A friend and I were discussing the things of this world this week and the difference in culture and priorities. As we talked we ended up focusing on how churches get into this rut. What do I mean by that? Just that many churches are of the same socio-economic background. We like to be surrounded by similiar people (whether we admit it or not). That's not to say it's entirely bad, because really it doesn't have to be, but when we lock ourselves in to THAT set of people and THAT set only then we have issues.
We often spend more time spending money, having arguments that mean nothing or just plain wasting our precious time/lives being miserable than we do opening our eyes to the people around us.
This friend was sharing with me about how they used to go door-to-door handing out tracts (yes I know, some of you are opposed to doing this, but hang on, I'm not finished) in these "good neighborhoods." Then one year she ended up working with inner-city kids and her perspective changed. It's not that those people in the higher-classed neighborhoods needed Jesus any less, more like, the kids living in the rougher parts of town were in such greater obvious need of love and attention. Her observations were of neighborhoods where "three year olds are walking one year olds across the street."
My heart aches for children. I believe that God placed that in me for a reason--but as I step back from this past week I note some superficiality to the talks I've heard or participated in and I wonder, what does it really take to wake us up? I'd say that the few that read my blog have a roof over their heads, food to eat and extra conveniences... How many of us, in the Christian community can honestly say we've spent more time thinking about ways to help as well as actively DOING different activities to help those less fortunate than we are... how many of us care enough to bring God's love to this dying world?
If you dare, I challenge you to use this sentence as a prayer--I promise you that it will not be a regret, but I also want you to know that it is the hardest prayer I've ever prayed:
"Let my heart be broken by the things that break the heart of God." Jim Elliot
3 comments:
As someone who professes to follow the Christ, but fills his life with trivialities, I feel more than a little ashamed as I stand under the light of your observations and challenge. To live fully for that which matters is an arena where we find ourselves having to rely 100% on grace... quick wits and a glib tongue need not apply. Even saying "you've given me much to think about and wrestle with" is wit: it's saying the right thing, but unless I shut up and do... I dunno, Feather, you've tossed down the Lord's gauntlet, and that's a very, very hard one to pick up.
Let me be clear, I have spurts where I will go purchase items I do not need.
Currently I'm wrestling with buying a new rabbit cage. I want to make it because honestly I'm sure it will be cheaper and I do have her so she is my responsibility, but because I don't have much time these days to let her out, leaving her in a cramped cage 24 hours a day or even having 45 minutes to let her out just doesn't seem fair. It's difficult for me to see the line... buying the one that has the space I want this rabbit is a little over $100.00, I struggle with that when I know good and well there are people in this world who don't get the treatment my animal does.
The above example is one that requires more thought because it's not just "me" I'm concerned for, but there are times when I wonder at the amount of money we spend on electronics (to give a nice pricey example), hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars... when you add T.V., VCR, DVD player, VHS tapes, DVDs, *insert one or more gaming systems here*, games, computers, software, hardware..., cameras, printers, scanners... the list is nearly endless. Who truly benefits from this? What is stewardship really?
You purchase things you don't need?!? Yeah, welcome to Western civilization! Define "need" and you'll find that you don't actually "need" much. I can rationalize some, since most of my current stuff was given to me by kind souls after the divorce, but even still, I have way more than I "need" (most everything on your list, I'm afraid...)
Stewardship *is* tricky. Do we live like the poorest, in order to share all that we can, or do we "indulge" ourselves and justify it by calling it an opportunity to praise God for His blessings? We want a better standard of living for those less fortunate, but if we reject the gift of that standard for ourselves are we being bad stewards or good stewards? I don't know. How "rich" can we be and still fit through the eye of the needle?
On a practical point, buy the cage if you can afford it. You have stewardship of this creature. Its life is part of (fallen) Eden that you have been set over to cultivate. Each of us are responsible, at any moment in time, for that which we are responsible for. Not the whole world. If you are being led to divert your resources from the rabbit to less fortunate primates, then that is between you and God. But if so, He will lead you to provide for the rabbit, which is His rabbit. I don't think animals are "more" important than people, but for a given person at a given moment in her service, a certain animal might be more her responsibility than abandoned orphans living in a children's home in Montana. (On the other hand, I'm a bit of a heretic and a major nitwit, so my advice isn't worth the paper it isn't printed on!)
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