“Care For The Needs Of Others!”

“Care For The Needs Of Others!”(Mt.27:50-56).
The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”(Gen.2:19-23). Although woman was made so that the man should not be lonely and that she should be a helper to the man, that does not make her inferior to the man. She too is in the image of God.
Some cultures realise this fact and hold the women in high esteem. For example, with the Bali Nyonga people, the same respect and honour that is given to the Fon is given to Kah Ma Mfon (the Fon’s mother) and Kah Fongwi(Female Fon). They may not constitute the Fon’s council, but they can influence some of the Fon’s decisions on state and citizen’s matters.
God describes himself as a helper. He is “an ever-present help in trouble”(Ps. 46:1). He tells us not to fear because he will strengthen and help us(Is.10-14), etc.
Help connotes care. No doubt some female theologians think that it is male chauvinism that prompted biblical culture to highlight more the masculine nature of God at the expense of his feminie nature. God is not only a Mighty man in battle, Lion of Judah, King of kings, etc. He is also a Mother hen covering his children. He is kind, tender and caring just like women are.
All through Jesus’ ministry there were women who accompanied him to provide for their needs. Jesus was a itinerant preacher, yet as he and the apostles moved from town to town and village to village, these women were there to care for their needs.
Even at the moment of his death on the cross, when all his close aides had ran for their lives, many of the women were there, “watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs…”
You see my friend, the best we can do in this world is to care for the needs of those who are in need. One little deed of kindness, one moment of caring attention to someone you may not know can mean the world to that person.
May we learn from the women who followed Jesus the lesson of following and carng for the needs of those involved in kingdom of God work. And let us care especially for the needs of the less privileged members of the kingdom of God.
Weekend prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, you gave your all for my sake. Help me to care for the needs of others within the limits of my blessings. Amen!
Have a blessed weekend! Peace be with you!
Rev Babila Fochang.