“Prosperity knits a man to the World. He feels that he is “finding his place in it”,
while really its place is in him”
(The devil, Screwtape speaking to junior devil Wormwood on how to win over his “patient” who is dangerously close to being lost to the Enemy (God). The Screwtape Letters by CS Lewis)
Then Jesus said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed;
a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."
Luke 12:15
a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."
Luke 12:15
You and I are the 1%ers. We are Magic Kingdom Christians who live in a world of magical gadgets, media, comfort, cars, vacations, beauty, water, food, sports, art, books, luxurious hotels and restaurants, everything seemingly at our fingertips. Of course we don’t feel this way. It takes a view from the 99% in order to see ourselves more clearly. I find it amazing how I, for example, can live for two weeks next door to the Nairobi slums and then return to my 1% world and immediately re-acclimate as if I had never been in the third world. I don’t think being a Christian means simply going to my Magic Church and going home to my Magic Kingdom home and being okay with that.
“Lord, change my heart. Break me out of my complacency and comfort and lead me to use the wealth you have given me not simply for my flourishing but for the flourishing of others. Amen”
For
more:
follow on Twitter @jefflampl
Frustration: the feeling of being upset or annoyed, esp. because of inability to change or achieve something
ReplyDeleteThe US is the epitome of MK (obviously). We all grew up in it. On July 4th we blow up millions of dollars worth of gunpowder to celebrate credit cards and the 30-year mortgage. I will not feel bad about the fact that I was born here. That is not my fault. Now my eyes are open to the fact that things are not equivalent in this world and most folks, especially in different countries, have it way harder than I. The trouble is that I was taught that the 30-year mortgage is what I am supposed to do. I was taught that I am supposed to go to college and so it was a good investment to have tens of thousands in student loan debt. I am taught that I should pay back loans that are less than 4% as slow as possible because my money can be invested elsewhere at a better rate of return. I am also taught that it is stupid to take money out of my retirement to pay debt.
Well I am frustrated because everyone of these values has taught me to hold onto my supposed wealth as tightly as possible, and now I am being shown that there is something more important than wealth. When Jesus said “I thirst” I believe he thirsted for souls to be saved. (Souls, not money.) How can I be “in Christ” in that endeavor from where I am. I am where I am, and I have a 30-year mortgage that appears to anchor me here. This much is true. Neither Stearns nor anybody in my church has the best answer for my specific situation. But today I can hit a proverbial reset button and ask Jesus himself, through the Holy Spirit, to teach me what is most important to Him. I can ask Him what I can do from here. He can use me from this place to achieve His goals either here or abroad. He can even change my situation if He would like to pick up the anchor. Today I re-commit, as I have re-committed before, to His priorities. But as before, it is with a different perspective, and one where I can hopefully OPEN my hand in a way that pleases Him - so that He can fill it and empty it as He desires. Lord let me be your vessel, carrying your love in whatever form you supply, so that the world can see and believe that we are in Christ and that God loves us all.
I agree. Stearns is a fine man and a champion for 3rd world poverty. Not all of us have been called to that ministry. I haven't. Not yet, anyway. I think it would be a fantastic calling and one that I one day hope to pursue... His writings are a wonderful advert for his own favorite charity. And, one day, I want to go build (as I am a builder) for those who need it most. I WILL go where I am called. I WILL say, "Here I am." For now, though, I'm pretty sure I have not been called to the third world poor. Others have been given to me for now. Maybe this is my training ground? I want to do something GREAT someday... None the less, I feel like there's something better I could be spending my time on now... but unable to do so... because I am in relative bondage (financially) as described above... I need to dig my way out first. If I gave less, could I dig out quicker on a limited income, or would I be given less provision as a result??? What to do? My heart breaks for the ones in need, but I myself am broken and in need AND ensnared to the mistakes of the past (what I was taught... as above). Whatever shall we do? I don't simply go to a "Magic Church" on Sundays and leave it there. Some perhaps do. I don't, but I'm also not headed off to Africa... Doesn't this rhetoric discount the importance of what our Church is and what it's doing? Please. I'm not trying to be contrary. I just want to know why the culmination of my Christianity and my salvation and my love for others has to land me in the Tragic Kingdom. I AM NOT STEARNS! HIS JOB IS TO FURTHER HIS CALLING AND HIS AGENDA USING HIS GOD GIVEN TALENTS TO DO SO AND HE IS DOING A PHENOMINAL JOB OF IT. HOWEVER, Many are those in need of Jesus in a Versace pinstripe suit as a poor man is in his rags. My testimony is, I own a Versace pinstripe suit (not bragging, just being 100% real and pointing out that I might epitomize an MK Christian to some), and I NEED JESUS FOR MYSELF (because I am a broken, pathetic and sinful human being) AND I STILL WANT TO SERVE HIS KINGDOM FOR OTHERS AND BRING THEM TO HIM THAT THEY MIGHT BE SAVED... Does that not count?
ReplyDeleteYes it does count Jan, and your rite we are not all called to go over seas. I see enough poverty in the hearts of people all around me and we should all want to be that Christ like guide to point the way. All we can do is seek his will for our lives and keep pressing in. Love ya brother.
ReplyDeleteJesus wants us to have open hearts, ears to hear and hands to do what He instructs-joyfully, not out of a misplaced sense of guilt. For that is pride. Nor do we turn God's blessings into an area of judgement. That is arrogance.
ReplyDelete