Food for thought

In today's world, you will find three types of people. You call tell them apart by their response to a major  tragedy or crisis in the world. Some will rush to help. Some will rush to profit. And the rest will breathe a sigh of relief that their lives have not been touched by it.

I wonder how which of these types Jesus would find acceptable. Rush to help? Check. Rush to profit? Toast. Kinda don't care? I would not bet on it.

Here is an easy question. Label the type of person represented in the following scenario:

In reaction to the drought- and heat-related crop failures and soaring food prices in the United States, Europe, Asia, and Africa, the head of agricultural trading at the large brokerage house of Glencore said ...

"The environment is a good one. High prices, lots of volatility, a lot of dislocation, tightness, a lot of arbitrage opportunities.

"We will be able to provide the world with solutions... and that should also be good for Glencore."

Oh look, food prices are going to be outrageous and cause the folks at the bottom of the economic ladder to go hungry, if not get sick or die. Sucks to be them, but we are going to get rich on the pain.

Here is another question. How come we have many "Christian" politicians desperate to cut government programs designed to aid the poor while shrugging the suffering off to religious charities? That is a tougher call. Do they really believe that the body of Christ in America can pick up the slack? Or do they really not care whether the poor suffer as long as we can give tax breaks to the rich and increase our military might? I cannot say what is really in their minds, especially in the midst of one disastrous growing season after another and rising food prices. I am fairly certain the Lord will have an opinion. And you probably do not want to be standing in their shoes when that opinion arrives.

Please identify the source of the following passage:

These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.

(Hint: Revelation 3)

Any questions?