What is it that we need? Nutritious food, clean water, clothes, shelter, safety, the support and love of others, and, most importantly, relationship with Jesus Christ.
The tendency is to deny that we are. It's hard to admit that we are. I know the poor will always be with us (Mt. 26:11) but I don't like it and it doesn't seem fair. If I can convince myself that we're not (and there were times we had a lot less than we do now) I'm just lying to myself. I've never been truly poor a single day of my life.
I am not going to lie to my children because with the truth comes responsibility and I don't want them to shirk their responsibility because they've been lied to or lie to themselves.
While this passage gives me the chills, there is no ignoring it.
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again
I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle
than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”
Mt. 19:23-24
We need to take these verses very seriously, however we might interpret them. We need to pray over them and ask God what we can offer- what of our lives, our finances and our resources. It may not always be clear- we have many voices telling us that we earned it, we deserve it and the have-nots...have not. Those voices help no one.
Instead, we need to be honest with ourselves and our children. And then we need to take very seriously our richness, commit it to God and be ready to give in whatever way He calls us. And if we don't hear an audible "call", we need to do what we know His Spirit is leading us towards anyway.
No matter how uncomfortable it makes us.
This may seem cooky, but if you're brave and you can, take this pledge with me in the comments below: I am rich and I'm going to do something about it. You define what that "something" will be.
Let's stop pretending we aren't just to make ourselves feel better and to justify sitting on our hands (and wallets). We were created for so much more. Pin It
Beautifully said !
ReplyDeleteBeautiful, I love that verse. I was walking through my garden this morning thinking how richly blessed I was that God was providing such a wonderful bounty.
ReplyDeleteThis was what our sermon was about this week. Great blog post. Here it is if you would like to see it. http://www.northcoastchurch.com/index.php?id=141
ReplyDeleteWell said! Our bishop often says, "You can NEVER out give God!" That is such a beautiful reminder that it is OK to give, and give, and give. Ours is a God who provides. He'll always meet our needs, in ways that we could never predict. Thanks so much for the encouragement!
ReplyDeleteWhat a timely post. We paid off our house this week and now, as the family money manager, I really feel a responsibility to do more for others. The interesting thing is that I squeezed every extra penny that I could and came up with an extra $800 for the mortgage in May and then was able to give $1100 this month. I do not where it really came from. When we give of what we are given God just allows us to do more and more and we are so blessed.
ReplyDeletewow, love your answer to your kids' question. Going to borrow that! I think I've launched into a long thing about how it depends who we are compared to, blah blah blah, but you're right: we have everything we need AND A LOT MORE.
ReplyDeleteTruly, we are so very rich in this part of the world. Even the poorest of us live like kings compared to so many in the world. Thank you for once again challenging us to think my friend. Hugs to you! Camille
ReplyDeleteHi Jane! I have been following your blog for a number of years now and I have to say I enjoy it very much and am very thankful for the time that you take to share your life with us. Recently I started reading about George Muller and Hudson Taylor and I have felt very convicted and challenged to change so many things about my life. I am thankful for your encouragement to give, to examine our lives and see what the Lord would have us do for others. We are praying about how and what to go without that we may give more, whether mission work or adoption may be something the Lord would move us to and how to be more like the widow who gave the mites. I recently read Kisses from Katie by Katie Davis and am ashamed to say that I have kept my head buried enough to not fully realize what life is like for some of God's precious children. I read your most recent post about living simply to give, which is what drew me to your blog years ago, and I have to marvel at how the Lord uses so many different avenues to bring growth sometimes. I hope to grow in this area with you!
ReplyDeleteKindly,
Allison