MY, MY, MY

God has been gracious to us. While we are running away from him, he reconciles us to himself. He invites us in, adopts us. We’ve been brought back as friends of God. This gift isn’t ours just so we can sit around the campfire with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit singing Kumbaya, and enjoying the warmth of that great fellowship. We are called to love as he has loved us—to do all we can to love others into that friendship circle. Will we join in the saving work of Jesus and really love people?

God’s plan is for “no pressure” giving and “no pressure” call to giving. The person on minimum wage and the top wage earner both are called to responsibly manage their money. While the total dollars may be very different, as a percentage of income, they are equal.  Those who are wealthy have great responsibility in managing in a godly way the excess beyond meeting their own needs. To the one who has been given much, much is required.

We allow our urgent to suppress God’s important. This can happen individually and in organizations meant to serve God’s kingdom. We would never refuse to do God’s will overtly, but when the timing is never “right” because our stuff trumps God’s stuff, we end up inadvertently refusing to do God’s will.

Jesus said something that is hard for material-minded American consumers to hear: “Do not store up for yourselves treasure on earth . . . For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” To know where we are investing, all we need to do is check who has our heart. Following Jesus means investing in that which is important to Him; we decide where our priorities are and whether they align with Jesus' priorities.

There’s nothing evil about being comfortable. People who seek pain or suffering need counseling. However, if my life is all about my comfort, presently or in the future, and I’m not willing to give up some of my material abundance to relieve suffering and expand God’s kingdom, we may question ourselves and our true heart commitment to following God’s ways.

When we believe our money and our possessions belong to us, we may begin to think of every other aspect of life in the same way. We imagine ourselves in charge. We call the shots, and we make God our helper, our servant, our cosmic Santa Claus. If we aren’t followers of Jesus, so be it, but as his followers, we recognize that we are not our own but God’s bought at a great price.