This morning’s sermon at my church fit well with my reading this week. Poverty isn’t just an epidemic, it’s people who have names. Find out what it is. Really. Ask, “What’s your name?” If a two-year-old can do that…

This week has been both challenging and encouraging.

The predominant question I’ve been asking myself has been- Am I using ALL that God has given me to build His kingdom, OR am I building my own kingdom?

In many ways, I believe I am succeeding in contributing to the building of God’s kingdom. Yeah! But what this study has been doing is showing me the ways that I am not. It has uncovered feeling and thoughts, that have been hiding deep in my heart, that fuel the building of my own kingdom. The uprooting of these are what God has in mind for me. Then, I pray, compassion, mercy, kindness, and love for ALL of His precious people-rich and poor-will take root in their stead. And Christ will be even more clearly seen in me.

When I pray “lead me not into temptation” that may translate to me praying “Lord, please keep me in humble financial circumstances lest I wander from the faith and “pierce myself with many griefs.”
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Walking as Christ walked does make your life rich, by making you content with what you have (I Timothy 6:6).
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The story of Harriet shows how deeply poverty can effect people, especially children. The next time you see a child, any child, encourage him through a smile, tell her that she’s good at this or that, ask him what he wants to be when he grows up and affirm that she can do that.

“If you see a brother in need and don’t have pity on them, how can the love of God be in you?”

The early church got this. There seemed to be an equal distribution of wealth. Not too rich, not too poor.
Tough in our day, in our country where everyone looks out for their own interests first. Building their own little kingdoms. But it’s clear that building the kingdom of God happened in the early church as the believers gave to everyone as they had need. They looked out for one another above themselves.

Praise the Lord I have a good understanding of what I have that I can contribute to the building of the kingdom. Not money necessarily, although that’s part of it. But gifts given by the Father to minister to the needs of others. And whenever I give of these gifts…you know who’s blessed? Me I think that’s how it was designed. We were given gifts-to give them away.

“We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.” Romans 12:6-8

Here’s something that’s upside down. A church going through severe trial and extreme poverty that is overflowing with joy and marked by their rich generosity (II Corinthians 8:2). I can slightly relate to trial and poverty and I confess that I’ve chosen self-reliance and self-pity in the face of these two realities. However, I can also proclaim that trial and poverty have, at times, by God’s grace alone, resulted in joy and generosity. And it’s sweet.

II Corinthians 8 has introduced a new angle to this “enough” motif that’s been rolling around in my head. Equality. Along with the challenge of figuring out–and living out–what enough is for me and my family is the question of what is enough for others. Could it be true that everything we needed to know about poverty we learned in pre-school? Share.

I’m putting some of this stuff into action.

The author writes about a conversation she had with a man dedicated to serving the poor. He shared that “(Serving the poor) helps me see Jesus because I’m doing what he would be doing if he were there.”

I’m grateful that I can even begin to relate to this.

I’ve turned my head the other way so many times when someone on the streets has asked me for change. Truth: sometimes I don’t have a cent and they don’t take debit (or maybe they would!), sometimes I have my arms full of 4 kids and their stuff. But more often than not, I just keep on walking because I don’t want to take the time to dig in my purse and grab the pennies I have. Plus, I think it’s not significant enough a gift to really make a difference. And perhaps I feel a bit scared that I might actually end up having to talk with them! What’s wrong with this picture?? A whole lot! Sheesh. Being honest with myself is lame.

Today I read this:
“What Christ gave was attention, dignity, love and respect to people as individual images of God. When I treat people like that, I’m giving them the greatest gift I have to give.”

OUCH! Not only do I need to grow in taking the time to give whatever I have, but far more I need to grow in how I see humanity. I am laid flat by my own pride and lack of compassion specifically for those the world would call “unlovable”. And Jesus’ words come piercing through like a knife, “If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?

Lord have mercy on me, a sinner.

It’s true that it’s a celebration to give. I want to celebrate more. It’s also important to remember that it’s a celebration for someone who has given to you.

A friend who is in real estate and I were talking about another friend who was getting into real estate. The latter mentioned that he only needed to average one sale a month to provide for his family. The former reponded by explaining that “that kind of thinking is one of the reasons people don’t make it in the business.” I understand what he meant but it also devalued just having enough.