Starving Children

There's this book that I have to read for Philosophical and Ethical Issues called Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger by Ronald J. Sider. It's about the hungry and starving people in third world countries. I haven't read much of it yet, but what I have read so far has touched my heart immensely. I have been thinking about it so much recently, and here's what I have realized:

America is a country that is starving for God. We are so hungry for Jesus in our lives. We need Him so much! We have a psychological and spiritual deficiency.

In countries such as Africa, Indonesia, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and many others, there are people starving for bread and water. These people are in need of a few extra cents so that they can feed their dying children. They have a physical and economic deficiency.

So, here is where my frustration kicks in: Why on earth aren't we, the rich Americans, doing everything we possibly can to stop this hurt in the world?? There are people all over the world CRYING OUT for God -- people who just want God to provide for them fifty more cents a day so that they can feed their families. And here I sit, in my dorm room, next to a full refrigerator, an overflowing closet, a warm bed, and a lock on my door, typing away on my laptop. It feels so wrong for me to be spending $30,000 a year to get an education when there are children starving. Who cares about my education, I want to help the people who are dying. These people are dying because I am too selfish to DO something!

I was talking to my boyfriend about this yesterday and he was saying how America needs our help too... We're going downhill fast, and there need to be good Christian men and women here, making a difference in America. He's right... but here's the issue I have with Americans: There are people who make millions and millions of dollars -- and they live the life of luxury!! How can they do that?!?! People like Bill Gates or Tom Gallisano or even the president of RWC ---- or the president of the USA... These people have done great things with their money, for example Gallisano donated sooo much money to the building of our multi-million dollar library here on campus. A library is good, education is good. But why do we need to spend so much money on one building?? I can't bring myself to be proud of that library...

The way I see it, people who have money should do everything that they can to help those who need the money the most. And part of that, I believe, is living a life of simplicity, and putting all of your extra time and money into helping others. I think that being a steward of your money involves not keeping it all to yourself as well as not giving it all to one person. People who have a lot of money need to give it away to touch as many people as possible.

Have you ever felt so passionately about something that it just made you want to throw up? I don't think I've felt this way about something in a long time... but I feel like I am not being who I need to be. I feel guilty for the way I have been using my money. I feel like I should be doing something about this -- not just learning about it. I feel like I am spending too much money on myself just by going to college.

And even as I sit here I think about my plans for tonight, to go to a show in a huge auditorium that probably cost as much as it does to save thousands of children from dying tonight. And after the show, I'm haded out with friends in a car to a restaurant where I am going to buy myself a dessert that costs as much as it would to pay for three families' meals for the day.

If I never go into missions, if I never leave the country again, I will certainly make it my goal to live a life of simplicity, and spend all the time and money I can on those who need it most.