Psalm 68 tells us that God is “a father of the fatherless, a judge and protector of the widows.” The psalm also says that He places lonely people in families, gives the desolate a home to live in, and leads prisoners out into prosperity.
It was bible verses like these that inspired Christians to open their homes to the lonely, build huge orphanages, and help offenders regain their self-respect through honest and productive work. Dr. Barnardo, George Muller, the Earl of Shaftsbury, and other famous names of bygone days were associated with benevolent works established in Christ’s name. Like the huge industries that were also established in the 19thCentury, many great charitable institutions founded in that era are now in decline, and some are long gone.
These days people need nets: supportive relationships that will uphold them in times of personal crisis. It’s not “when the dog bites, when the bee stings, when you’re feeling sad” (as the song puts it) but when the family fragments, when job prospects are dismal, and – if your job disappears – you’re in financial freefall with no redundancy parachute and headed for a hard landing.
Psalm 68:6 focuses on the home as God’s refuge, as His people open their doors to the needy, out of genuine interest and practical love. A family is a refuge if its members are united. A family is a network of relationships, so it can provide soft landings for those who need them.
Broken relationships make nets unworkable, so when family ties begin to fray, it’s time to mend the damage. This may involve heart-to-heart discussion, admittance of failure, deep sorrow and the righting of wrongs. I’ve said all that to say this: a church is also a family – an extended family; a network of not merely human but Christian relationships. What applies to a family also applies to a church. We will be as effective in helping people as we are strong in the ties of faith, hope and love that have joined us together. I foresee many ‘falling’ towards us – people without nets. Let’s work on our relationships, and make sure we’re ready to catch them.