When I was in seminary, a prominent Baptist leader speaking in chapel one day made a statement which brought forth a roomful of “amens” but which upon reflection I came to reject as forcefully as though it were pure heresy.
The leader of our worldwide force of missionaries announced, “Wherever there is a need, there is a mission field and the nearest Christian is the missionary.”
That sounds so good on the surface.
On closer inspection, that statement has a fatal flaw.
The principle that I am to meet every need I encounter and respond to every emergency situation that presents itself before me is disastrous. It says anyone with a problem has a claim on a Christian’s time and energy and resources.
Consider what our (ahem) Role Model–all caps–did when facing a long string of needy people waiting for Him to meet their needs–
And in the early morning, while it was still dark, He arose and went out and departed to a lonely place, and was praying there.
Simon and his companions hunted for Him, and they found Him, and said to Him, ‘Everyone is looking for you.’ (Can you hear the irritation in their voices? They’re fussing at Jesus for spending time alone praying when He should be back at the house taking care of all those problems.)
But He said to them, ‘Let us go on to the next towns, in order that I may preach there also. For that is what I came out for.'” (Mark 1:35-38)
Jesus walked away from needy people with legitimate requests in order to stay with the Father’s agenda for His life.