the basic message #E230
12/31/03
I find myself on the verge of yet another new year, and I wonder what God thinks about the year I'm finishing out. Did I please God? Did I disappoint God? Most Christians are taught that as long as you trust in Jesus as your personal Savior, there's nothing more for you to do. I disagree.
My wife and I were watching a TV program hosted by Robin Leach a few nights ago. You might remember Leach as the host of a popular show called "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous". His most recent show follows the same theme, showcasing the outrageous luxuries that the wealthy enjoy. My wife made the proper comment, "That's just not right- those people have so much while there as so many people in the world that have nothing." I agree totally, with one major exception: She and I are more like the former than the latter. Does that mean that we are among the wealthy in this world? Should we be on Leach's next program? Technically, the answers are no and no, but let's dig a bit deeper.
Who are the wealthy of the world today? We must first begin by agreeing on how we define wealth. The definition of wealth in America is very different than how wealth is considered on a global basis. In America, poor people often have VCR's and microwave ovens in their air conditioned, government subsidized homes. In some countries these would be considered toys of the rich, so once again, everything is relative. May I offer my own definition? I'll use myself as an example: I'm a middle-class American. According to the labels people like to toss about, I'm neither rich nor poor. This is where most Americans begin to go astray in terms of how God so richly blesses each of us. How?
Stick with me on this- If I go grocery shopping and buy peanut butter, I have choices. I can buy the generic store brand or I can step up to the name brands. In some cases, there may be a true difference in taste or quality, but overall, peanut butter is peanut butter. When I choose the premium brand, I'm essentially saying, "I can afford better". Isn't that what wealthy people are saying with their extravagant lifestyles? "Oh, but John, that's different." How so? The only difference is dollar amounts and percentages. Look around at the people who drive large SUV's- do they need a vehicle like that? Most drive them simply because that's the thing to do these days. One of my personal pleasures is motorcycling. My Kawasaki cost about $8000 while many of my friends ride Harleys that cost more than twice that amount. Who is being extravagant- me or them? The correct answer is: both of us- none of us "need" motorcycles, we simply want them.
Jesus told us very clearly in Matthew 19:23-24 about wealth:
Then Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man 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 a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
Most of us will read this passage and simple dismiss it since "we aren't rich". In your eyes, who is rich? How much money or property must a person have to be considered rich? If Donald Trump goes to dinner and regularly pays $250 for his personal meal, we would consider him to be rich, but if we pay $25 for our personal meal, is that not extravagant to someone living on the streets in Bombay? What is it about a $25 meal that we need? Americans are getting fatter with each passing year, and along with that weight gain comes various diseases and sicknesses. Perhaps this is part of our judgment from God for our extravagances. That might offend some of you, but frankly, I really don't care if it does or not since I'm judging myself along with you.
Our individual wealth begins when we have choices about what we will wear, what we will eat, what we will drive, etc. If my wife and I spend $10,000 on groceries this year but only needed $5000 worth to eat well, we're telling God that we're rich. If we buy a $50K car when all we need is a $20K car, we're telling God that we're rich. When we tell God that we're rich, God will expect us to share that wealth with the less fortunate. Is God being unreasonable? I think not, but one of the biggest problems with Americans is that we think we "deserve" our luxuries. A few days ago I saw a documentary about child prostitutes in Romania. Wealthy men come from Italy, Germany, and yes, even the United States to have sex with children. These children are essentially "rented" for money to provide the family with food and housing. In some cases, they don't even have a place to live- they live on the street. How can we Americans continue in our needless pursuit of bigger and better when there are people so needy in this world? Do we even care? Many of you will pay your tithes and consider your job done, but think again- until that money goes to help God's people, you're not off the hook. My former church sucked-up my money every week for 15 years, but guess what? They sat on the money and put it into certificates of deposits rather than help needy people. Simply giving the money to your church doesn't end your responsibility to God's kingdom, and God's kingdom is comprised of people who are both saved and unsaved, so don't get too choosy about who your money is spent on.
As I enter 2004, I pray that God will reveal to me the areas of need in this world that I can help with. It's amazing to me that it's often hard to find people truly in need, since most of those people have pride and don't want a hand-out. The people who line up for handouts that have no desire to work aren't the people I'm looking for. God, in his infinite wisdom, can and will help me find the people and organizations that are really working for his kingdom. I'm not suggesting that you or I take a vow of poverty and give all of our money away, but I am suggesting that there is a balance we can achieve if we ask God to take charge of our finances. The best advise we can get is once again from the man we claim to have so much faith in:
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:19-21