I don’t remember what the hard piece of news was that I overheard in the church announcements. All I remember was the question that occurred to me in regard to it, ‘What would I do if I cared?’

It is a simple question to understand, but not always so simple to answer. And with so many possible applications, it is a constantly reoccurring one.

For example, what would I do if I cared when I saw strangers in Bible class and worship? If I cared, the last thing I would do would be to ignore them. If I consider a congregation to be ‘my church home’ and ‘my family’, then I would use my company manners and make it a point to introduce myself and make them feel welcome…. if I cared.

What would I do if I cared when I consider someone I know who I believe to be lonely? How easy it is to make a phone call these days. I believe that would be the least I could do if I cared.

Seems like every day we hear of some new tragedy in the news somewhere in the world. Do I ever pray for those I hear about who are facing trouble? Earthquakes, floods, storms, wars, famines, fires, crime, broken homes and on and on the list goes of horrible things happening to people all the time and everywhere. What would I do if I cared? Do I stop to pray? How simple that would be to do! Do I care enough to reach out in any way to anyone who is hurting, near or far, stranger or friend?

The Word of God encourages us to pray for our governmental leaders (1st Timothy 2:1-4). God teaches us to do things that will make a difference. Do I care to make a difference in the affairs of governments, even on national levels? If I did care, what would I do?

Do you know any single-parents who may need some encouragement? Do we only see them in circumstances where it appear that all is well and our intervention is unnecessary? Could these sometimes be the ‘weak hands and feeble knees’ we read about in Hebrews 12:12? How would you go about finding out, if you cared?

Know any lost people? Allow me to define ‘lost’. A lost person is someone, anyone, who has never obeyed the gospel of Jesus Christ (2nd Thessalonians 1:6-10). Their reality is that they face the (politically incorrect) fact of eternal damnation. Does that bother us? Do we care? What would we do if we cared?

Can you teach someone who is lost, or otherwise reach out to them? If I told you that such was none of your concern and that you had no business learning how to reach out to them with the gospel since you obviously lack what is required to be adequate at that kind work, you’d likely be insulted. Why are so many not insulted when they tell themselves the same thing? I believe it is the difference between something being used as either a reason or an excuse. How would you prepare yourself to help the lost people you know, if you only cared?

It may be a difficult question sometimes, but it is always a great question. Hopefully, it will provoke us to action. Hopefully, it will provoke us to care!
Marty Kessler