Apathy or Action

I have been thinking a lot lately about my responsibilites as a follower of Jesus.  Is my life one that reflects Christ?  Do my actions match what I profess to belief?  Jesus is pretty clear on what is expected of us.  We know that we are to love our neighbors as ourselves, take care of the marginalized, feed the hungry, give to the poor and etc. 

In 1 John 3:17 we are told:  "How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help?"  Pretty clear.  This is not just a New Testament command either.  In Proverbs 14:31 it states:  "Those who oppress the poor insult their Maker, but those who are kind to the needy honor him."

If I am honest with myself I am just not living up to what Jesus expects from me.  Sure I tithe to my church and other charities but the words of this great Matthew West song keeps popping into my head.  Here are the lyrics. 

"My Own Little World"

In my own little world it hardly ever rains
I've never gone hungry, always felt safe
I got some money in my pocket, shoes on my feet
In my own little world: population -- me
I try to stay awake during Sunday morning church
I throw a twenty in the plate but I never give 'til it hurts
And I turn off the news when I don't like what I see
It's easy to do when its population -- me
What if there's a bigger picture?
What if I'm missing out?
What if there's a greater purpose?
I could be living right now
Outside my own little world
Stopped till the red light, looked out my window
I saw a cardboard sign said, "Help this homeless widow"
And just above that sign was the face of a human
I thought to myself, "God, what have I been doing?"
So I rolled down the window and I looked her in the eye
Oh, how many times have I just passed her by?
I gave her some money then I drove on through
And my own little world reached population two
Father, break my heart for what breaks Yours
Give me open hands and open doors
Put Your light in my eyes and let me see
That my own little world is not about me
I don't wanna miss what matters
I wanna be reaching out
Show me the greater purpose
So I can start living right now
Outside my own little world, my own little world, my own little world

That is truly what my prayer has been lately - Father, break my heart for what breaks yours.  I sent this line or some version of it to a friend recently and she said that it really hit her hard.  It should hit all of us hard.  I know it does me.