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Today more than a billion people in the world live and die in desperate poverty. They attempt to survive on less than a dollar per day. Close to two billion others live on less than two dollars per day. That's nearly half the world struggling today to find food, water, and shelter with he same amount of money I spend on french fries for lunch." -David Platt
Questions For Reflection:
Platt begins by talking about "blind spots". Has this study revealed any "blind spots" in your life?
Isn't the hidden assumption among many Christians in our culture that if we follow God, things will go well for us materially?
What is your perspective on this?
What are your thoughts on Platt's comparison of sexual immorality and neglect of the poor (pg. 110-111)?
Platt, David. (2010). Radical. Colorado Springs, CO: Multnomah Books
This study has revealed many blind spots in my life. Too many… in fact. : ) I do not remember ever feeling that if I was a Christian than things would go great for me. Being brought up in a Christian family has taught me otherwise. I have found that the opposite is true. Life is harder for me when I choose to live right. Materially speaking is a bit harder for me to pin down. I never really thought much about it. I never associated it with Christianity but with hard work and being blessed with being brought up in a financially stable family (due to saving and hard work).
ReplyDeleteI think Platt’s comparison of sexual immorality and neglect of the poor is spot on. Both are acts that go against what the bible presents to us as a model for the ways we should live. I know that neglecting the poor has been a blind spot in my life. I have helped out with food drives and homeless shelters but to think about people dying of starvation is something I have really not thought much of. I have never personally seen someone who is dying of starvation and not by their own choice (anorexia). Here we are in America, surrounded by people who are dealing with obesity.
I know that when Jeff is fed, he’s a happy husband! I cannot even imagine being around a whole village of unhappy Jeff’s. The thought is a downer.. : ( I think that’s why it is such a blind spot. We do not want to ruminate on thoughts that make us feel bad. Strange for this subject to come up right before the holidays where I know everyone will gain a pound or two!
I think about this a LOT!
ReplyDeleteMY 2 biggest passions invlove money---and lots of it.
Tinsletown and Wall St. Where the rich and poor make the rich, filthy rich!
It's funny about possessions...
how many ipads are sold this year????
rediculous!
how many bmws, bentlys, rolls, mercedes....blah blah blah do i see before I'm 1/2 way to work???
but to some people that's just one of their weekday cars.
The average decamillionaire in LA doesn't mind dropping 80 grand on their bling bling....
but what's worse is when the guy/gal who makes 50k a year is driving one to keep up with decamillionaires....
you can't do that. But that's what we all want.
I know if I could afford it that temptation would be there...
good thing bling bling isn't in the budget :)
I have a heart for the poor but I want to be wise.
Does my $50 really help? Surely Leo DiCaprio dropping a million dollars to Haiti is a lot more than I can ever say right?
Is it the amount or the heart? Is it a habit to give generously?
But the tough part is what is unwise giving?
To me he answered it in some way with the John Wesley remarks.
How much of a church's budget goes to crap?
Seriously-
Why do we need mega million dollar crystal cathedrals? sure they look nice, but what about the starving!
2 points I'd like to address.
1)giving it all away:
wow. that's tough. I guess only the few who do realize the power of God the way most of us never will. it's an ideal that I wish I was brave enough to do. :)
2)being wise
One of my favorite proverbs is about giving to your grand children. How great is it to not only have the means to help your children (even if they don't ever need it) but your childrens children. I like that.
so what do you do if you have decided to not give away everything. What do you do? I think fugality is key. I don't need a bmw. I want one. But if I ponder my ability to throw down 20k for leather and a little bling, how much better is it to spend 6 or 7k for a reliable used car and then give away the rest!
That is what I think he's getting at.
It's great to be wealthy! But owning 4 or five houses---the g6 (like the song) might be more of a waste on luxury than using your means to share Christs love.
It's interestint to me because I am poor. According to my income I am in the povery zone in the US---of course in Africa I'd be a king!
I'm sure they'd think I was God with a kindle or ipad playing hd movies.
But what does that mean to me? I guess that's where faith comes in. That if I give away security, I have none but God...which is all I should ever want or have.
I agree with what he says about desires to be rich. Everyone wants to be rich....but some people will not only do anything for riches, but sacrifice everything for their riches.
I think it's noble and Christ like to be debt free and be able to provide for others in need. But don't forget the dave ramseys out there to tell us how to learn to be wise with out money.
It's great to give someone money or food....but why not take to the time to equally invest in the persons life.
ReplyDeleteHow did they to where they are?
What do they need?
Remeber, the Bible is quite clear on people who don't work.
No work no food.
You can't help a lazy person by encouraging their lazyness. LEt them starve. It's harsh but I believe it. If a person is able bodied they need to be doing some sort of work, indentured servantude, something to earn their food.
That's why it's equally important to help a person out with wisdom.
Maybe a person isn't really in need of food. Maybe they need encouragement and faith in something more than themselves to empower their belief system that they can do things they couldn't imagine possible thru Christ.
I wish there was something simple in changing world hunger. I'm sure20 or 30 trillion US dollars can help, but people need God's strength to believe that something is better out there.
Clean water and edible food is just the start and I think as Christians we can say "hey, a sacrifice or a dollar or two a day isn't much---but to someone else, it's food in their hands every day"
This chapter was the most inspiring chapter that I have read thus far. This chapter one hand cuts to the core of me, and on the other hand encourages. I think we are blind in this country. I agree that we mistake God’s blessings on our country for entitlement. I think God does bless His people with material resources because He loves us. At the same time I believe he expects us to invest those resources.
ReplyDeleteA lot of times people talk about the parable of the talents and say, “See look we should be taking the money God blesses us with and making more money.” This parable may be talking about something different. I think it is not only talking about money, but time, talents, and spiritual gifts. We aren’t necessarily supposed to invest those things in the stock market but into God’s kingdom. He blesses us because He trusts us to use it to promote the Gospel and to give to others. Some people get 5 talents to start with, and some only get 1, but the response should be the same.
When God made a covenant with Abraham He said…“And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”
God was planning to bless the entire earth through Abraham. I believe this applies to Christians today. God has blessed the entire earth through Jesus Christ. We are His representatives until He returns. He will use us to bring blessings and the Gospel to the ends of the earth. Guess who gets the glory for it…God!
So the question I ask myself is, “How am I being used to bless others?” The answer is I’m not allowing myself to be used. I’m too busy trying to hoard it all for myself. In a sense we have been lied to by the pastors. They push this idea of a 10% tithe. Essentially what they have done is put a limit on what Christians will give. I have it etched in my brain that I have to be obedient and give my 10% to the local church. I give my 10%, and then I feel like I’ve done my part. Show me somewhere in the New Testament where Jesus or the disciples harped on 10%. I remember the poor widow who gave like 2 pennies, but that was 100%!
The next issue highlighted in this chapter is how our offerings are spent by the local church. How much spiritual fraud, waste, and abuse is going on in the church? Let’s see…multimillion dollar buildings, professional sound systems, coffee shops, and the list goes on and on. Even our 10% is not going to those who really need it. Instead it’s going right back to us for our enjoyment.
All in all I got positive vibes from this chapter. I feel inspired to do more. I want to care for the widow and the orphan. When asked who would be the greatest among the disciples, Jesus answered…”Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me.” I think God is calling Sarah and I to adopt not just so we can have a baby like everyone else. Not because we really want children, but because there is some kid out there that needs a family and need Jesus. He may be 6 months old or 6 years old. Most of all I hope that God and the name of Jesus would be acclaimed through it all rather than disparaged.
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ReplyDeleteI agree with everyone above - this chapter was both challenging and inspiring at the same time. He revealed very bluntly a lot of "blind spots" in American Christianity. We could be spending tons of money on church, conferences and ministry, and at the end of the day, still be spending it all on ourselves. Our flesh desires materialism, and unfortunately many churches have embraced this. Jesus was very clear all throughout about seeking him only and money being the root of all kinds of evil. So why do our churches embrace this? It's something that's given me much unrest. I know we have to change as individuals and then our churches will start to change. As Brian and Jeff pointed out, there are ways that we should be wise with our money. However, we should always remember that everything we have is God's. For example, if you "own" a house and have a mortgage... you're really just renting it from the bank. In the same way, we're really just "renting" or tenants of our possessions and God is the owner. Anything and everything we spend our money on should honor him.
ReplyDelete"Render unto Ceasar what is Ceasar's and unto God what is God's." We may have to pay 25% or 30% taxes... so what. The rest is God's anyway, not ours.
So... I think if we really thought this way, our actions would change radically as we gave to our brothers and sisters across the world. Sometimes it can seem overwhelming. There are so many starving people across the world and even people in need right here in our country that it's hard to even know where to start.
ReplyDeleteOn an encouraging note, our church has done some work with World Vision and has adopted the Chilenje valley of Malawi Africa. A few years ago they did an Aid's walk through and I adopted a little girl named Janet. I've been donating money every month, and I have to admit I barely even notice that money being gone. At Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter they do special offerings for this region. There are many others that give money and just last week a guy from Malawi came to talk to us. He said that PCNP is famous there in Malawi... we've built 3 schools, provided bibles, cows, chickens and pigs for the community and farming help. My child Janet's family does soybean farming. It's truly amazing to see Christ transform this village. Just a few years ago it was a village in Africa about to be wiped out due to AIDS. Now they have education, a self-sustaining food-supply and Jesus! I hope and pray that this ministry can continue to grow.
I think there is earnest saving out of wisdom and diligence - but there's also hoarding because of fear. I hope and pray that Christ's love will drive out our fear of financial insecurity, give us the wisdom to live in a way that honor's him and have the strength to give generously.
This is our Thanksgiving offering - mosquito nets that can save lives from diseases spread through mosquitoes
ReplyDeletehttp://pcnp.org/?page_id=25