So, it’s been about 2
months since
I started working with Live58 and it’s been a great learning experience but
also a real challenge to how I live my life.
I’ve come to realize
that without deliberately setting apart my time, money and energy for others, I
choose to live selfishly. It’s a discipline to think of others needs above my
own and to be purposeful with my investments. I can’t pray for hearts to be
changed if it doesn’t start with me first.
So the truth I had to
realize about myself and the obstacle I face in reaching people with this
message is that the truth is-
We are selfish.
We are more concerned
with ourselves then with our neighbor.
We want our comforts
rather than sacrifice to save lives
In our minds we think
about others needs but it doesn’t transfer over to a part of who we are. How do
we bridge the gap from seeing a need, being moved emotionally and then taking
action to being part of the solution?
It’s about a lifestyle
not just a donation or contributing to a cause. God wants us to live a
lifestyle of sacrifice which in all
honestly takes more time, money and commitment. Are we too lazy to commit for
the long haul?
What kind of lifestyle
are we choosing? Is it looking outward to needs beyond ourselves or is it a
refusal to look at injustice and the solutions that we actually have right in
front of us because the problem is to big and it doesn’t directly relate to us?
Have we become
desensitized to human suffering? Are we disconnected from the poor?
We have everything we
need to END extreme global poverty, and the only thing standing in the way is
lack of faith, which prevents us from actually doing something. If we first
think our giving won’t do anything and then we make an excuse as to why we
don’t give, we’re stuck in disbelief and doubt. If everyone in the church gave, we could make an
unprecedented difference in this world.
There shouldn’t be a
cap on our giving, because that’s not the example that He set for us to follow.
He never said there is a limit to what and how we give. He said to care for the
“least of these” This is not my way of trying to make people feel guilty, I just know we need to mount up in unity towards this issue. And it’s simple. We can simply fast and give. Choosing to give up one coffee a week for a month could literally save a life. In the underdeveloped world a little goes a long way. Then why do we hold back?
A tempting thought is
that I’ve already gone on a mission trip, given money to a missionary and supported a charity so I can’t really
give anymore. You’re tapped. But
if the question comes up as to
whether or not, you should get the new IPHONE, you don’t think…you know I have
the 4, I’m good. No, you think I want the new IPHONE and don’t think twice
about the cost, you think, I WANT IT. The only reason I’m using this as an
example is because most all of us have done this, and it’s a normal way of
looking at your wants.
The perfect news is
that we’re not called to be normal, we’re called to live above normal. I’m NOT
saying that we shouldn’t want to buy things for ourselves, but I am saying that
when an opportunity comes up to join a movement that says we can end extreme
global poverty in our lifetime, a beyond the normal response is YES!!!!
That is what I’d like
to call a heart check.
Its not the time to
pat yourself on the back for giving a dollar to a homeless person, or attending
a fundraiser or even going on a mission trip. It’s time to let God look at your
heart towards EXTREME GLOBAL POVERTY which is 1 billion people living on $1.25/day. That is something we barely have a grasp on, but it’s 1 billion people’s reality. We can change that!!!
We can actually change
history and save lives for daily costs of privileged American life. We can
covenant with God to see an end to something that has existed for generations.
Is the trade off worth it? Of
course, because with extreme global poverty there is a solution!
You’re reading this
and probably thinking, well it’s going to take years to reach this goal, and
I’ll say yes, that’s why it’s a lifetime of a lifestyle of giving oneself. We
are being confronted with the truth and with very real needs of people and are
we willing to look at them?
Thankfully, we don’t
have to think about if it’s the right thing or wonder what God wants. He
commands us to care for the poor not giving us an option so what’s standing in
the way of His dream coming to fruition? Lack of faith in the Church!
It does start with
you, and me and if you’re reading this and thinking yes, this really is how
I’ve responded to God’s call to care for the poor. We don’t need anymore Bible
Studies, small groups, books written and podcasts to teach us how to serve. We
need to start doing it already. I’m not satisfied with just gathering together
every week and not actually serving the needs of the poor. We can’t just go
through the religious motions and think that’s the way to God’s heart. We get
to his heart by sacrificing for the poor, end of story.
Let’s man up and take
a good look at our lives and let God open your heart to joining the 58
movement. Everyone should contribute, because everyone has something to give
and all you have is from Him anyway. What’s the joy in life, if you don’t give
it all away?
Join the tour at http://my.live58.org/tour
