ECONOMIC JUSTICE 2

I serve on the board of World Ministries an organization that has missionaries in the Philippines and India. One of our staff members is a woman who was previously a successful architect in the United States. After a visit to the Philippines where she saw poverty, disease and hunger she made a bold decision.

I serve on the board of World Ministries an organization that has missionaries in the Philippines and India. One of our staff members is a woman who was previously a successful architect in the United States. After a visit to the Philippines where she saw poverty, disease and hunger she made a bold decision. She sold her architectural firm and with her husband she relocated to the serve the neediest in the Philippines. Sharon Pastre is the founder and director of Grace Community Empowerment. www.worldmin.org/world-ministries-GCE
Along with her husband, Sharon cares for the most basic physical and spiritual needs of these seemingly forgotten and powerless people. Sharon and her husband Manny serve in the following way.
• Providing medical care to malnourished children, some of whom have been saved from death
• Helping the urban and rural poor to become self-sustaining
• Sponsoring medical and dental clinics
• Establishing elementary classes where no schools exist
• Assisting underprivileged youth by means of a “Scholars” program to receive college and graduate degrees. These scholars make a commitment to return to work among the needy to provide pharmaceutical, medical, or dental services in conjunction with Gospel outreach upon graduation.
Is that not economic justice? Giving up what I have to provide for someone that has nothing. When we give GENEROUSLY to provide for the spiritual and physical needs of others we are practicing economic justice. Giving breaks the power of money in my life and allows God to bring grace and justice into the lives of others.
I can’t imagine the daily struggles they face as they serve in difficult conditions with overwhelming needs. I am inspired by people like Sharon and Manny. I am reminded that I need to pay attention to the needs all around me. I have stop thinking about my needs and use the resources that God has so generously given me to provide for others.
In the parable of the talents found in Matthew 25 the master was pleased when the servants used what they were given for the master’s purposes. He was angered when the servant did nothing with what he was given. God’s purposes are clear. Learn to do what is right! Promote justice! Give the oppressed reason to celebrate! Take up the cause of the orphan! Defend the rights of the widow! Isaiah 1:17 Do something!
I am learning that my life is best defined by how much I give away not by how much I hold on to. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life because of me will find it. Matthew 10:39. Economic justice begins with me. When I give myself away for God’s purposes I can be used to make right those things that are close to God’s heart.