A Christian is not something you believe or claim. A Christian is who you are. And who you are determines what you do and think and say. A Christian is like Christ in his being, renewed and transformed by the Holy Spirit. Therefore, a Christian is like Christ in his doing, as well.
“For God so loved the world that He gave …”
We are most like God when we give. Because of our need, we must all learn how to receive (not take … there is a difference). But our focus is to be givers. It is in our giving that people see the character of God.
God was willing to give His very life for us, yet we have an American Church that thinks of its own safety before giving in almost any way. We have all the excuses, “I would love to give, but I don’t have enough ____” you fill in the blank … money, time, energy, whatever, and ultimately we give a pittance if anything at all.
Our Christian organizations are great examples to follow. Most fellowships give only a tiny fraction to the poor, if they give anything at all, because they’re too busy spending money on themselves. Is it any wonder their congregations do the same?
And here’s where we come to the crux of the whole matter. While there are people, possibly within our own congregations, who don’t have enough to eat, we can’t give because we’re too busy feeding our own lusts. Between our house payment, car payments, cable, internet, cell phone and other “needed” expenses, we don’t have the money for anything else. We’ll save up hundreds (0r go into debt) for a flat panel TV and bemoan how little we have to give to the poor. Our self-entertainment alone takes up more money than all our regular giving.
Consider for a moment the Bible. I know its becoming more and more passe to actually believe what it says, but consider that from Job (the earliest written book in the Bible) to the New Testament (John the Baptist, Jesus, Peter, Paul, James, John the Apostle — all of them), they all expected generous and sacrificial giving from the people of God, equating giving to the poor AS righteousness.
Now consider what you spend on yourself (not needs, but wants) compared to what you give to the poor (I don’t count a check or tithe to your “church” because they probably don’t give more than 1 or 2% of their budget to the poor).
You and I will stand before God and be judged for the difference.
Most of us are in debt because of things that aren’t even needs. Some might argue that their house is a “necessity.” It might be. But most Christians seek to gain even with their home and therefore are paying a mortgage that is too high for a house too big for them (“but I ‘need’ the formal living room AND the personal home theater!). The American Dream is the antithesis of the Kingdom of God. You can quote me on that.
Judas didn’t betray Jesus over sex or drugs or even power. It was money. He sold our Saviour for the price of a common slave. We have a Judas Generation in America who has betrayed the Kingdom of God for the American Dream and all that it entails. God help us.
Imagine instead a people who make 50 grand a year (generous average) but live off of 15 grand. They live in a house that many would say is too small or they live in a trailer park or rent out someone’s basement or extra rooms. Their kids share a room (gasp!).
They go to public places like parks for parties and share everything they can. Ever notice how there’s always enough when that happens? I’ve been going to Church dinners my whole life and I can’t remember seeing anyone go hungry when everyone chips in (it might have happened, but I can’t remember … can you?).
And you know what they do with the other 35 grand a year? They give it away. Not to their local steeplehouse organizations or the government but to the direct needs of those in their community, their brothers and sisters in Christ first and then their neighbors. Not everyone is my brother or sister in Christ, but everyone is my neighbor. And I’m supposed to love my neighbor as myself.
There should be no charge at the door for fellowship. Ever. God hates to see facilities associated with His name locked up behind gates or huge double doors.
Maybe you don’t have much, but I guarantee that if you give it all, you’ll have more than you did before. Remember the boy with the loaves and fishes? He ate his fill that day, too.
Our times of fellowship should welcome the poor, not hedge them out with this upper middle class persona we don every Sunday morning.
Giving to those in need is a pure material expression of God’s eternal grace. God gave life to those who only had death eternally. Our active participation in material giving (this includes our time, our most guarded commodity) backs up our preaching of Christ. To chase the American Dream while philosophizing about God’s love only makes us hypocrites.
So buy your clothes at thrift stores. Have people over for dinner instead of eating out. There are so many creative ways to live below your means. God is a pretty creative guy. He’ll help you.
It is only our pride that stands in the way.
I wonder if anyone remembers what God thinks about the proud?
One day He’ll remind us if we don’t.
Peace.