Hiding Myself

The cover of New Yorker magazine showed Thanksgiving Day, then and now. Both showed a family around the same dinner table after stuffing themselves; one today, and one in 1942.

In ’42 the conversation was lively around the table. At the same table today there was no conversation. Everyone was staring at the football game on a big TV.

{sidebar id=1}Now I’m sure there are still plenty of people having Norman Rockwell Thanksgivings. But for me, that magazine uncovered a certain symptom.

It’s a lack of personal interaction.

The other day I read a commentary, and the guy was railing against e-mail and text messages, said they were “impersonal.” Now I love e-mail and texting, so I just shrugged the guy off.

But then I came across Isaiah 58:7. It starts by saying that God’s desire is that we share our bread with the hungry.

If we do anything at all, how do we usually help the hungry? Maybe we donate to the food pantry, or make a charitable contribution.

But that verse makes it sound way more personal. Share your bread with the hungry.

“Oh, you mean my bread? Mine? The same bread I’m eating?”

It’s one thing to help the hungry from afar. But to share your own bread with them? Hmmm.

Now back to Isaiah 58:7. The next line says that God’s desire is that we help those who need shelter, and the New King James Version says this, “…bring to your house the poor who are cast out…”

Wow. It’s one thing to throw a few dollars at the poor. But to bring a poor person into my own house? Are you crazy?

Here is the difference. Personal interaction. Personal interaction is messy. It’s unpredictable. It can be frustrating.

No, it’s better to just keep them at arm’s distance, right? Sure, help people. But just don’t get too personal. High fences make good neighbors.

And you know why we can say that? Prosperity. Our needs are met. When we are doing fine, we don’t need anyone. We are content with our own little lives.

{sidebar id=1}And that is exactly what God is hammering in Isaiah 58. He is saying, “Stop being content in your own life and ignoring the needs of others.”

“But Doug, I’m not ignoring the needs of others. Why, I’m supporting 10 kids through World Vision.”

That’s great. Don’t stop. But now let’s look at the last line in Isaiah 58:7. God’s desire is that we not hide ourselves.

The Message says, “…being available to your own families.”

I think this is more than just impersonally meeting needs, because you know what? Human beings need more than just food and shelter. We need personal interaction.

Am I a good father if I give my kids stuff but don’t personally interact with them? Am I a good husband if I hand my wife my paycheck every week but don’t talk to her and share with her and listen to her?

Isaiah 58:7 indicates that I should not hide myself. I should not hole up in my castle, inaccessible.

Jesus set the example when He, the Son of God, took on flesh and walked among the people. He got dirty, but He got involved. He did not hide Himself. He didn’t just sit on a throne and lob down miracles. He touched people and looked them in the eye and talked to them.

This is where God’s heart is, and this is where our heart should be.

So as you go about your day, think about ways you might be hiding yourself.

Then think about how God might want you to meet some needs, not impersonally, but with the human touch of personal interaction.

Comments?

E-mail me: dougapple@wave94.com.

May God bless you today! With Apples of Gold…I’m Doug Apple.

* It was the November 27, 2006 edition.

This article originally published on December 8, 2008.

Click here to discuss this article in our Online Discussion Forums.

Per Wakulla.com policy, all reader comments (submitted below) must include a valid first and last name.

Written by :