I once heard a pastor say the world today is worse off than it was 50 years ago.

In fact I’ve read many men wiser than me say there’s more sin in the world today than ever before.

I’m not sure if I agree with them. 

Bill Gates doesn’t agree with them either. This week Gates released his annual letter on the state of our world. It’s a pretty enlightening read. Check it out at GatesLetter.com.

Gates uses the letter to debunk some myths about poverty. He writes that average incomes are rising in almost every country, and that our perspectives on poverty and foreign aid are outdated. Many of these improvements are a direct result of The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

“By almost any measure, the world is better than it has ever been,” Gates writes.

I’m not sure if I agree with him either. 

I don’t know if he world can become a better place until Jesus returns.

No matter how much good we do this world is still broken. Sin will always be present because every person is born sinful. There is nothing we can do to completely heal the wounds of this world.

So then, should we stop doing good? Of course not.

I think we should follow what Jesus did in his time on this planet. I think we should love people, feed people, and heal people. All the while pointing people to the better world that exists beyond this one. 

Even though we can’t make the world better, I believe we can follow in the footsteps of Bill Gates and make life better for those who are hurting. I think Jesus would have been a fan of Bill Gates.

Jesus challenged us to make disciples of all the nations. Part of discipling others involves meeting their needs.

No one reading this has the bank account of Bill Gates. Neither did Jesus or His disciples.

They didn’t travel all over the world. They served their communities. Their message of hope spread from there.

While we cannot create a perfect world, we can be the hands and feet of Jesus on the Earth’s soil, shining light into a dark place.