she asks, “Was this how Jesus felt? Getting abuse from the religious leaders for eating with the prostitutes and tax collectors?”
Following Jesus Beyond Social Status
I thought this was such a great example for you and I as Christians. Are we known, like Jesus was — and like the Foremans were — as friends of the rich and the poor? Friends of the good and the bad? People who reach out wherever they can?
You know, we still tend to be dominated by status here in our Western countries. Wanting to be known as cool, wanting to be known as in contact, and in company with the right people. We care so much about what others think of us. But really God is calling us to radical compassion and radical love — even for the least of these.
You know, Jesus had a way of encountering the lowest of the low and forwarding them the dignity they deserved.
Radical Compassion in Everyday Life
Perhaps you and I need to work hard to do better in this regard. How about simply greeting a beggar and making eye contact? Simply giving that person the dignity of a greeting can go a long way.
What about the people in your life who work in lower job then you — people who clean and the people who look after our gardens, and so on. Do we treat them with love, equality, and kindness, or do we treat them differently because of their position and our position.
They say you can tell a lot about a person by how they treat the lowest person in a company — the janitor. Do you treat the janitor the same as the CEO, with the same level of dignity and respect?
The Foremans actually made an impact in their community by reaching out to people nobody else would reach out to. And I pray that you and I will do the same today, wherever we are.
The church family has a claim on you too, and Paul wants our help to reach the people who are genuinely desperate. Ask God this week to show you one person in need you can help yourself, rather than leaving it to someone else.