Aid To Haiti - Is Enough Being Done?

To say that the future of Haiti remains bleak would be an understatement as huge as the recent catastrophe suffered by the poverty-stricken and largely devastated and nation itself. The bottom line is that most of the country’s infrastructure needs to be rebuilt from the ground up – literally! Then there is the staggering matter of dealing with scores who now possess only the clothes, and often tattered rags, on their backs. Tens of thousands have no way of even feeding themselves or thier children – something that was not all that easy to achieve even prior to the killer quake.

One positive, in the midst of the tidal wave of near unimaginable negatives, is that many are responding to the physical and material needs there. A sobered world seems to realize that, at this jucture, that keeping people alive and safe is priority one. New technology has come into play as donations via cell phone texting has climbed to over 20 million dollars. Celebrities are doing their parts while relief organizations like Samaritan’s Purse, World Vision and Red Cross continue doing what they do best. Even the New York Yankees got on board early by promising one half million dollars to the cause.

But with that said, much more could be done by those who have already helped and especially by those who have not! What impresses God most is when His people give in the manner of the widow spoken of in Luke chapter twenty-one. Jesus complimented this rather poor woman highly stating in verses 3-4, "Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all; for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had." Hers was a true gift of extreme sacrifice!

Just as many have already shown their tangible concern, there are others who have fully ignored the monstrous and unimaginable Haitian tragedy. It is hard to believe that any have not been fully informed of the infinite needs in a news-saturated world. And it is even harder to fathom how anyone could look into the faces of the suffering Haitian people and simply turn away to their own concerns. To do so actually requires an effort of sorts. The reason is simple. Man is made in the image of God according to Genesis 1:27. That fact alone should bring to the surface some level of compassion and outward response. And Paul, in Romans, spoke of how Christians are to share in the lives of those about them – whether circumstances are going well or not. He admonished believers in chapter twelve, “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.” (Romans 12:15)

God is keenly aware of the inner workings of every man’s heart. No action, thought, or motive gets past His precise scrutiny. (Hebrews 4:13) Not only does He expect His people to reveal His nature and His love through their response to the downtrodden, but He also warns of the consequences of failing to do so. Proverbs 24:11-12 puts it this way. “Deliver those who are drawn toward death, and hold back those stumbling to the slaughter. If you say, "Surely we did not know this," Does not He who weighs the hearts consider it? He who keeps your soul, does He not know it? And will He not render to each man according to his deeds?” God is not unconcerned nor is He unaware!

Haiti today is a land plagued by awful oppression. But it has also become a land of ample opportunity! Not only do most believers possess some ability to meet material needs in God’s name, they alone can assist on another level – an ultimately superior one. They can fervently pray and help share the greatest answer to everyone’s deepest need by making known the riches of salvation in Jesus Christ to spiritually impoverished sinners.

“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence.” (Ephesians 1:7-8)

Bill Breckenridge