CHRISTIANITY AND SARVODAYA
J.C. Kumarappa
[A summary of a talk at the Seventh Conference of the South India Rural Fellowship held at Vidivelli Ashram, Sayamalai. Undated]
Although Sarvodaya sends its roots deep into the teachings of Jesus, yet Christians, as a rule, do not flock to it because of the great material emphasis placed on the everyday life in modern times. The guidance given by Jesus to the rich young ruler, who came to him seeking what he might yet do to obtain eternal life, saying “Sell all thou hast and give to the poor,” is still a hindrance in the path of many.
Ruskin’s book, “Unto this Last” attracted the attention of Gandhiji, who translated it under the title Sarvodaya, i.e., “Uplift of everyone.” This pamphlet uses two parables of Jesus to teach equality among people, their dutry to work to their best regardless of returns while employment is provided and that people will earn merit, not by mere formal worship, but by service rendered to the needy, which God regards as service to Him. It taught that labour was not a commodity to be bought and sold in the market but should be duty done faithfully and not for a reward paid for by piece work.
The account of the temptations that beset Jesus at the threshold of his ministry on earth describes vividly the problems that face every youth at all times and provides examples of the solutions Jesus found for them.
When Jesus returned to human society after a fast of forty days in the wilderness the devil tempted him to use his God-given powers to convert stones into bread and eat. Jesus brushed this thought aside with, “Man does not live by bread alone but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” Most young persons, when they face their life careers and wonder how to use the talents bestowed on them, are attracted often to utilise their equipment to earn a living and satisfy their own needs. A young man trained as a physician or a lawyer wishes to set up a lucrative practice, utilise his ability to satisfy his material needs, and maintain a comfortable standard of life for himself. Jesus’ solution is to serve those in need. Again, when he is tempted to jump down from the steeple and demonstrate his superiority over his fellow men, he overcame the desire to establish a statue or fame for himself as unworthy of his ambition. Then, when he was shown all the kingdoms of the earth from a mountain and was tempted to seek worldly power, he teaches us that we should dedicate to God any gift we may be endowed with for His services and not seek political power over our fellow men.
Thus Jesus yielded the first place to service to god and indicated what he meant by God’s service in another parable which described God’s predilections when God said to his devotees “I was hungered and ye fed me, I was athirst and ye gave me drink, I was naked and ye clothed me, I was sick and ye visited me.” When His devotees asked as to when they rendered Him these services He replied, “In as much as you had done it unto the least of these your brethren ye had done it unto me.”
As regards the rewards that we might seek, Jesus tells us: “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and its righteousness and all these things will be added unto you.” Ours is to make His service our duty and He, in His turn, will take care of our wants. He teaches us to pray, not for our future security in life but for this day our daily bread.” Again, we have an account of a farmer, who had reaped a rich harvest and had laid up much goods for his future use and was satisfied. God said to him, “Fool! Thy soul shall be required of thee this night, and whose shall be all this that thou hast laid up?” Again and again, Jesus stresses the fact that Life does not consist in the abundance of things we possess. “What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul?” In spite of this clear teaching, Christians generally seek after mammon and worship him as he promises all that appears best in both worlds.
Sarvodaya promises nothing but demands our all. It presents us with a programme of service. Clothe the naked with the Charkha, feed the hungry and give water to the thirsty by rural reconstruction work, and visit the sick with our health units. Is this not Jesus’ bidding? Should we heed it, or shall we turn away sorrowfully as the rich young ruler? “If thou lovest me, feed my lambs,” is God’s demand of us. His call is for our life and His promise is our daily bread. Is this an attractive bargain? In simple words we are asked to forego all that is commonly considered worthwhile in life in return for the cross. We have to take up the Cross of service to our fellowmen and follow him into poverty. If we are not prepared to do that, Jesus will appear to us, not as our Saviour, but as accuser. “I was hungered ye gave me no food, I was athirst and ye gave me no drink, I was naked and ye clothed me not, I was needy and ye ministered not unto me. Depart from me ye workers of iniquity.” Is this life a preparation to hear this doom?
May our understanding of Sarvodaya provide an answer and a solution to this onerous problem. Sarvodaya provides a comprehensive way of life, which regards the whole world as a family with God as our father. If we follow the implications of all this, jealousies and greed will cease, and strife and war will end bringing peace that passeth all understanding. Those in need and those who can help can come together and share all that is best in life, and we shall love neighbour as ourselves. This is Jesus’ way of worshipping God and this is Sarvodaya which deserves our loyal support.