Written by Michael Newsome
I was at the gas station. I swiped my card and started fueling my car. As the gas pump was working its magic, I looked across the way and saw my friend filling up his tank. My eyes caught his eyes, and I gave a nod of acknowledgment. He looked at me, and questioned, “Is anyone looking?”
Curious, I looked around and replied, “No, I don’t think so.”
He replied,”Great! See you later!”
He got into his car, started his engine, and drove off without paying for his gas. I chuckled to myself, and thought, “I am a poor college student. I need to try that sometime. It might help me make my next tuition payment.”
I finished fueling up and started to walk inside to get something to eat. As I was walking, a man approached me and said, “Could you spare a dollar or two so I can grab a sandwich?”
I felt my stomach rumble. I thought to myself, “Maybe it is one of those men who just want money for drugs or beer.”
Without hesitation, I said, “No, I am sorry. I do not have any money today.”
I went inside the store and bought a drink and a candy bar. I headed back to my car and as I was walking, a man with tattered clothes and scars on his face came up to me and asked if I could spare a few dollars so he could buy water. I took a bite of my candy bar, took a sip of my drink and said, “No, I am sorry. I do not have any money. May God bless you.”
I got into my car, looked across the parking lot, and saw a friend picking up a prostitute. I felt disgusted, thought I should have intervened but did nothing. I just thought about all the trouble he was getting himself into. I started to drive away from the gas station and came to a stoplight. I looked over at the corner and saw a man, half-naked, holding a cardboard sign, but this time he was not begging for a few dollars. He was begging for me to stop being apathetic and to start helping others.
My heart was stirred but I continued to drive once the light turned green. I left the man without help. I did not even care about others needs or problems. I gave into apathy once again.
Apathy lurks wherever I go, begging for me to be silent and do nothing. Whenever I give in and let some dwell in their sin and others in their neediness, I am in just as much or even more need than these.
Jesus said in Matthew 25:45, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these; you did not do for me.”
More often than not, I do not think of the “least of these.” I just laugh and shake my head. I have to care about these, though. Others around me are dying just as quickly as I am dying.
Theologian John Stott once said, “Apathy is the acceptance of the unacceptable.”
I must do something. Whether it is something little or something big, all people need help, not just the ones who hold cardboard signs, wear tattered clothes or are thirsty, but those with no shame of their debauchery as well.
Whenever I do not care about those in need, I am accepting what is wrong. Doing something little is better than doing nothing at all. I must do something.
