In a recent article published in Christianity Today, author Warren Cole Smith shared the following facts about pet care. Citing various sources he shared:
- In 2011, American spent 60 million dollars on plastic surgery for their pets.
- By 2020, spending on pets will reach 96 billion.
Recently there has been a lot of discussion as to whether people are carrying things too far with respect to caring for their pets. Concerns have been expressed that people are starting to value and care for their pets more than they do humans. I am not going to enter into this debate (at least not in this blog). No, I think a better use of my time is to blog about how God calls us to care for one another. Here are some verses to remind us of the priority He gives to caring for people: 1 John 3:17 But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? 1 Timothy 2:1 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people. 1 Peter 4:8 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Hebrews 13:16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. Philippians 2:4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Isaiah 58:6-7 “Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? I think sometimes we can get lost in debates about such things as how we care for our pets, and lose sight of even more important questions like:
- Are we sharing with those in need? (Did you know that there are over 2000 verses in the bible about caring for the poor?)
- Are we praying for all people?
- Are we loving others earnestly?
- Are we look to the interest of others?
- Are we standing against wickedness and oppression?
As we read God’s Word, we encounter hundreds of scriptures that call us to care for humans in ways that are pleasing to God. Comparatively there are very few that reference how we should care for animals. Does this mean that God does not care about how animals are treated? No. What it does mean, though, is that clearly God was much more concerned about how we care for one another. So, before we wring your hands about whether or not we should really spend $25 on that plastic hamburger for Fido, we should ask God to show us through His Spirit and His Word how we are doing caring for others. If He shows us that we are not doing too well, perhaps we should put the plastic hamburger back, and figure out how we can better help the homeless and the hungry, and how we can best love others. For Him, Rob