Posted on: 30th August 2022

If you believe the news, these are frightening times. Many people may have to choose between being cold or going hungry. If we get sick, the NHS may not have the resources to cope. We are living through times of drought or floods; natural disaster seems closer to home.

Yet Jesus says, “Fear not, little flock”. Were things as bad then? We can say with some certainty that they were worse. Even our great-grandparents didn’t always know where their next meal was coming from; they struggled to keep warm in winter; they certainly didn’t have all the labour-saving devices we do. All the things we take for granted until we have to do without them.

We are incredibly wealthy now, compared with the rest of the world. If we stay that way, it makes it hard to get to heaven (Matt. 19:24). What then can we do? We can look after this beautiful, fragile world. We can give to those who need it. How much can we give?

C.S.Lewis says, “There ought to be things we should like to do and cannot do because our charitable expenditure excludes them.” In other words, give till it hurts. As we give, so shall we receive; more than we can ask or think.

May God bless us with his spirit of thankfulness, and of generosity.

Roger Quick, Chaplain, St George's Crypt