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Well, it’s not often that I use a Hollywood film to drive home a spiritual point, but this is one of those times I feel I just have to. As most of you know (or should know), Hollywood doesn’t usually have much to offer the believer in way of good moral lessons. However, even Hollywood can produce a hit once in a while that can “preach” a better sermon than even the most educated of theologians.

Last night as we were chilling around the house trying to recuperate from our recent string of illnesses, my Boo decided to put in a movie for us to watch that we haven’t seen in a while. Tired of watching the same few movies over and over and over (and over) again, he began to search in the cabinet to see what he could find. (You know, it’s amazing what you discover you have in your possession when you “dig” a little – and that sounds like a whole new blog on its own.) It wasn’t long before he re-emerged with DVD in hand ready to make our “viewing pleasure” a little more “pleasurable” with something “new”. As the introduction began to play, an old familiar sound happened upon my ears. Why, it was the theme song for Robots, the animated feature film that captivated little hearts everywhere with the cute and quirky Rodney Copperbottom. (Now before I go on any further let me say this: in no way am I promoting or supporting the purchase or ownership of this movie. The contents of this blog are in NO WAY meant to suggest this movie become a staple in your home library.)

I must admit that I did not pay much attention to the television as the movie rolled. I was stuck between two worlds far out of reach of this one – a world of cyberspace and a world of nausea. However, in between the casual acknowledgements of an upraised head, I heard the phrase I had come to know and love – the phrase that made this movie a “moral” thumbs up in our opinion – the phrase that governed the lives of “robots” everywhere – the phrase? “SEE A NEED? FILL A NEED!”

For those of you who haven’t seen the movie, the briefest synopsis I can give you is that Mr. Bigweld’s philosophy on life is simply this, “if you see a need someone has, work your best to fill it.” That outlook on life helped Mr. Bigweld become the owner of a huge firm that promoted the ambitions of young inventors who lived there life striving to meet the needs of others by creating inventions that would make life easier.

Wow! Sure, this is an animated “cartoon” movie that lends its storyline to fiction; however, it doesn’t have to be as far from reality as we would make it out to be.

Several years ago, while my husband and I were leading our outreach team, a few verses from the Bible became a mainstay in our vocabulary. These verses were the staple of all we did through that ministry and were the very verses we used before city officials when speaking to them about making preparations for a city home to help the less fortunate. The verses speak volumes to the life God wants us to live: “But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.” – I John 3:17-18. In simpler words – SEE A NEED? FILL A NEED!

As Christians, I believe one of our responsibilities we have towards others – especially those of the household of faith (see Gal 6:10) – is to take care of needs they have whenever it is within our capability to do so. “What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,’ but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?” – James 2:14-15. As a matter of fact, God was so serious about helping those in “need” that He wrote it into the original Law given Moses for conduct by the Israelites, “If there is among you a poor man of your brethren, within any of the gates in your land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart nor shut your hand from your poor brother, but you shall open your hand wide to him and willingly lend him sufficient for his need, whatever he needs.” – Deuteronomy 15:7-8. In other words, we should live our lives by the motto: SEE A NEED? FILL A NEED.

Now, obviously there are some guidelines that must be implemented in our giving for we must be careful that we do not aide someone’s laziness and enable them to keep “taking” without giving back. The Bible also says, “A man who will not work shall not eat.” – II Thessalonians 3:10. There must be balance. However, more often than not, our answer to people’s needs is, “I’ll pray for you on that.”

Friends, I encourage you to adopt a new life mission in 2011. Look for needs around you and do your level best to fill those needs when it is within your power to do so. If you can’t fill the need yourself, be resourceful and make contacts to make sure the needs are met. This, my friends, according to the Word, is real love and should be the motto that governs our lives everyday: SEE A NEED? FILL A NEED!