Yesterday my wife and I went with a few family members to the local mall here in the Philippines. It is a stark contrast to this culture that they have such beautiful and modern malls in the midst of so much poverty. As our car passed along the crowded city streets, there were many souls lying on cardboard mats near stone walls, completely exposed to the rain, polution and in full view of the thousands of cars that pass by.
A man at the entrance to a side street, hails a taxi for two pedestrians walking towards him. He has become an entrepreneur by finding a job for himself hailing cabs for those looking for transportation. Only a few that he assists will pay him perhaps one or two pesos for his efforts, but none the less, he has acquired a job for himself.
A darkly soiled, and slightly bent over man sits beside the road with his dirty feet, matted hair and disheveled presence going unnoticed to the passers by. No one cares that he has not eaten in days, nor has anyone embraced him or told him they love him for years.
Our car now parked inside the malls underground structure, I see sharply dressed guards watching over the expensive cars of shoppers inside who have more than enough money to purchase whatever their heart desires.
In the United States we rarely see such sights, hardly ever do we consider that there are people all over the world living in object poverty and filth, starving for sustenance and human affection. Jesus said that we will always have the poor amongst us, but I wonder why? They are amongst us because we pass right by them without a look or a thought of what their life must be like.
For me, it seems to be a result of what Jesus has done inside my heart that I ache within for these neglected ones. Perhaps one of the reasons the Lord ordained that I marry a Filipina and live here amongst these 93 millions souls is that He wants me to take notice and do something about it.
How much has our heart changed since Jesus became a reality for us? The Lord said that “If you love me you will obey my commandments”. I have always taken this statement to mean that If I am truly in love with Jesus, I will begin to have the same burden for people that He has.
The New Testament points out that the only true sign that we really know Jesus is when we begin to love people in the way that He loves them. For the average American, loving people who smell bad and lay asleep on a cardboard mat is a stretch. It is much easier to love the neighbor down the street who just purchased a new Lexus that we have admired from a distance.
As the time of Great Tribulation approaches and poverty overtakes the once prosperous United States and Europe, I wonder if becoming destitute will change our hearts in the way that I have seen the poor of the Philippines.
I asked my wife what the crime rate was for murder, rape and acts of violent crime in the Philippines since there is such a large and closely grouped population. To my surprise the crime rate for all of these is extremely low in the Philippines. Even in those areas that are heavily populated.
In fact, when you meet the Philippine people you will discover that they are the happiest, most fun loving and kind people that you have ever met. Why is this? I believe it is because most of them know Jesus and have a deep relationship with Him. Though they are not outwardly evangelical like many professing American Christians, Filipino’s live the quiet life of a believer everyday in practical ways. They are happy with the little that they have. They value family above posessions, and they treat each other with respect and generosity, though they may have little to give.
Four years ago I made a trip to the “Squatter” area of Manila where thousands of families have constructed tiny homes constructed of the remains left in garbage dumps. When I entered the homes of these who live along the railroad tracks of Manila, I discovered that their homes were clean, neat and that they offered me a warmth and hospitality that I had never experienced anywhere else in the world. The children played with homemade toys made of sticks, broken pieces of glass and parts of discarded dolls found in the dump. Whatever meager food they had, they offered it to me with a smile and a gratitude that I had taken the time to visit them in their humble home.
As I turned to walk away from that experience, I cried and trembled at what I had just experienced. People with a tender and humble heart that I had never seen before. Truly, Blessed are the poor for theirs is the kingdom of God.
Rob Robinson
Taxi for Two (1932) – Movie…
Note 4.6/10. Taxi for Two is a Short, Comedy Movie of 1932 made in USA. Director: Del LordCast: Ben Blue, Billy Gilbert, Billy Bletcher, James C. Morton…