Great news is always welcome and especially at a time when good news is seldom heard. Some days you really have to search to find good news. I did stumble on to good news in the last week in several different places as the United Nation's World Health Organization (WHO) report was released on May 10th.
Fewer Children are dying and the estimated percentage of underweight children under five years of age has dropped, according to WHO. New HIV infections have declined, existing cases of tuberculosis are declining, and the world is on track to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) on access to safe drinking water.
The MDGs were set in 2000 by 189 heads of state in the United Nations (U.N.) The MDGs are eight international development goals that all 192 U.N. member states and at least 23 international organizations have agreed to acheive by the year 2015.
Although the plan appears to be on target and ahead in a couple areas, we can not let up. In Joshua 1:14-15 it says, "You are to help your brothers until the LORD gives them rest." We should be motivated by the great progress and strive to reach these goals before the target date, which is five years away.
It is great to know that progress is being made, but did you know that extreme poverty could be wiped out sooner. In a Compassion International Blog written by Becky Giovagnoni and published on May 12th it states....
"The annual income of the Christian American churchgoers is $5.2 trillion. The amount of money needed to end global poverty is about $74 billion a year. Only one percent our annual income a year is what is needed to end extreme poverty."
God's holy word says, "Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act. Do not say to your neighbor, "Come back later; I'll give it tomorrow" — when you now have it with you." Proverbs 3:27-28.
In 1John 3:17-18 God tells us, "If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth."
Let's Make Poverty History!
Rick Hawbaker
'Serving a living God'
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