I hear on the news over and over again about the struggles of our country as we continue to face economic uncertainty. This is great statement about the mindset of Americans and how capitalism has replaced Christianity as our value system. Even in the best of times, our economic future is uncertain. What is the old saying, “the only thing that certain is death and taxes.”
Unfortunately, unlike America, most of the world lives in extremely certain economic times. Almost half the world lives on less that $2.50 a day. Eighty percent of the world lives on less than $10 a day. For these people, there is no economic uncertainty. They have extreme poverty today and they are quite certain that they will have extreme poverty tomorrow and probably their entire lives.
I can stress about my 401k and all my savings that I no longer have in my future. However, I’m not too worried about what I am going to eat tomorrow. I can stress about the economy getting even worse and I can watch it all in my air-conditioned home on my wide-screen TV through cable provided to me for a measly $75 month.
Many people in have lost their jobs recently. Many fear that they could lose theirs at anytime. However, even if you lose your job, your home, and your cable TV, will you starve to death?
There is a reason Jesus tells us not to put our faith in wealth. I like to tell myself that my faith is in God and not my money. I’m sure most Christians would say the same. If that’s true, think about the rich young ruler that came to Jesus looking for eternal life.
Luke 18:18-25 (ESV)
18 And a ruler asked him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" 19 And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. 20 You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.' " 21 And he said, "All these I have kept from my youth." 22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." 23 But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. 24 Jesus, looking at him with sadness, said, "How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! 25 For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God."
If ask the average Christian, if they should sell everything they have and follow Jesus, they will probably tell you that this passage is not suggesting that Christians do that. They will probably tell you that this passage means that you should be willing to do that if called. They may say that following Jesus should be more valuable to you than all of your possessions but this passage is a principle and not a practical application for all Christians to follow.
Ok, so let’s go with the principle concept. In principle, if God were to ask you to sell everything you have and give it to the poor, would you? How do you know if you could do it? Better yet, how do you know if God were to ask you? Are you assuming that God’s call for your life is to have your current standard of living? Why would God not want you to give so much away that it dramatically lowered your personal lifestyle? Why do you think that the eye of the needle is so large for you?
Maybe we should take this time of economic uncertainty and think more about the rest of the world and their economic certainty. Maybe we should adjust our standard of living so that others can live. Or I guess you can go to the fridge, get another cold drink, sit back in your lazy boy, and change the channel.
Sometimes I think times like these are just one more way Gog is asking us to give up all for Him and to feed his sheep. My family too is struggling; loss of work hours, educational expenses, bills upon bills and taxes that seem to have risen from the dead, medical expenses that just weren’t covered, and countless other magnets that seem to pull away our money before it is even counted. And uncertainty about our financial future has never been more clear. Still, at least from my perspective, this is a gift. Never before have I identified so closely with those that have less then me; the unemployed, the homeless, those with medical woes and psychiatric challenges, those who have had it all and lost it, and those who have never even had anything: And never before have I been driven to give to those in need. It may not be much, but I can still feed a few sheep. I can still help someone who is hungry, someone who is cold, someone who is lonely and perhaps alone. I can still provide something for someone who is in jail, or an orphan or perhaps a widow, I can still share a little of what I have with those that don't. Times like these actually encourage me, crazy as it seems. Time to put my hand to the plow and get to work, feed all His sheep, and not look back at what could have been or what I once had; because like chaff, it will all just burn away.
ReplyDeleteDear children, don't just talk about love. Put your love into action. Then it will truly be love. 1 John 3:18 NIrV
Peter -
ReplyDeleteI think that's where most of us are at. We can pray that we can get to where we love him that much.
Tony