Suppose someone has enough to live and sees a brother or sister in need, but does not help. Then God's love is not living in that person.Note that the verse says, "Suppose someone has enough to LIVE," not "Suppose someone has everything they wish for" or "Suppose someone has enough money for a comfortable life." God gave us money for a reason. The reason is NOT to provide ourselves with an abundance of fluffy, worthless comfort items. It can be really, really, really hard to deny ourselves our favorite, designer brand of make-up, snazzy gadgets, or concert tickets to all our favorite bands' concerts...that is, until we realize that some children face foot infections from living without shoes, which only cost 50 cents a pair (ChildrensHungerFund.org). Or we remember that the money spent on two good tickets to a concert could support a victim of modern-day slavery for a month's stay at a safe house where she can receive love, personal attention, and an education (RaphaHouse.org).
Now, don't get me wrong. I'm not saying we should all go live in sheds, wear no make-up, dress in rags, and eat Ramen every day. Not that there's anything wrong with that--it takes a strong person to get through financial hardship, and I admire people who handle situations like that with hope and joy. But if we have the funds for adequate shelter, good food, and quality clothes, then God usually wants us to have those things. The Proverbs 31 woman serves imported food, buys enough property to plant a vineyard, and wears expensive purple garments (purple dye was very expensive in Biblical times), but she's also described as someone who is very kind to the needy. God's given us the mission of representing Himself to others, in all His majesty and respectability and all His compassion, and to loose sight of one mission while embracing the other is to follow no mission at all. A person working towards respectability only will care too much about what others think--and come off to non-believers as one of their own kind--while a person sacrificing their necessities to feed the poor may be seen by non-believers as someone totally nuts! Not that we should care about what non-believers think. But it's important to remember that Christians, when avoidable, are not supposed to give non-believers unnecessary distraction from the Gospel. That's why I advocate wearing pants in some situations. That's why the most effective missionaries to China were effective (they wore what the Chinese wore). We need to serve non-believers by not confusing them. Yes, stick to everything that the Bible says, and be the most Biblical person you can be. No, don't add to the Bible's doctrines.
But I'm getting off topic...my point in the post is to encourage you to pick one need (it can be local, national, or global. You can't save the world, so just pick one) to put all your excess money toward. If you seriously consider buying something you don't really need and you won't really use to God's glory and to your edification, put the money toward your cause instead. Keep track of how much you're giving and how much of an impact you're making, and it'll be encouraging.
Please note, if you know me in person, I'm not going to judge you if you go to a concert, carry around an iPod Touch, etc. Those things aren't necessarily bad! "Needs" and "wants" are different for every person. God may want you at that concert. God may want you to have a device with iPod Touch capabilities. It's up to you. Your life is your life, and my life is my life.
So there you have it...my little soapbox. :) Have a great week!
God bless!
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