“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.” Malachi 3:10
A few days ago I started to read the Book of Concord; again. The last time I read through t was 30 years ago which must classify as a ‘back in day’ event. Reading a timeline of Luther and others who were ‘way back in the day’ caused me to recall that Pastor Ken Klaus with the Lutheran Hour had a devotion some time ago that was titled “Shadenfreude." (SHOD-n- froy-duh) and he explained that ‘Shadenfreude’ is a German word which doesn't have a really good translation, probably slang the and the best translation would be that it means rejoicing over someone else's misfortune. Traveling to Haiti before the earthquake of 2010 there were probably some on this planet that would reflect “shadenfreude” when looking at the problems that existed in that country. Why bother to help them when they cannot help themselves was one statement that I heard in a small group one time when I was talking about my work in Haiti.
Pastor Klaus gave a few examples of ‘shadenfreude’. In the Passion narrative of the Savior, we see many of the people gathered around the cross laughing and mocking the Savior; that was shadenfreude. In 2001 when the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center were brought down, there were reports of people in some Islamic countries who were rejoicing. Although it made us mad to hear about such a thing, that was shadenfreude.
Following 911 donors in North America held on tight to their money, not sure of what would happen next and satan and his charges mocked the mission work that had been taking place in Haiti; ‘where is your god?’ they asked Christians; shadenfreude. God smiled upon Trinity/HOPE donors then and still to this day is putting a broad smile on donors, the children receiving food in Ouanaminthe and putting doubt in the minds of those who mirror shadenfreude. Thank you for continuing to pour out blessings on His children, in good times and bad, and feeding the young missionaries who will bring the news of the risen Savior to Haiti.
Dear Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.
May God be with you…Jay