April 16, 2015 (Thursday)
I discovered a human condition today that has a name I didn’t recognize at first. But after learning a little more about it, I now know that I have experienced this condition myself, and have observed it in others often. It’s known as SEP (Somebody Else’s Problem).
The condition shows itself when the afflicted person is asked to become involved in situations where they might be of help. A need exists, and the person does not wish to see it or hear about it. He may have been asked to become involved but does not believe it’s any of of his business at all. He has trained himself to become blind to his own responsibilities.
This syndrome was present when Jesus was calling for self-denial and sacrificial service. Jesus said, “If anyone would follow me, let him deny himself, take up his cross and follow me.” He also said, “If you want to find life, you must lose it for my sake and the gospel’s.”
We are not surprised that most of the people who heard him that day went away and stopped following him. They probably thought he had someone else in mind. They may have reasoned within themselves, “So there are many needs in the world–that’s somebody else’s problem.”
When Jesus told us to love our neighbor as ourselves, he explained what he meant with 
the story of The Good Samaritan. A man was robbed, beaten and left for dead. A priest and a Levite passed him by, but a Samaritan refused to be disabled by SEP, and made the situation his problem, helping the victim and saving his life.
God got under the load of sin with us and sent his only begotten son to die on the cross for us, saving us from our sins. Our problem became his problem. That’s God’s way. He wants us to see the needs and do something to help, never surrendering to SEP.