We can definitely identify with Rowell’s description in To Give or Not To Give? that “in spite of the sacrifices apparent at home to those who watch well-intentioned friends and family members ‘forsake all’ in order to serve the gospel in foreign and faraway parts of the world, missionaries to the poor often arrive on unreached fields only to find that they are fabulously wealthy in relative terms. Surrounded by poverty in the new mission setting, the Western missionaries’ attempts to abandon worldly wealth often serve only to magnify their material abundance.”
Later in the book, he explains that “historically, material wealth has caused lost neighbors among indigenous people to manifest utter indifference to what a missionary says while attracting rapt attention to what he or she has.” I think it is for this reason that I am thankful that we are in a fairly Christian community since we came to volunteer as Christian servants rather than serve directly in cross-cultural evangelism since I was previously not aware of such facts. I like something Lesley recently said, which was something to the effect of “more often than not, when we try to share Jesus’ love verbally, we end up getting preached to!” Beyond that, our neighbors are almost always very gracious in sharing what little they have, receiving what we offer and respecting us in what we do not.
In continuing a bit more to the heart of the book, Rowell points out that “James [the book in the Bible] teaches that poor men and women who are chosen to be part of the family of god are to be prized because they are uniquely prepared to be ‘rich in faith.’” He describes, “poverty somehow creates conditions that reinforce the human compulsion and capacity to rely on God in humble ways. Prosperity, on the other hand, induces pride, self-reliance, and disregard both for God and for the poor. The corrupting influence of riches is a danger the Scriptures repeatedly warn us about—one so great that wealth alone can make it hard for rich people even to enter heaven.”
The pastor from Elmbrook Church referred to this very fact in part of his sermon as he talked briefly about the “Rich Young Ruler,” found in Mark 10. In this story, the man asks, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” Eventually, Jesus tells him, “Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” Mark 10:22 states, “At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.” The pastor described that the young man basically debated “’Jesus, or riches? Jesus, or riches? Which is going to be the focus of my life?’ …and the man turned away and walked away from Jesus.”
In my opinion, Jesus is a bit extreme in that story, as he makes a point about the dangerous lure of riches. He directs the disciples to notice how difficult it is for the wealthy to get into heaven. Meanwhile, central to Jesus’ directions to the rich man (literally the center of the statement) is “give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.” I think this is more practical, because we sold a lot of our possessions before coming to Kenya, and yet it was not “everything you have.” If we would have been required to do that, I know my face would have fallen, and I would have been sad just as the man in the story was. I would have had to debate, “Jesus, or some of my cherished belongings.” Of course, I like to think I could still follow Jesus in that situation, but I am glad His call is not that extreme, and I take heart in recently discovering Proverbs 22:9: “A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor.”
As we have shared at other points in this blog and in monthly updates, we have felt blessed at many points this year as we try to live sacrificially to serve in the community. I feel even more blessed though, for the opportunity to witness, meet, and get to know people here that truly do seem richer in their faith as a result of their circumstances.
No comments:
Post a Comment