On the day that you stood aloof, on the day that strangers carried off his wealth, and foreigners entered his gate and cast lots for Jerusalem — you too were as one of them. – Obadiah 1:11
How often have we said, “We don’t want to get involved,” or “It’s really none of our business,” when an emergency arises or someone we know is passing through a great difficulty? Through His prophet Obadiah, God condemned the nation of Edom because they had adopted such an attitude. When the nation of Judah was being destroyed, Esau’s descendants watched it burn.
Our reasons for “minding our own business,” like Edom’s, can often sound reasonable. We may conclude that it is the person’s own fault for his or her current situation, that getting involved will only mean trouble and heartache, or that our efforts won’t really make a difference – and we may be correct on all counts. Yet, when disaster is looming, indifference is akin to sitting on the curb while the neighbor’s house is on fire. I understand that personal involvement may not be an option, but we can always pray, we can always warn, we can even sometimes get help, and we can always be ready to step in as soon as the opportunity presents itself.
Indeed, we are citizens of heaven, not this world, but we live here – now. This is our only time to make a difference. Let’s make it.
It is easy to sit up and take notice, what is difficult is getting up and taking action. – Honoré de Balzac
