We visited St. John School to run a children’s program for their primary students and one of their sponsors told us about the origins of the school from small beginnings. He said that St. John church was educating children in that community. They wanted to move the students to another location and get them into other schools, but their parents kept insisting that they start a school where they were. Although they didn’t have money, by faith, they choose to hold a school for some students. Over the years, they have grown to have students from year 1 to year 6 as a complete primary school. Many teachers left because they weren’t getting paid since the parents in that community could not afford to pay school fees on time, which means that teachers could not get paid in a timely man. Because they ran out of room in their small building, the school grew to occupy the St. John church building. Although they have always struggled financially, everyone involved in the school have been sacrificial to make sure it was still running for the students. Likewise, at an all girls school we visited called Beulah, the founder invested money from her retirement to start the school as well as opened up her home as a hostel for the students. She has rescued several impoverished students from being married off by parents who simply wanted a dowry. Moreover, she has provided some students with a free education, trusting in the Lord as her provider, when the students’ parents were unable to pay the fees. These are schools worth investing in.
Earlier this month, my teammate and I were approached by a man who told us that he wanted to start a feeding program for the children at one of the schools, but he hadn’t done anything about it even though he has seen this problem for quite a while already. He was hoping that we could raise funds and give the provisions for him to give to the children. I could not take him seriously because he did not risk in faith to do what he could to make things happen. He was waiting for someone else to fulfill his dreams for him. I thought to myself about how often times we want desired outcomes without having to do the work. We want the prestige and results, but we don’t want the responsibility. There are many noble ideas that don’t come to fruition because of our unwillingness to sacrifice. Although you need the support of others to achieve great things, no one will hardly work for or with you if you do not work hard to do your part. Furthermore, are you using your faith as an excuse to neglect your responsibilities? Are you assuming that because God is sovereign that everything will work in your favor? For instance, if you choose not to do the work of job hunting and just say that God will provide. Or are you saying that God will bring me the exact partner I want so I don’t need to risk getting to know a potential?
Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. (James 2:15-17)
Your faith is not beneficial for humanity or yourself in this lifetime if you do not act upon the faith that God moves with you as you give your life away to create a better future for others.
