{"id":13132,"date":"2023-01-17T09:00:58","date_gmt":"2023-01-17T09:00:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/?p=13132"},"modified":"2023-01-17T10:23:02","modified_gmt":"2023-01-17T10:23:02","slug":"in-these-austere-times-a-message-for-both-the-haves-and-have-nots","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/in-these-austere-times-a-message-for-both-the-haves-and-have-nots\/","title":{"rendered":"In These Austere Times, A Message for Both the \u2018Haves\u2019 and \u2018Have Nots\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

17 January 2023 | St Albans, UK [David Neal]<\/p>\n

The \u2018Cost of Living Crisis\u2019 has arrived \u2013 it is real, it is painful, and affects almost everyone in Europe. The reality of high energy prices is a raw utility knock affecting every home and business. But the knock-on effect is the cost of goods and services, because to \u2018make things\u2019 energy of one sort or another is required, leading to increased costs in goods and services. As a consequence, many European nations have experienced levels of inflation not seen in forty years.<\/p>\n

But we can get through it if we really are all in it together. To support each other and anyone in need, is a core value of the Christian community because of Christ\u2019s example. \u2018Encourage one another\u2019 (Romans 15:1) is just one of one hundred verses in the New Testament with the same message – help and support in both word and deed.<\/p>\n

A message for \u2018the haves\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n

During the 1980\u2019s the \u2018Royal National Institution for the Blind\u2019 ran a campaign with the motif, \u201cWhat blind people need is more tea and less sympathy\u201d.<\/em> Our compassion works best when we act. Those who \u2018have\u2019, are incredibly positioned to bring relief, hope, and cheer, to those currently struggling. In what ways can we provide consistent ongoing help because this crisis will not end in three months or even three years.<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. A monthly direct debit to support a food bank or soup kitchen<\/li>\n
  2. A monthly direct debit to support a family (anonymously where possible)<\/li>\n
  3. Order a weekly supermarket \/ grocery delivery to a home in need.<\/li>\n
  4. For those on \u2018pay as you go\u2019 utility arrangements, purchase a card each month for a struggling family (particularly helpful for January to May).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    A message for \u2018the struggling\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n

    The first problem to overcome is \u2018pride\u2019.<\/p>\n

    The cartoonist Ben Jennings in the 24 November Guardian illustrates in an incredibly sobering way our current national reality. A father and son are sat at an empty table, in an empty kitchen. The son has a plate of food, but the father does not. The son says, \u201cDad \u2013 when will I be grow up enough to not need dinner any more like you.\u201d <\/em>\u00b9<\/em><\/p>\n

    We are not failures, but victims – of national and international economic circumstances beyond our personal control. A visit to a food bank is not a badge of failure, but a necessary godly activity to provide and support family in these desperate times.<\/span><\/p>\n

    \"Ana
    The economic winter we currently face extends beyond national boundaries. ADRA Netherlands volunteers demonstrate the spirit of ‘we’re all in this together’.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

    There were times in my life while raising a young family, when I would go to the cash machine to withdraw funds a week before payday, only to read that painful message \u2018insufficient funds\u2019. Pride kept me from sharing with anybody \u2013 and used the credit card to solve the problem. It did not – but made matters worse.<\/p>\n

    If struggling right now \u2013 recognise reality, bin the pride, and seek help. If in debt, immediately contact creditors to manage repayments. For sure, credit scores are affected, aspiration goes on hold, but the medium to long-term is repairable. Seek professional help from a free debt counselling service who will also help create a realistic budget. But also confide in one trusted close friend or family who can walk this journey with you. I remember doing this, and our friends shared tremendous helpful advice and practical support.<\/p>\n

    But it is possible that during this crisis, as UK consumer expert Martin Lewis implores \u2013 \u201cI have run out of solutions\u201d \u2013 and that is scary!\u00b2 And for this reason, we must also dig deep into our spiritual bank.\u00a0 \u00a0There is a song I learnt as a child, \u201cIf I can help somebody, then my living will not be in vain\u201d. God help me and each of us to live that value, particularly in these most challenging of times.<\/p>\n

    If I can help somebody as I pass along
    \nIf I can cheer somebody with a word or song
    \nIf I can show somebody he is travelling wrong
    \nThen my living shall not be in vain<\/p>\n

    Then my living shall not be in vain
    \nMy living shall not be in vain
    \nIf I can help somebody as I pass along
    \nThen my living shall not be in vain<\/p>\n

    If I can do my duty as a Christian ought
    \nIf I can bring back beauty to a world up wrought
    \nIf I can spread God\u2032s message as the master taught
    \nThen my living shall not be in vain\u00b3<\/p>\n

    \n

    \u00b9Ben Jennings on British parents skipping meals<\/a> \u2013 cartoon, The Guardian, 25\/11\/2022
    \n\u00b2    Money Saving Expert<\/a>. For consumer advice, in the context of UK consumer matters, this site is second to none.
    \n\u00b3Author: Alma Bazel Androzzo<\/span><\/p>\n

    The original version of this article was published in the Winter edition of the South England Conference Communicator Magazine<\/a>, which Sorin Petrof the editor writes, “is dedicated to all who have been challenged to learn the new language of survival. Our dedicated volunteer writers have each prepared articles with differing topics and perspectives on this theme…”<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    We can get through… if we really are all in this together<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":37,"featured_media":13189,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,1577,1588],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13132","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","category-organisational-updates","category-united-kingdom-ireland"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13132","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/37"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13132"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13132\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13209,"href":"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13132\/revisions\/13209"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13189"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13132"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13132"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13132"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}