James Kennedy was born in 1947 in
James was given the nick name “Radio” because he loved to listen to the radio. The coaches encouraged him to help with the
football team, and then other teams. He
was allowed into the school and he attended some classes. He made announcements and did hall
monitoring. With the coach’s help, Radio
became a much loved school/ town member.
Over time James increased his knowledge and abilities.
According to the movie “Radio”, (spoilers
ahead) the coach took a lot of heat and had pressure to remove James from the
school situation. Harold gave up the
coaching position to continue helping James.
Today, their friendship remains, and James still attends grade 11; that
way he’ll never have to graduate and leave the school J! Radio still announces, cheerleads, helps
coach and puts on shows at game halftime.
This is a story of concern for another
human being and where it can lead. Coach
Harold was concerned about how Radio was treated and stepped up to improve the
situation with much time and effort.
What he discovered is that Radio, considered deficient, was actually the
smart who showed the town what love and acceptance of others was all
about. Our lack for concern over others is
one of the biggest faults in humanity.
We are too busy with our own troubles and concerns so how can we
possible help others?
Do not let each man
look upon his own things, but each man also on the things of others.
Php. 2:4
This thinking leaves us isolated from others and
also contributes to seeing our own problems as worse than what they are. Yet, the saddest thing is when Christians who
are following Jesus do not show the concern for others which we are commanded;
love God and love your neighbour as yourself (Mt. 22:36 -40). By His
own action Jesus displayed concern for all others on multiple levels. The story of the good Samaritan (Lk. 10:25 -37) was told to show true concern for others. Concern is not a feeling but an action word
which requires OUR action:
But whoever has this world's goods and sees his
brother having need, and shuts up his bowels from him, how does the love of God
dwell in him? My children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. 1Jh. 3:17 ,18
He answered and said to them, He who has two coats,
let him give to him who has none. And he who has food, let him do likewise. Lk.
3:11
He who gives to the poor shall not lack, but he who
hides his eyes shall have many a curse. Pr. 28:27
Notice
that hiding our eyes from the truth or ignorance of what others is going
through is no excuse, for if we love others we will make effort to know their
needs. Ah, but I don’t have time… Yep,
I’m sure Jesus will accept that excuse.
We always make time for the things we consider important in our
lives. Shouldn’t people take precedence
over things? After all, those ‘precious’
things to us now will not follow us into heaven (Mt. 6:19,20); it all gets left behind. We are meant to share of ourselves:
possessions and love and acceptance
of others. As Christians, all we do will
be judged some day:
each one's work
shall be revealed. For the Day shall declare it,
because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try each one's work as
to what kind it is. If anyone's work which he built remains, he shall receive a
reward. If anyone's work shall be burned up, he shall suffer loss. But he shall
be saved, yet so as by fire. (1Cr. 3:13 -15)
Which
do you want Jesus to say to you?
…Truly I say to you, Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of
these My brothers, you have done it to Me.
(or)
…Truly I say to you, Inasmuch as you did
not do it to one of the least of
these, you did not do it to Me. Mt.
25:40, 45
Lord,
help me to be more concerned for others, invest more time in getting to know
them and their needs, and then give me wisdom to help them in a way that is
honouring to You.