I have been relearning one of the most basic lessons in life during the last 7 months. We learn at a very young age that sharing is caring, and that we are always to be sharing with other people. I never thought that I had a problem with this until the race.
The African culture is VERY communal, and they. share. everything. Pastor Solomon told us our first night here, “You will notice that the people here share everything. We might not have a lot, but we always share what we have.” This is nothing new to me, as the last 7 months have been breaking me of pride and distrust as I am expected to share with my team mates all the time. Clothing is constantly shared as well as band aids, peanut butter, money, computers… almost everything that I brought with me has been shared.
When all of your belongings can fit into one bag, and that is all you have for 11 months, you can make one of two decisions. You can either get really possessive of what you do have, or you can surrender to the community you’re enmeshed in and share. I have been fighting the first, and slowly submitting to the second option, and it has been beyond humbling to live in Africa for the last three months. These people hardly have anything, but yet they are more welcoming and warming than people I know in the States who have 20 times the material. We are always fed when entering a home, while sitting on hand made wooden stools on the dirt floor. We are always welcomed in regardless of what the residents are doing… of course they have time to talk! And all of this is constantly coming out of a genuine heart. I am humbled daily by the way these people have a deep understanding of community, and don’t live from a place of “survival of the fittest” like we do in America. Or maybe they just understand survival in a different way… that when they don’t have the means to share, they know that they can lean on those around them, whereas us Americans can handle ourselves, and want to be self sufficient in our lives.
The beginning of the church in Acts 2 is described beautifully. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need (v. 43-45). What if this is what our church looked like not only to us, but to the entire community? That we had everything in common, and were selling our property and possessions to give to those who need it more.
In Matthew 6, Jesus talks about how we are not to worry. We are not to worry about the clothes on our backs, or the food that we are to eat. We are more than the worries that eat at us. When I asked myself why I have such a hard time with sharing my belongings, it’s because I don’t think that I will have it when I need it most… and that boils down to me not trusting that the Lord is going to provide for me in my time of need. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? (v.25) Yes… it is. I am learning that more every day. Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. (2 Corinthians 9:6-8) The Lord promises to take care of us, that he loves a cheerful giver, and that he will bless us making sure that we have all we will need at all times. How good does that sound?
I am being humbled and centered daily by this culture, and brought back to the truth that Jesus promises. I want to encourage you to assess your lifestyle, your worries, and the way you are sharing with those around you in need. Because there are always others in greater need than you.
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33
