What's the meaning of life? What's the purpose of life? Why do human beings and the planet Earth exist? Philosophers have debated these questions for centuries and have yet to come up with an answer. For many people living in the United States life has one purpose, success, and you are defined by whether or not you achieve this purpose. For us (I say us because I too am prone to thinking in a materialistic fashion) success is measured by how many things, usually the monetary value of these things or even the money itself, we have accumulated and various amounts of these things define various amounts of success. The more things you have, the more successful you are. For the born-again believers of Uganda things are very different. For them the purpose of life isn't filling their homes with more things it's filling the spirits of others by befriending more people. It's showing people that there is a God who loves them and desperately wants them to know him on an intimately personal level. It is evident in their kindness and the lengths that they go to in order to make sure that you are comfortable and welcomed in their country. Isaiah 61 talks about how those who carry the message of Christ to nations enjoying the wealth of those nations. As I have traveled all over the world I have seen that passage come true time and time again, not just on physical level but also on the spiritual level. The ministry contacts that I have had have challenged me to grow as a person as well as spiritually. Pastor Aloysius Ntege and the people of Uganda are no different. They are not afraid to share their wealth. They give well, serve well and, to use a World Race phrase, love well. They understand that happiness is relative but joy and love are not. They know that happiness is based on circumstances but joy and love are based on truth. They don't just know it, they apply it, they live it out every single day and they do it without regard for what it will cost them. What would happen if we, the American church, chose to live like this? We are among the wealthiest people in the world and yet we choose to hoard it for ourselves. Jesus told his disciples in Matthew 10:8 that "freely you have received, freely give." He wanted his followers to understand that we don't get gifts for ourselves, we get them so that we can share the blessing by giving them away and that in giving them we are able to find a greater joy and peace, a peace that passes all understanding.
