the 2nd greatest commandment

We pick up children in an old school bus to bring them to an AWANA program on Wednesday evenings. We do this because we believe what Jesus said about loving little children (and some that are not so little). Some of them are in difficult situations...but, children are extremely resilient.

Children in third-world countries often work long hours in horrible working conditions and receive almost nothing in return for their labor. I have heard this reply many times when describing their situations: "They are better off than they would be if they didn't have any work at all!"

Now, I wish that all of our AWANA children were in loving two-parent, Christian homes, where they would be nurtured in the admonition of the Lord. It's not happening and I can't make it happen. However, I can show them the love of Christ during the time that I spend with them.

How about those children in third world countries? Is my best hope for them that they can work 12-14 hour days in awful conditions, so that they can be better off than they would be otherwise? Who benefits from their "slave" labor? We do! I do! I can buy cheap products at places like Walmart and have a higher standard of living when they work for practically nothing. And I can echo the Big Lie, "At least they are better off than they would be if they didn't have any work at all!"

I would never wish those sorts of conditions for MY children or for MY grandchildren (if I ever have any). When I wish that third-world children would be better off, why don't I wish for them to be as well off as my children are? Or, at least to be as well off as our AWANA children are. The problem is, if they get better conditions, then I will have to pay higher prices for products...I might have to skip a meal at Prima Pasta this month.

Jesus, when speaking of the greatest commandment said this, Mat 22:39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.