A Time to Work
There are many parts that make up a good response to natural disasters. There are times to donate, times to reflect, times to pray, times to prevent, times to lament. The time during or immediately after a disaster is a time to act with our hands and feet. It is a time to work hard and suffer with those who are suffering.
For Christians, every disaster is a call to action. And because we are strengthened by God’s love and empowered by His Spirit, we are uniquely equipped to have a huge impact on suffering people.
When there is a calamity, Christians should immediately get to work. When first-century Christians knew of needs within their community, they immediately got busy meeting those needs (Acts 4:34-37). When the young church in Antioch heard about a famine in Jerusalem, they immediately went about seeking some way to help (Acts 11:28-30). In keeping with this practice, Christians throughout history have been at the forefront of relief operations.
Serving and suffering
I believe Paul’s exhortation in 2 Timothy 2 about Christian service is appropriate to consider whenever we find ourselves in an extreme situation of need. Primarily these verses apply to pastoral gospel ministry, but I think there are lessons that can apply to a wider context, including how we can serve others after disasters like floods.
Paul wrote, “Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus” (v3). He described Timothy’s service as suffering. This statement from Paul shouldn’t surprise us, because suffering for the gospel was a normal part of his own everyday life (1 Corinthians 15:30-31; Colossians 1:24-29). This is the call to all Christians who are living in the midst of suffering—a call to suffer by serving the people around them who are suffering the most.
Faithful Christians suffer in different ways as they seek to serve God and their neighbours. Sometimes the suffering is overt – like fatigue or lack of sleep. Sometimes the suffering is subtle. For example, one spouse may need to release the other spouse to work extra hard at relief operations. Recent years have seen numerous hospital and front-line staff having to forgo personal commitments for the sake of others. This may result in extra strain for the family in the short term but it may be necessary to help those in immediate need or danger. Of course, family life is important. Nurturing our families is something that can and never should be taken off the front burner. But the immediate crisis may cause us to change the way we do things.
Work then rest
According to Paul, another aspect of suffering is working hard like a farmer or athlete does (2 Timothy 2:5-6). Elsewhere Paul said, “To this end I also labour, striving according to His working which works in me mightily” (Colossians 1:29). Responding to a disaster like a flood, fire or earthquake will involve strenuous work and little rest in the short term.
This is a time for us to suffer for people who are in desperate need, to work hard, and to give up some things we are used to having so that we can help those who have nothing.
One day we will have a grand rest with God in eternity (Revelation 14:13). But now is the time to work. Amy Carmichael, the great missionary to abandoned children in India, said, “We have all eternity to celebrate our victories, but only a few hours before sunset to win them.”
Our actions in response to disasters will probably go unnoticed as everyone digs in to help – much like our service in the church. One day we will see that all the personal sacrifices we made were worthwhile. Finally, Paul promises that “If we died with Him, we shall also live with Him. If we endure, we shall also reign with Him.” (2 Timothy 2:11-12).
Disasters are opportunities to show Christian love to people who desperately need it.
This article was originally written by Ajith Fernando in the days immediately after the 2004 tsunami in Sri Lanka. It has been adapted with permission.
