I think Americans have it all wrong. For the most part, American culture is all about keeping up with everyone around you. With clothing, shoes, jewelry, houses, cars, looks . . .the list goes on. Can we really never be satisfied? Is it really necessary to spend $85 on face cream? Why do we do it? Because it makes us feel better, I guess.
We have 2 kids and we have to have a 4 bedroom house (or bigger). I mean, where will the guests sleep when they come? We have to drive a big car. Goodness, what if we ever need to haul something, we have to have a spare truck for that, right?
I often hear people say that they can’t sponsor a child, adopt a child, or take in a foster child because they can’t afford it. But yet, we seem to be able to afford to eat out 3 times a week, to get Starbucks every day, to upgrade our car when we don’t really need it. Those $90 pair of shoes, no problem.
Americans are among the richest people on earth but if we look at the statistics of suicides and those of us that are on antidepressants, it seems we are the unhappiest.
I have met the happiest people on earth and they are among the poorest. I have never been with people who are so happy with so little. People that get excited over the smallest things: things like sewing kits, bubbles, fruit snacks, travel sized soaps and shampoos, socks, and underwear. And people that not only get excited about it but instantly turn around and offer some of the fruit snacks to the person that gave it to them.
I have been in a one-room dirt hut with an HIV-positive mother and her two children, one of which is also HIV-positive, and have her offer me the last of the food in the house. I have been with children who have gotten excited and praised God when someone gives them a jump rope or a pair of shoes. It’s not that they get excited because of the jump rope or the shoes but they are more excited because God answered their prayers. You see, one little girl really wanted a jump rope and she prayed for one and the next day she received one. Another little boy broke his shoes at school and his mother fussed at him because she couldn’t replace them. He told her not to worry because he prayed that God would provide, and he did the very same day.
The Bible warns about becoming rich. Being rich isn’t a sin but God knew that the richer people get, the more likely they are to rely on Him less. I am not saying that there has never been a rich Christian that truly relies on Christ for everything, but I am saying that it is rare and it is really hard.
Why do I think it’s hard? Because we have safety nets. We have doctors, lawyers, 401k, government assistance programs, college degrees, cars, etc. . .
Think about it. If you were a tight-rope walker and you knew there was no safety net beneath you, don’t you think you would pay just a little closer attention to what you are doing? But if you know the net is below you, you can relax a little.
I think it is similar with faith. When we get a horrible diagnosis from the doctor we tend to start weighing our options about treatments before we turn to prayer. Why is it that after treatments don’t work and we are getting sicker and sicker do we then throw ourselves at the feet of God and beg for His mercy?
Most of the families that I have the privilege of spending time with don’t have adequate amounts of food to eat but they always are willing to share it with you. In fact, it’s more than willing. They force it on you! But why do they do this? Because they believe that they are to share what God has blessed them with.
But shouldn’t I refuse to eat the last of their food, I mean, doesn’t the Bible say that we should help the least of these? It shouldn’t be the other way around. But what if we are the least of these? What if, because of our privilege and wealth, we actually are the least of these? The least of the faithful?
Prayer is so huge here. I have never, ever seen people pray like I have seen Ethiopian Christians pray. I don’t mean short, scripted, routine prayers. I mean, full out camp meeting type prayers. And not just once a year at camp meeting but 2-3 times a week. For example, Mussie’s mom came to our house recently and spent two entire days in prayer. She locked herself in a room and only came out once a day to eat with us. You may be asking, what happened recently that she felt the need to have a two day prayer session? Nothing. This is her normal.
Revelations 3:17 says, “because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’ - and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked”. In this passage, John is talking to the Church of Laodicea. He was warning them of how they had become luke-warm in their faith. God despises luke warm Christians so much that He wants to vomit them from his mouth. This verse is telling us that when we have all of our needs provided for them we feel as if we don’t need anything. But the truth is, we are in need of Christ. I don’t think a lot of us walk around with the mindset, “well, all of my material needs are met so I don’t need Jesus” but we live this out by our actions. We do everything we can to “improve” our standard living here on Earth but do we do everything we can to improve the health of our Christian life?
I know I don’t.
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