This video shares information about a person who is willing to invest a lot of money to help build up Israel in light of the war. War is never ideal and it is always sad to see people suffer and die regardless as to why and who they are. We shouldn’t hope for pain and suffering to happen to anyone and should do our best to minizine harm. Yet in the midst of it there is something in this video we should think about and that is how we love is reflected by what we do.
It is easy to say you love something with your mouth, but it is much harder to actually follow through, especially if it takes any sort of personal sacrifice. This man is willing to invest a lot of money to build up Israel. What are you willing to actually invest in? Yeshua said in the context of concern about what most would consider reasonable worries in regard to basic human needs “But seek first his Kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:33.
Some people may interpret this as seeking only to promote intangible spiritual truths disconnected from any concern for the physical needs on earth. But when we watch the life of Yeshua we will see how following God spiritually will naturally alter how we live in the here and now tangibly. The prayer Yeshua taught us was “May Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as in heaven.” Matthew 6:10. We are not to be idly waiting for the next life for things to get better but we should be working to make life better now by applying God’s principles to the choices we make in life.
The kingdom that God wants to establish is not limited to any special region, but is something that should fill the whole earth. But to be able to build up the kingdom of God we need to understand its principles. “’Rabbi, which of the mitzvot in the Torah is the most important?’ He told him, ‘“You are to love Adonai your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.”’ This is the greatest and most important mitzvah. And a second is similar to it, ‘You are to love your neighbor as yourself.’” Matthew 22:36-39. These are the sort of principles we need to build on in life.
We are told “If possible, and to the extent that it depends on you, live in peace with all people. Never seek revenge, my friends; instead, leave that to God’s anger; for in the Tanakh it is written, ‘“Adonai says, ‘Vengeance is my responsibility; I will repay.’”’ On the contrary, ‘“If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. For by doing this, you will heap fiery coals [of shame] on his head.”’ Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.” Romans 12:18-21
Sadly, it is not always possible to avoid conflict and individuals can be caught up in things they would rather not be, but as far as possible we should seek to live in harmony with the principles of God’s kingdom and avoid turning from justice to revenge. Don’t allow your pain to harden your heart toward anyone. And remember, you don’t have to be really rich to help someone. You can share the little things you do have and your time by using it to help others.
