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Princes and Princesses
My husband Jim, just returned from a mission trip in South Africa. He took pictures of shantytowns, hovels with no indoor plumbing. One creative man made his home by stacking up old tires. So, living here in the United States, I’m struck with the fact that I am a dispassionate bystander. I know that poverty and diseases like AIDS exist, so most of the time I just write a check to Compassion International and think that I’ve done enough.
In Roman times, the poor had nothing; they were worthless in society’s eyes; in the Hebrew culture, calling someone by name indicated an intimate relationship. The name Lazarus means, “God is my help”. Jesus names the beggar in the passage, Lazarus, and he is the only person in any of Jesus’ stories who is given a name. Jesus contrasts the unnamed wealthy man, who is flamboyant and has everything in the world’s eyes, with the “named” beggar. The rich man could easily have helped Lazarus, yet even dogs showed more compassion for Lazarus. Jesus doesn’t love the rich less than the poor, but he cherishes those who follow him, not money. Wealth is not sinful, but selfishness is. The world around us is filled with hurting people. So many of them could be helped if we were more willing to faithfully share the riches we have that God has blessed us with. If God knows us by name, and we are sons and daughters of the King; isn’t it about time we started acting like princes and princesses and giving what we can for His Kingdom?
“God, open my eyes when I am selfish and indifferent to the needs of others” Amen
Christine,
Thanks for feeding us today.
I am a selfish person by nature. Having grown up in Africa, my solution towards poverty, disease and hunger was running away from the situation. If I( “closed my eyes “)didn’t see the needy, my selfish mind assumed the need would just magically fix itself.
However as I spend more time in the word, I learn how to die to self. I begin to see why Jesus heart always went after the kids, poor, orphans and widows. I have great examples (my parents mission work, CCC missions team, Faith in Action, Must ministries and the Echo effect.)
In my pursuit to come to terms with my struggles and selfish ambitions, I try to remember
Mark 8:36 What profit will a person have if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul?
Ecclesiastes 5: 8 If you see the oppression of the poor, and the violent taking away of justice and righteousness in a district, don’t marvel at the matter: for one official is eyed by a higher one; and there are officials over them. 9 Moreover the profit of the earth is for all. The king profits from the field.10 He who loves silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he who loves abundance, with increase: this also is vanity. 11 When goods increase, those who eat them are increased; and what advantage is there to its owner, except to feast on them with his eyes? 12 The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, whether he eats little or much; but the abundance of the rich will not allow him to sleep. 13 There is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun: wealth kept by its owner to his harm.
In conclusion, I am working on dieing to self so that I can be sensitive to others and loving God first before money.
Wise words Christine. I do think about it often that we, (God’s children here in the US), have it so well here compared to God’s children in other parts of the world. It’s the topic of one of my many “thank yous” to Him. But why am I so blessed to be here in the good ol’ USA? Maybe instead of trying of figure out the why, we should figure out the what God wants us to do and just do it. There are so many ways to give and share with those in need what we are blessed with. I visited the ECHO program the other day. What a great opportunity there is to give and share with those kids. The list of ways we can honor Him with sharing His blessing goes on and on.
Great thoughts… I think it is also the attitude behind the giving that is important too. I grew up in a home where I watched my dad and mom fall in love with Jesus when I was in my early teens. After that experience he took tithing very seriously. I watched as it changed his life and the lives of those around him, including me. He owned his own construction company and told all the employees in his office (about 30 or more) that the company would match their gifts to their church or synagoge at the end of the calendar year. He did this for many years and God so incredibly blessed his company… and he taught others through this about a positive and selfless attitude of giving back to God and others.
Christine, thanks for helping us to see the truth of living away from our selfishness.
By the way, what is with the Donald Duck thing?
Thanks Christine…this ME thing is tough to shake…if not really impossible. I join you in praying for a heart and eyes open to clearly seeing my selfishness…and indifference, well that would require me to be more aware of others first…so that too. Thanks again Christine.
Amen, It is a marvel to me that God above does know my name and wants a relationaship with me. I agree with you, Christine that we need to open our eyes to those around us and lend a helping hand. Sometimes it is simple like bringing groceries for MUST to give to those in need ,or taking a Saturday night and serving dinner at MUST campus with Zack. At times it is going to South Africa and lending a helping hand. I hope and pray that we ( CCC) keep our eyes and ears open to what God wants us to be and do here and around the world.
Thanks Christine. Right on…less of Me and more of Him!!!!
I hate how my selfishness creeps back in AFTER a trip to places like Kenya or Peru… and I begin to complain about NOTHING.
I listened to Jim yesterday as he talked with staff about his South Africa trip. It stirs me. It jogs my memory. As I sit in Starbucks this morning to read, think, pray, write — I realize what a privileged child of God I am. I also realize I will be held strictly accountable for how I used my resources to help impact eternal destinies.
Dear Lord, turn my whine into your wine.
(and my theory: the rich guy in the Luke 16 parable is not given a name because without his riches and wealth he really is nothing. In hell he is nameless. when all is stripped away, who or what am I? Let my name be “child of God.”)
THANKS CHRISTINE. You are a big dawg leader for so many reasons beyond the bottom line. Blessings.
Thanks Christine for your insight.
Even though our family has had to tighten the purse strings and “do without”. We are still extraordinary blessed and have more than most. Thanks for the reminder.