As much as our hearts may ache when we see scenes of poverty, malnutrition, or the homeless, we often may feel helpless to do anything about these problems. But we're never really helpless. There are many things each of us can do to make a difference. In fact, it's our desire as Christians to share the good in our lives with others.
The Bible requires that we generously and unselfishly help those in need to regain their own self-reliance and dignity. We can do this from the individual and local level all the way up to the international level. Our efforts to help can go to the root of the world's problems and actually begin healing the ills that cause such hardship—with the understanding of God as the infinite source of all good.
We need this spiritual understanding if we are to meet mankind's needs on any real, permanent basis. In her book The People's Idea of God, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, Mary Baker Eddy, argues convincingly that mortal, material conceptions of God and the nature of reality are at the root of all suffering, deprivation, and strife throughout human history. Conversely, all true progress and enrichment of mankind are rooted in more spiritual conceptions of God and in purer worship. She explains that "a more spiritual and true ideal of Deity improves the race physically and spiritually." Peo., p. 6. She adds, "Thus it is that our ideas of divinity form our models of humanity." Ibid., p. 14.
