― C.S. Lewis
You know those days when you have worked very hard and your brain hurts? You finish dinner, your belly is full, you slip into your jammie pants and climb into your Lazy Boy to watch some mindless program on TV. Ah, The Amazing Race. You get to sit comfortably and watch the contestants scramble and strain for awhile. God is good, isn't He? You decide all the worries can wait until tomorrow, because you have worked hard and you deserve this rest and relaxation.
You watch one kid struggle with homework, your spouse tinker with their hobby and the family pet sits at your feet. Do we pay enough attention to these times? Or do we pay too much attention to these times? While you're sitting there relaxing and thanking God for all you have, remember a church bus blew up in Iraq today. A Vietnamese pastor was beaten for spreading the word of Jesus Christ to small villages in that country. Children are being sold this very minute to have sex with grown men. Black members were denied a wedding at their church because white members "pitched a fit". Mother of 7 suffers complications after forced sterilization in China.
So, you say to yourself, "I deserve this rest." Didn't you sit in that same Lazy Boy last night and eat chips? Here's the deal.
Matthew 19:23-25 New International Version (NIV)
23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”
You say, "I'm not rich. I barely made my car payment this month. We have had to cut back on dining out. My child had to change schools to save money. We live paycheck to paycheck." There are 6.7 billion people on the planet today and the average income is $7000.00 Think about this. If you have access to a computer to read this, you probably make well over $7000.00 annually. You just may be that rich man the Lord was talking about. It makes sense, doesn't it? As you sit in your Lazy Boy night after night while people scrounge for meals and risk their lives for God.
What can I do? There is plenty you can do. First pray about it. God will lead you. This is what He wants.
17 “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.”
18 “Which ones?” he inquired.
Jesus replied, “‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, 19 honor your father and mother,’[a] and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’[b]”
20 “All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?”
21 Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
22 When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.
23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”
25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?”
26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
27 Peter answered him, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?”
28 Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife[c] or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.
Here are a few organizations that do great things. Look them up and read about them
Hope4Justice
Your local church has programs for people in need. Feed the poor and the widows. Do a favor for a single parent. God can take what you have with a snap of His finger. It doesn't belong to you anyway, it belongs to Him. As a bonus, you will feel better about yourself. Your faith will grow and so will your love for God. We're a family. Would you let your own family suffer?
“Be the change that you wish to see in the world.”
― Mahatma Gandhi
You say, "I'm not rich. I barely made my car payment this month. We have had to cut back on dining out. My child had to change schools to save money. We live paycheck to paycheck." There are 6.7 billion people on the planet today and the average income is $7000.00 Think about this. If you have access to a computer to read this, you probably make well over $7000.00 annually. You just may be that rich man the Lord was talking about. It makes sense, doesn't it? As you sit in your Lazy Boy night after night while people scrounge for meals and risk their lives for God.
What can I do? There is plenty you can do. First pray about it. God will lead you. This is what He wants.
Matthew 19:16-30 New International Version (NIV)
The Rich and the Kingdom of God
16 Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life ?”17 “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.”
18 “Which ones?” he inquired.
Jesus replied, “‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, 19 honor your father and mother,’[a] and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’[b]”
20 “All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?”
21 Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
22 When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.
23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”
25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?”
26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
27 Peter answered him, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?”
28 Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife[c] or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.
Here are a few organizations that do great things. Look them up and read about them
International Justice Mission
The Voice of the Martyrs - USAHope4Justice
Your local church has programs for people in need. Feed the poor and the widows. Do a favor for a single parent. God can take what you have with a snap of His finger. It doesn't belong to you anyway, it belongs to Him. As a bonus, you will feel better about yourself. Your faith will grow and so will your love for God. We're a family. Would you let your own family suffer?
“Be the change that you wish to see in the world.”
― Mahatma Gandhi
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