Do We Really Care?

The tears of Jeremiah were real. As God’s faithful servant, he had poured out his heart to the people of Judah for more than forty years. But tragically, they had allowed their hearts to be calloused. Now Jerusalem lies barren. The glory of what was had been reduced to ruin and rubble. How could this have happened? One indication of the mindset that had lead to this sad chapter of history is seen in the following question that Jeremiah brought before God’s people, “Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by? Behold and see if there is any sorrow like my sorrow, which has been brought on me, which the Lord had inflicted in the day of His fierce anger” (Lamentations 1:12).

The difference between success and failure among any group of people often lies in the degree of real concern they possess. This was truly at the foundation of Judah’s failure. Now they were reaping the sad results. An indication of how low they had fallen is revealed in the very first verse of the book of Lamentations, “How lonely sits the city that was full of people! How like a widow is she, who was great among the nations! The princes among the provinces has become a slave” (Lamentations 1:1). Why had these people allowed this downward spiral?

A true indication of any group of people is how they respond to

challenges. Of course, it is possible to overreact. But the opposite also represents a danger. We can seek to do the greatest good. Our attitude can be to do all we can to assist and strengthen.

The work of the Lord in every generation must be given maximum efforts. Today’s shirking of duty possesses the danger of abandonment tomorrow. Patterns allowed to develop easily become entrenched.

But as God’s people have a mind to work (Nehemiah 4:6), great things will result. The Lord will bless our efforts. Instead of allowing ourselves to be held captive by discouragement, let’s always shine the spotlight on the possibilities. Genuine care will keep us focused on the task before us. It will thus give us a forward focus.

A revival of a true sense of caring will help us attain even greater heights of success in the Lord’s service. Time is of the essence, therefore we must not delay (Ephesians 5:15). As you seek to build an even greater sense of caring for the Lord’s work, please meditate on the following inspired exhortation, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord’ (I Corinthians 15:58).