Saturday, January 15, 2011

Seek the Welfare of...

Fill in the blank. Most of us know that verse by now. It seems to be a popular verse floating around these days. Here is the whole thing:

But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare. Jeremiah 29:7 (ESV)

Today I listened in on a conversation that made my blood boil. And here's the funny thing. That type of conversation wouldn't normally bother me. Usually I see their point and try to make it okay in my head, but I just kept thinking, "Selfish! That's all it is, selfishness!"

I know by now, if you are actually reading this, that you are wondering what in the world I'm talking about. School Consolidation. There, I said it. Right now in Memphis it is the big hoopla that everyone is talking about. I will be honest and say that for the most part everyone is pretty ignorant about it, however, I have tried to make myself educated about the whole thing because, well, I care about education in Memphis.

I won't go too far into this because then I will probably say things that are far fetched and not relevant, but I will say this. As followers of Jesus we should be about more than our comfort. As followers of Jesus that have been placed in Memphis (some people feel like it is exile) we should be about the welfare of our city not our selves. People it is not about working at a good school or having a good school to send your child to, it is about having a good school to send all kids to, because in the welfare of your city will your welfare come. Think about it, if you want to live in a safe neighborhood, then educate those kids that will one day grow up to otherwise become drug dealers, gang members, or rob your house a few weeks before Christmas, so that they have another option. That's how you have safe neighborhoods, not by just moving further and further away from the problem.

People, seek the welfare of your city.

(Written during a time of strong emotion, therefore I can not be held responsible for all things that were said)

The Farm Girl