REFLECTION

What’s your rating?

PEOPLE INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT UK

The impacts of climate change are felt all around the world, but people living in poverty are less equipped to rebuild in the wake of disaster. Extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and inconsistent weather patterns make it difficult for farmers to grow sufficient crops. The Salvation Army is journeying with communities as they work to build their resilience. In Malawi, Kenya, Burkina Faso and Mali, the Army facilitates training in climate-conscious agricultural techniques. In Burkina Faso, training in producing organic liquid fertiliser – instead of buying expensive synthetic fertiliser – is helping farmers to enhance the health of their soil and resulting in improved harvests.

For more information, activities and resources, visit theclimatecoalition.org/ show-the-love

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These questionnaires are aimed at finding out how we feel we have been dealt with and how we have been treated. How many stars out of 10 would we award? How could we suggest they improve? What impressed us most? Positive statements are usually followed by a request to say why we have been complimentary. Is there someone in particular we would like to name who was extra helpful?

What if we were to conduct a personal survey of our Christian behaviour, asking people we came into contact with how they viewed our actions and responses? What would we expect to hear? How many stars out of 10 would they give us? Could we have done better? How could we improve? Would any compliments – or other comments – be explained in more detail?

As Christians, our daily living must be exemplary – Christlike. One way to check up on our current spiritual state is to read Paul’s description of love found in 1 Corinthians 13:4–7 and replace the word ‘love’ with our name:

Territo

MAJOR HEATHER POXON Territorial Environmental Officer THQ

‘[ ] is patient, [ ] is kind. [ ] does not envy, [ ] does not boast, [ ] is not proud. [ ] does not dishonour others, [ ] is not self-seeking, [ ] is not easily angered, [ ] keeps no record of wrongs. [ ] does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. [ ] always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.’

Theologian Charles Harold Dodd wrote that this description of love is ‘a portrait for which Christ himself sat’. If it describes us, then we are living our life in the way God expects.

Our Heavenly Father’s response to our individual surveys is the ultimate evaluation. ‘The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart’ (1 Samuel 16:7). He is the only one who can, and will, judge us, deciding if our lives and service have been satisfactory. He also knows those who have been helpful to keep us spiritually focused.