The hidden obvious struggle

Ever been in one of those services where the message is just hitting you between the eyes? Last week my friend who is also a missionary was sharing a message that was doing that to me.

I believe God has given us stuff to enjoy, but sometimes I think that stuff becomes like a virus that takes over. Materialism is one of those sins we just kind of overlook (along with gluttony but let’s overlook that one…moving on). I have often heard it is not how much we posses but what posses us that matters…it is a great line and very true (Materialism penetrates all economic levels). It still seems hard to overlook that we have an insatiable desire for wealth and stuff.

PBS did a show called Affluenza.
-They said that the average American shops six hours a week
-by age 20 we have seen one million commercials
-recently more Americans declared bankruptcy then graduate
-90% of divorces, arguments about money play a primary role. (Treasure Principle-p. 52 Randy Alcott)

We are strapped in debt and it is no wonder our priorities seem to slowly suck the passion for God out of us. So when he shared the story of a youth service in Sudan where they were challenging the group in missions. They were casting the vision of raising money to send a team to share the Gospel to a Muslim village. He told of how little money they had over there and yet the challenge to give went out and one of the leaders came to the front took off his shoes and said “these have to be worth at least $8 if sold.” Then others came forward offering belts, shirts, jackets, going home selling furniture, etc. They indeed gave enough to send a team. That is passion for the kingdom of God… that’s generosity!

I was reading in the book of Acts 19:18-20 where the awe of God began to move on the people and it says “And many who had believed came confessing and telling their deeds. 19 Also, many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted up the value of them, and it totaled fifty thousand pieces of silver. 20 So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed.

One studied that and found that it was equivalent to perhaps six million dollars in today’s economy. The depth of transformation in the lives of the early Christians was most evident in the level of surrender of money and possessions.

Lord help us to do the same…