This month in Portoviejo, Ecuador one of the ministries we’re partnering with (Inca Link) sponsors a feeding program for a community of families that live in and work at the city dump. There was a massive earthquake in 2016 that devastated much of the city. Downtown Portoviejo was a beautiful, safe place but the epicenter of the earthquake was directly downtown. The city has been struggling to rebuild since. Apart from being a construction zone, the people have been struggling like never before. Such a traumatic event forces people into desperate measures.
Nobody wants to move their family to the city dump. But when one man’s trash becomes your only resource, families have made that downhearted decision.
For the longest time, I struggled with the idea that you were supposed to freely give to the poor. Reasoning be: I don’t want to cause a community or person to become dependent on free resources handed to them.
But in this extreme situation I think I’ve discovered a lick of truth.
These people are already depending on a free resource. Except for it’s trash because that’s all were willing to give away. That’s what we give to the struggling? Our trash? Nahhh. That’s wack. They are hard working people too, who work long hours every day in the dump for around $3 total. I think we’re so afraid to cause people to be dependent that we forget the point is to love.
I won’t make an official statement on whether or not you should give money or resources to every struggling person you see. But Jesus does say “give to the one who begs from you and do not refuse the one that would borrow from you” – Mathew 5:42
The people of the ministry were staying with bring food to these kids 3 times a week. (they are building funds to make it every single day) We don’t just drop it off and run tho, we bring it, serve it, clean it up, play games and hangout. Giving to the needy is so much more than just handing a person the thing.
I have never in my lifetime, considered that I could spend even three nights a week volunteering and giving back. My lifestyle was always “too busy”. I could maybe do once a week. These people have jobs and families too but they don’t make the excuses like I did and they are reaching for more.
I think what I’ve realized is Jesus was asking the question, whats the important thing? Are you your priority, or do you consider others more important than yourself? And I think the important thing is that we bond together as humans, and giving to those we know are struggling is an intimate way to connect. And if you pass up the opportunity to connect, John asks, does God’s love for humanity really live inside you?
–1 John 3:17 says “If a person owns the kinds of things we need to make it in the world but refuses to share with those in need, is it even possible that God’s love lives in him?”
I mean daaaaaang… that’s a tough question..
So you know, just some casual thoughts from ministry these past couple weeks in Ecuador. I know I’ve been forced to reevaluate my priorities yet again.
