A Case for Child Sponsorship

Online, there are many detractors and arguments against child sponsorship. It's something I've heard before from others on a personal level: why apply band-aid to something that obviously needs stitching? As in, why tackle the small issues when we should try to fix the overall underlying issue? General poverty. Etc.

Arguments like this can lead many to simply not give a dime.

I'm reminded of the parable of the good Samaritan:

"In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins [Greek: two denarii] and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.'

"Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?" The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise." (NIV)

Now, the Samaritan did not do as the priest and the Levite did. He ALSO did not make some comment like, "You know, it would be better if I spent my resources ending poverty so people would not be compelled to rob others. Therefore, I will not lend my compassion to this bleeding man and will instead work to end the overall problem at hand!"

Perhaps he went on to fix the BIG picture. Regardless, he took the time to help the neighbor who needed it. Will the neighbor get robbed again? Possibly, the underlying problem was never fixed. However, it's extremely important that the man was taken care of.

I offer suggestions and different websites for people to help in the hope that ONE OF THEM will speak to a person's heart. Some tackle community issues like sanitary water and some are simple child sponsorships. A band-aid is better than allowing the wound to be exposed and possibly infected. What little good we can do will not be in vain.

God willing, it will inspire us and provoke us to do more.