Sock It To Me

A church in a small town near here discovered a family that had one pair of socks for their three children. The children took turns wearing the socks to school. The church immediately remedied the situation with a plentiful supply of new socks and then began a program to insure that all school children in their town also have adequate socks.


This will not make the front page, nor should it. Jesus said, "When you do your good works, do not let your right hand know what your left hand is doing. Your Father, who sees in secret will reward you openly."


Like most of Jesus' teaching this is contrary to human nature. We want the acclaim of others. Even if we should do some good work in secret, don't we secretly hope we will be found out? But Jesus knew that our pride in being recognized by our fellows cannot begin to compare to the joy of God's reward. Man's recognition brings ego inflation but like some drugs the effects are short-lived whereas God's commendation brings lasting and satisfying joy.

If you have plenty of socks, give thanks to God. And be reminded that there are those of our brothers and sisters who lack most of the things we take for granted. In our community more than 75% of children are on the school lunch plan. For some this is the only decent daily meal they get.

Isn't there something askew in the scheme of things? Hundreds of billions of tax payer dollars have been used to bail out the financial industry while also allowing a small segment of our population to continue to enjoy their lavish life style. In the meantime, children are going hungry and families are going without the basic necessities. I know: I know. The bail-out was necessary to keep the economy from going into the tank. It was necessary even if all of the money can't be accounted for due to lax oversight, waste, fraud and corruption.

The poor are trundled out onstage when they serve a political purpose and quickly abandoned
until the next time they can be useful. Unfortunately we cannot depend on government 'one size fits all' programs to completely solve the poverty situation, no matter how well intended. It's not a matter of cynicism to point out that Congress and bureaucrats are disconnected from the street-level realities of life.

So; what? Do I just moan and complain? Do I only point out the obvious difficulties, go on about my business and tell the poor to suck it up and do the best they can? Not if I claim to be a follower of Christ. His concern for the poor is obvious in what he said and in his ministry to them. I believe Jesus has called on us to live modestly and to share out of what has been given to us.

Think about it when you pull your socks on in the morning.