As I reflected some more on One life by Scot McKnight, I thought about McKnight’s challenge in regard to justice issues. I always find this a difficult issue. I understand the great injustices in the world but feel helpless to do much about them. I often avoid reading about people and people groups who have suffered injustices since it makes me feel angry and powerless.
Initiatives like “Fair Trading” are a great idea but on my own I don’t have the motivation to support these projects. On my own I feel my involvement is too small and ineffective to be worth the time commitment. If a church or a community minded group that I was involved with decided to investigate and support these kinds of initiatives I would be happy to join in, but I don’t have the necessary enthusiasm to do this myself.
At this point I was pleased to read McKnight’s chapter on vocation. He discusses the desire to “do something that really matters” which I think is a desire we all have. McKnight then went on to define “what really matters” from a God’s kingdom point of view. I really enjoyed this chapter especially the part entitled, “It’s okay to do ordinary jobs.”
Ultimately we are called to help people where we can, speak out against injustice where we can and do what we are able to bless others but we are not necessarily called to single-handedly change the world. Acts 10:38 tells us that Jesus “went around doing good.” Now that’s something everyone can do.
