Your comments from yesterday are blowing me away …
For those of you just joining us today, yesterday I wrote 7 Quick Ways to Know if You’re Rich because I often have to combat a faux ‘poverty mindset’ which leads me to feeling stingy, anxious, and unjoyful. And I invited others to add to my list. You should go read them … really. It will make you feel extremely wealthy.
I was thinking about your comments when I went to the grocery store yesterday. As I was waiting in line, I looked around at all the super wealthy people. Checking phone messages, drinking coffee and reading the paper with dogs in tow, pushing baskets loaded up with food, etc.
Then I walked to the parking lot and saw the sea of cars. Got in mine, music playing, air-conditioning humming and I thought …
If I believe in God’s sovereignty and favor and all that razzamatazz, then I am rich for a reason.
I didn’t pick the nation of my birth, didn’t work the system to have parents that loved me, cared for me and paid for my education. I certainly haven’t done anything extraordinary to be the recipient of all this blessing. And yet … I am. And so I wondered:
What is the right response because of all this blessing? What kind of attitudes and actions should we have toward God and others as ‘rich Christians’?
Comment and let me know what you think ~ and you’re entered to win in today’s giveaway which is a copy of Will’s book Enough and a $5 Starbucks card.
1) Only one entry per giveaway item. 2) You are eligible to win only one item a week. 3) Entries on this item open until 5 pm (CST) on Friday 10/26/12. 4) Winners must live in the contiguous United States. This week’s winners will be announced this Saturday (10/27) on my blog. Please check your email promptly if you’re announced as a winner.
7 Quick Ways to Know if You’re Rich …
Have you ever wanted to be rich for a day?
… your man, your marriage and sex from a Christian perspective
31 days of enough
This question makes me think of a quote in Kelly Minter’s “Nehemiah” bible study. When she asked the Lord why SHE hadn’t been born in the middle of horrendous oppression and suffering, God’s response to her was this, “It is not for you to know why, but because you weren’t, over your whole life you have a responsibility to care for the poor.”
NOTHING we have is our own – it all belongs to God. I think if we (meaning, me) continually remind ourselves of that, our hearts will be much more ready to share and give and support others. This “wealth” we have isn’t for our own benefit – as the Lord told Kelly, our responsibility is use it to care for those in need.
I feel like we are definitely “rich” for a reason. But also perhaps we (as a nation) are rich for a season. We have been blessed in order to be a blessing to others. And I need to jump at the opportunity to give — to those in need — generously, hilariously– even and especially even in my time of need. There is always a way to give to others.
Susie, I am loving this series of posts. I won the yummmmmmmmy candle earlier and don’t want to be entered to win again. Spread the wealth :) Just wanted to comment.
Thank you. Thank you.
I think God has blessed us so much to enable to be generous to others that are not as fortunate as we are. Just because we have it doesn’t always mean that we need to “spend” it on ourselves.
Use what we have to give to others and to further God’s Kingdom. We can all do more.
We should be thankful and not look down on others who have less. We should help others. monk5 at charter dot net
We should use our blessings to bless others. If we keep our eyes open He will show us who is in need. It can be things as small as sending a card to someone to blessing someone with money.
When my husband was in seminary a couple felt lead to give us $3000 to use as we needed. It was so helpful and we truly needed it. I want to be that kind of blessing to others. See a need and find a way that I can help meet it.
Thank you for these thought provoking posts.
Tasha
sometimes i worry my husband and i will get so rich we won’t need God. or at least we’ll think that way. when he’s got a big deal in the works i pray “not if it means losing YOU” i pray that with tears in my eyes because i know what it is like to be in want. maybe not from a 3rd world standard, but i’ve been the girl at the concession counter without enough money for a snack like all the other kids. i’ve been the only girl on the basketball team with walmart sneakers while everyone else had the newest air jordans. it hurts. i don’t want to go back there again, but I’ve tried to live life without God. make my own choices, do my own thing and i’m even more fearful of going back THERE again.
“To whom much is given, much is expected.” This is my husband’s favorite saying and he continually blows me away as he looks for ways to bless others and use what he has been given to do work for the kingdom. We, and I mean me as well, need to loosen our grip and let our Father use as He sees best. It comes from a mindset of nothing really belongs to us.
Your question… “What is the right response because of all this blessing? What kind of attitudes and actions should we have toward God and others as ‘rich Christians’?”
First, I’m not entering myself into this giveaway because I’ve already been blessed by winning another giveaway previous to this one. I would prefer that another commenter win. :)
That said, I love your perspective on this. Often times, I have thought about how blessed I have been in my life to have been born in this country to wonderful, loving parents who taught me values and how to work hard for a living. I think about my grandmother who was raised in Estonia as a girl and had to flee and all she knew behind when the war began. She lost her parents, siblings, and husband in the war and lived a hard life as a single parent for a time in an occupied country. I was blessed to hear her stories of living in a war-torn country before she passed away last year. To this day, her stories resonate with me and make me appreciate all the “pretties” I have now, and also help me to pass along those lessons to my children and teach them to appreciate all that they have been blessed with.
Thanks again for making us reflect on what should be enough in our lives. :) H.
Your sweet grandmother … gracious.
What a treasure she is to you and your family.
Hmm, good question. I have the basics that I need to live comfortably, I don’t have much, but I have enough. (Though given the choice, I would love to live in luxury!) I believe in paying it forward, doing good and helping others out. I know there are many like me and then unfortunately there are plenty who aren’t. Its not my place to tell someone what to do or how to spend their time/money/resources, but the world would be a better place if we all listened and took positive action.
As I grow older, it is simply amazing how my perspective towards life changes…
I just read The Time Keeper by Mitch Albom and it definitely rang true with
me that we need to live our days mindfully and God is the one who has
our best interests at heart! I have suffered from depression/anxiety from
a young age and even these conditions are less demanding on my life.
Many thanks, Cindi
Haven’t read that one yet … sounds interesting.
Thanks, Cindi!
I struggle with this thought too…. and I realize God has not blessed me for only my own comfort.
A few years ago we were faced with the option of paying $30,000 plus to adopt a newborn child. We decided not to do so because I felt God saying this money is better spent helping others.
A few months ago, instead of spending $700 to buy a home computer, we gave that money to church (and can use computer at work.)
I have 4 Compassion International children and also give money to special projects at church (buying Christmas chickens for an orphanage in Mexico, a program in my own community that feeds hungry kids).
Im not bragging. I have so much and this is so little!! I feel it is not enough.
Still. I always feel it is just not enough.
I think we should treat our neighbor as ourselves…. dont wait to be asked, if you see an opportunity, take it (Im thinking maybe actually walking your buggy over to the designated area instead of leaving it in the parking lot to hit other cars or take up spaces)…. people are hurting, take the time to give whatever you can
Yes. And such a great practical idea ~ those grocery carts.