Friends of ours wanted to make a difference. They decided to go and stay in a township outside Stellenbosch called Kayamandi. Many people said they were mad, because who would guarantee their safety? What about their school-going daughters? Would they survive it? 

They stayed there for years until they had to emigrate to another African country because of his work. They stayed in Kayamandi without any problems. Their daughters could move around there without feeling unsafe. Their property was never damaged. Their lives were never threatened. 

Why? Why did they not become part of the statistics? They stayed in Kayamandi to make a difference. They went to live among the people to see and experience the problems and then did something to address them. 

I think it’s a pretty general rule that if you do good, other people won’t harm you. If you give people food, they won’t kick you in the teeth. Or so one might think. Well, the Bible actually says that too: 13If with heart and soul you’re doing good, do you think you can be stopped?  

But the Word of God adds a few words because broken humans are a reality. Hence the words “Even if you suffer for it“. Even if I genuinely try to do only the right things, others may still treat me badly. 

We’ve all had our hands bitten by some people to whom we give food or to whom we’ve been good and kind. A neighbour tells us that he found the food we gave the poor guy at the gate under a bush in his garden. 

My aunt, who was murdered by her gardener a few years ago, is proof of another reality. 

I’m still struggling to process it.  

It’s as if people who are doing good are suffering more and more, and so one becomes more and more reluctant to do something to help others. We get scared of getting our hands bitten. We’re afraid that our lives are in danger because we’re trying to make a difference. 

But we are also warned against this: 14Even if you suffer for it, you’re still better off. Don’t give the opposition a second thought. 

I also struggle with this, because life is no longer that easy out there, and why would I continue to give food if the bread ends up under a bush or because my bread knife can turn into a weapon? 

I suspect that here again we need to apply some wisdom. We don’t always know what to do. That’s why we must become sensitive to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, so we can know where we should reach out and give, and where we shouldn’t, so that our hands can remain whole. 

Scripture
1 Peter 3:13-18

Reflection
Where has your hand been bitten?
Where shouldn’t you give?
Where should you still give? 

Prayer
Father, it’s no longer easy to give today, but let me not use this as an excuse. Let me keep on giving where Your Spirit leads me. Amen.