How to make the world a better place

When you become a mom or a dad suddenly you perceive all things/people/places differently. The way you view the world is, in fact, altered. You want it to be a place where your child will find peace, compassion, fairness and love. And you don't want it to destroy their innocence. 


The reality is that THE WORLD lets us down over and over again. 


So it's at this time in our lives when our own personal/familial responsibilities are at their peak when we decide it's time to take on the world. We set out to create the answers, if not for ourselves for our children, to the question: "How can we make the world a better place?" As if we weren't busy enough, we find it suddenly realistic to juggle a job, family, the PTA, a church Bible study or two, and youth sports coaching -- at least once a season. 


There, we think. Finally the world is righting itself. But does signing up for every committee, cause or organization really address the root cause that our world is lacking peace, compassion, fairness and love. Does coaching our kids' sports teams help protect their innocence?



You're probably thinking, "Well, it might." And you're probably right. When I think about what I want my kids to see me doing to make the world a better place, I am not sure any of these things, while good and noble, are up to the task. But what if being a change agent for the world was really simple? What if it hardly required much -- a little money, some time, volunteerism side-by-side with our kids and spouses? 


What if we committed to devote ourselves to just one thing on this list: 


1. Feed the hungry -- Donate to a food pantry regularly and volunteer on the days when families come in to shop. 


2. Cloth the poor -- Support or start your own clothing ministry for families in need. 


3. Heal the sick and lame -- Become a nurse or doctor. OK, maybe that's not your calling, but what about giving money to medical missions groups that provide necessities in third world countries. Or volunteering as support personnel for the Red Cross or a medical missionary. Or giving your time or money to local hospitals, which are providing a larger percentage of charity care to our neighbors who cannot afford to pay for medical needs. 


4. Take care of widows and orphans -- Adopt. Or support an orphanage, sponsor a child. Help out a widow in need in your neighborhood. 


5. Extend grace -- Forgive one another. And forget. Don't hold grudges. 


6. Love -- Love covers a multitude of sins. 


7. Preach the gospel -- Evangelize OUTSIDE THE CHURCH WALLS. 


Actually we have a perfect role model when it comes to making the world a better place. 


He loved the lowly. He was charismatic and convinced his followers to give up everything and become servants. He fed the hungry. He healed the sick. He showed the world that while religion can be rewarding, it also includes dangers. He preached the gospel, rarely inside the church. He was the gospel. He died for me. He died for you. 


One of my current favorite quotes about Jesus comes from the Kyle Idleman book "Not a Fan," and it says "Jesus came to free you from religion. To those who have been hauling around a long list of rules. To those who are pretending to be more than they really are. To those who are weighed down with the fear and guilt of religion. To all the fans who are worn out on religion, Jesus invites you to follow him."


John 3:16 says "For God so loved the world that he sent his only son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."


I love the choice of one particular word in this scripture. It doesn't say for God loved the people in the church or the righteous or the people who confessed their sins. It says he loved the WORLD. 


Jesus is our savior, and while that's the biggest message in this verse, there's another one. Jesus is the road map for loving the world in a way that God loves the world. If we follow him and his example and humble ourselves to serve like he did, is it not true that we will be helping to create a better world for our children?


God loves our world, and he loves us enough to want us to be a part of loving the world back. The question is, are we up for the task?