From: christlife+noreply@googlegroups.com
Date: Sat, 12 Jun 2010 19:55:15 +0000
Subject: [ChristLife] Digest for christlife@googlegroups.com - 1
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- To the rich! [1 Update]
http://groups.google.com/group/christlife/t/4a5ec5de4ed2aa85
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Topic: To the rich!
Url: http://groups.google.com/group/christlife/t/4a5ec5de4ed2aa85
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From: Jacob <jninan@gmail.com>
Date: Jun 11 07:50PM -0700
Url: http://groups.google.com/group/christlife/msg/2d19c31a98d09328
Let us define the rich as those who have more than they need, and the
poor as those who lack what they need. This places all who are reading
this in the category of the rich. Then let us see what God would have
us to do.
God recognises that there would always be poor and needy people in
this world (Mt.26:11). So He tells us to do something about it. He
tells the rich essentially not to place our trust in our wealth but in
God, and to be generous towards the poor (1Ti.6:17-19). The principle
behind sharing is that those who have can supply the needs of those
who don't have, working towards equality (2Co.8:13,14).
But we know that this is easy to state, but there are philosophical
and practical dilemmas in carrying it out. We recognise immediately
that none of us can remove all the needs in this world, and we may
even give up trying. This is when a story can help.
One man went to the beach one morning and found thousands of starfish
that had been washed ashore at night. They would all die on the beach.
He thought about his helplessness and went on to muse about all the
problems of the world. Then he saw a boy picking up the fish one by
one and throwing them into the sea. He asked, "What difference will it
make, you silly boy?" The boy threw another starfish and said, "It
made a difference to that one, didn't it?"
We think of the big problems of the world that we can't handle, and
don't even do the small things we can. We hide behind excuses and and
entirely shirk the responsibility God places on us. Thus we fail to be
the light and salt of this world God wants us to be, and we fail to
draw attention to God and what He has done in us (Mt.5:16).
God may ask just a few to 'sell all that they have and give to the
poor' (Mt.19:21). Disciples who recognise that all that they have
belongs to the Lord will be willing to do this. But God asks everyone
to be compassionate towards the needy and to give cheerfully from what
they have (2Co.9:7). Each of us needs to decide how much we want to
give (2Co.8:1,2) and who to give to, keeping in mind that we would
also receive blessings proportionately (2Co.9:6).
If we aren't able to give directly to those in need, we can identify
reliable agencies that are helping out in areas we are concerned
about. I would also like to make a practical suggestion to think about
and follow. Even those who hesitate to make big sacrifices in giving
can find ways of doing what they can! For example, suppose we are
planning to spend X for something we need, and instead we manage to
find a cheaper option and spend only Y which will still meet our need.
We can set aside X-Y for the needy. If we think of the many needs in
the world, we may even decide not to spend for certain things as we
would have, and then keep away X itself for the needy. What we need is
just a sense of responsibility.
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