Serving Our Neighbour

I’ve been reflecting upon this since a long while back.

Remember those tissue sellers who always bug you at the hawker centres or along Orchard Road? They always seem to encamp at the same spot. Since I started work at Mandarin Gallery, I’m always approached by this old Indian lady selling tissues at the cross junction daily without fail. I wonder if she recognises that day after day I’ve been rejecting her offer. Every night there’s also this old auntie who’ll lay down a picnic mat and display all her wares of daily household items for sale – can food, instant noodles, and perhaps things donated to her by some welfare groups.

Somehow I find that our perspective and reactions to these people have been so conditioned that our hearts are hardened.

We think perhaps, our money’s much better invested in the Church;

They probably ain’t so needy anyways;

Some professional social workers’re gonna tend to them;

This is not a long term solution, they need a mainstream job;

“The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me”;

“This is someone else’s ministry, not mine.”

I’ve nothing against the types of responses mentioned above. I’m just saddened by the critical spirit that has some how crept into my heart and perhaps yours.

Critical about serving, skeptical about the plight of the needy.

Concern about spiritual providence more than physical providence.

Prudence about where our money’s being invested.

They are hindering us from actually giving to the cause of the needy. It ain’t just about giving to the Church so the Church can give to the needy.

YOU ARE the Church.

The next time you see these people, slow down your steps; pause for a moment and take a deep look into their eyes; and who knows you might just see Jesus face to face.

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