world-wide inflation: time for church to do something
Food prices have risen 45% in the past nine months, according to the UN. In other parts of the world it has incited social unrest. The World Bank has estimated a doubling of food prices over the past 3 years could push 100 million people further into poverty, and some 33 countries face unrest because of inflation caused by several factors: increased demand due to changing diet in Asia; bad weather; diversion of staples such as corn into biofuels; soaring transportation costs, and trade restrictions on farm produce. Are we seeing the third seal unfolded before our very eyes? “When he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” And I looked, and behold, a black horse! And its rider had a pair of scales in his hand. And I heard what seemed like to be a voice in the midst of the four living creatures, saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius, and do not harm the oil and wine!” (Revelation 6: 5,6). Famine, according to the third seal, will become so severe that a laborer’s entire wages will go merely for food. Families will have to buy barley, a lower quality of grain. Oil and wine will be spared perhaps a hint that the well-off will still be able to indulge themselves, like many of us Singaporeans.
I believe the church in Singapore must sit up and do something about this need of fellow-Singaporeans and even more the poor of Asean, and even the world. This may be worse than a tsunammi. In our church, the Chinese service has started the ball rolling with a small but wonderful idea, so we English service folks just piggy-backed on their idea of asking members to bring a packet of rice for the needy. So about 200 packs of rice were collected the Sunday before Labour Day and transported to the storeroom of Marine Parade CDC. These will then go to those who have been assessed as needing such aid. It was a privelege for us to participate in something like this. God would want the church to always look out for the needy. And in these days of unprecedented inflation, such help goes a longer way than we dare to admit. There are very needy people out there, especially outside Singapore. This was a once off project but it will probably take on a life of its own. After all, God has a bias towards the poor.
7 comments May 5th, 2008
