SPEAK UP, REGARDLESS OF THE RESPONSE

He said, “Son of man, I’m sending you to the family of Israel, a rebellious nation if there ever was one. They and their ancestors have fomented rebellion right up to the present. They’re a hard case, these people to whom I’m sending you—hardened in their sin. Tell them, ‘This is the Message of God, the Master.’ They are a defiant bunch. Whether or not they listen, at least they’ll know that a prophet’s been here.

Ez 2:3-5

Have you ever had to deal with someone who is stubborn and hard-headed?  Have you wandered if GOD knows what it's like?  Well, if you have - GOD knows exactly how you feel!

When I read this scripture my first thought was; why would GOD tell Ezekiel to speak to the rebels and then tell him that they probably wouldn't listen? He knew that they would probably reject The Word, yet He was willing to send it anyway.

After dwelling on this for a little while, perhaps these are two reasons:

Firstly, it's a lesson in obedience and faith.

NOT JUST A NUMBER

"And he [Jesus] called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box.  For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on."

Mark 12:43-44

I read a quote today that has been gnawing at me ever since.  It was by the well known French existentialist, Jean-Paul Sartre.  The quote is along the lines of the following:

"The poor don't know that their function in life is to exercise our generosity."

Straight off the bat, I want to strongly state that I totally disagree with this statement.  I guess it's bothered me because it boxes 'poor' people into a stereotype; saying that they exist subservient to the proverbial 'us'.  Who is this 'us'?  Who is Sartre talking about here?

Is it you and me?  Because if it isn't, we must be here to exercise everyone else's generosity!

Which, actually, I believe we are.