Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. -Jesus in John 5:13-15
We had all eaten loads of delicious food and chatted for a while about our lives, families and jobs. The first night of our community group was a full house, even more full of children than adults. Human rights makes for an interesting conversation topic. We all grappled with the thought of how much God is concerned with caring for the poor. How interested He is in our efforts to care for the weak and the oppressed. Were we living up to all He expected from us? What exactly did He expect from us? Could we make a difference?
And the thought can’t help but linger. Why do you allow it at all, Lord?
I remember years ago, so many people were talking about being God’s friend. There was a song about it and a book about it and in my circle of friends lots of joy expressed about being God’s friend. It’s wonderfully thrilling to be in relationship with our Creator, and we were basking in the thought of undeserved, deep friendship with a holy God.
It felt a little thin at times, though. The idea of being friends with God stroked the ego. Like being friends with the most popular girl in high school so I could get into the best parties. Could my relationship with God be too driven by how I benefit from knowing Him? Does God benefit from knowing me? Would God list me among His friends if someone asked Him?
So I prayed. I left my personal needs, our country’s needs, the needs of my friends and family out of it. I told God I wanted Him to be honest with me. He already knew what was on my heart. I had no idea what was on His.
What are you concerned about today, Lord?
I was sort of miffed then. It’s not that I expected him to name me and my concerns exactly, but what He did say let me know I was way down on the list. God told me His heart burns for the poor and oppressed of the world. He told me that no matter how challenging my day might be (I had a newborn, 1-year-old and a two-year-old at the time) He and I both know I am doing just fine compared to millions of others. He ached for people lacking food and water. He grieved for orphans raising their siblings in alleys. The rights of suffering people were the cry of His holy heart.
So I did the first and possibly most difficult thing we can do to combat these injustices: I chose to care.
Then I did the most easy thing to do: I prayed for them.
And even now, as we send money to organizations, send people on mission trips, reach out to the homeless in our city, organize mentoring for a local school and support orphanages in impoverished nations, I wonder: What more can we do? In all my life, I have known no greater joy than meeting the deep needs of people who are suffering. I am addicted to that joy.
Maybe that is the reason God doesn’t speak the word and eradicate suffering. Our unmet need creates our suffering. Our suffering allows us to empathize. Our empathy moves us to love. Our love brings us closer to God than we could go otherwise. Suddenly, we know Him deeply and we find that knowledge is what meets our greatest need.
Perhaps the greatest human right is the right to suffer for a purpose. It is the right Jesus took up when He came to us, fully God and fully man at the same time. He empathized with us, loved us, died for us. Earthly suffering with an eternal purpose in mind.
For that reason, I pray God would make me brave to put myself in situations where I may suffer purposefully. I ask to be given creative ideas to meet the needs of others. I hope and I pray that my life might be one that gives Him joy as I ease the burden of the suffering of the people He loves.
I can think of no greater way to honor the One who did so much for me. It is my finest act of friendship toward God. He is my dearest Friend, my most empathetic Savior, and Lord of all, all of which give Him some rights too.
This Sunday we will be talking about human rights some more at church. We would love to have you join us in person or online! cccaustin.com