CARE for our community both young and old
(Mission FOCUS)
Board Devotional - Week 5
“Everyone should take care of all their own people. Most important, they should take care of their own family. If they do not do that, then they do not accept what we believe. They are worse than someone who does not even believe in God.”
For many of you, you are likely aware that I was born to Filipino immigrants who came to America with hopeful dreams of raising a family in this new country. The United States was filled with opportunity and promise, and they worked hard and endured hardship to make this place our home. I was born the oldest of four children, and in many ways—although my father and mother adjusted well to Western culture—they continued to hold to the deep-seeded values of their homeland and their Seventh-day Adventist upbringing.
Among these values was the clear expectations and enforcement of what was expected of the Filipino-first-born-son. The expectations were not ambiguous. They were repeated with great frequency to me and my siblings, and on the occasion I may have “forgotten,” I was quickly reminded with some form of corporal reinforcement to my posterior.
“Jon-Jon [my family name], you are responsible for the care and well being of your younger brothers and sister.”
Like any other child, I had instances where I resisted this admonition, but over time I accepted that I was to do my best to take care of them. My immature self typically exhibited this “care” by bossing them around, but ultimately I understood that my purpose included “looking out” for younger ones and their welfare.
A related value was that of “respect,” especially when it came to elders. There’s a rather elaborate set of Filipino titles that denote the age/rank of relatives compared to one another. Further, the title of “Kuya” or “Ate” could also extend beyond your blood relatives to express honor and deference to close friends of the family who were to be respected. [Click the above photo for a fun YouTube tutorial on Filipino titles.]
Through watchcare over my younger siblings and cousins, as well as through careful respect and honor to older relatives, even strangers, I found myself growing up with a keen awareness of my duty to care for the young and to care for the old.
So as the apostle Paul is offering admonition to his young apprentice, Timothy [1Timothy 5:8a, ERV], “Everyone should take care of all their own people. Most important, they should take care of their own family,” I can fully relate. We are blood relatives through Jesus. As spiritual family, our expressions of compassion and grace towards one another is often our best outreach tool.
I love how in the Message paraphrase, Acts 2:46-47, talks about the on fire church: “They followed a daily discipline of worship in the Temple followed by meals at home, every meal a celebration, exuberant and joyful, as they praised God. People in general liked what they saw. Every day their number grew as God added those who were saved.” [Emphasis added]
When people see how we care for each other, young and old, it reflects in very real tangible ways the love of GOD.
One of the most heartwarming aspects about our Arlington family, is how we care for each other across the generations. In a podcast for Growing Young Adventists, I had a chance to share with host Justin Khoe about the importance of all generations caring for each other, growing together. [Click the above icon for the full podcast episode.]
Do we do this perfectly? No. Do we mess up, and at times treat each other poorly? Of course. But even in our miscues and failures, we can exhibit virtues such as forgiveness, acceptance, and love. Even as we falter, we can give each other grace; And heaven knows we all need grace.
Even to this day, my parents values of care and respect for both young and old, continue to influence me. Much like how Paul mentored Timothy, I’m reminded by Scriptures over and over again that Biblical truths are most effective when practiced in real life.
So church family, let us care and respect each other deeply. May we live in such a way that those around us will love what they see and get glimpses of family life with Jesus through us. —A Allan Martin, PhD