Archive for the ‘stuff’ tag
Much
Donna, Megan, and I are in one of those family adjustment periods. It’s not a bad thing, but it sure is a something — I’m not sure exactly what to call it. Megan has done the go off to college and live on her own and get her own stuff and have her own furniture thing. She’s been at it for 4 1/2 years. So she has a lot of stuff she has accumulated. Now she has moved home to save money and get ready to go to physical therapy school in the fall.
We are genuinely excited about her being back and also excited for her plans for the future. The problem is, however, pretty simple. She has a lot more stuff than when she left for college and we have moved into a house that is smaller than the house we were in when she left. We’ve got way more stuff than we have places to put it and time to use it! Megan has been working furiously to go through her stuff and decide what she needs to give away, what she needs to give to Goodwill, and what she needs to keep for the future.
As I was reading back through Luke 13 — my daily Bible reading for today — and discussing it with Donna, one verse really caught my heart. Part of the reason is because this verse is addressed to folks who are leaders among Jesus’ people. So that means I have to pay close attention to it. However, this passage caught my attention for another reason: my upcoming trip to Uganda with Compassion International. Listen to what Jesus said:
//Inspiration: Luke 13:48
From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one entrusted with much, much more will be asked.
//Incarnation:
In a few short weeks, I will be around people who will never have as much “stuff” as my daughter will give away or give to those in need as she moves back home. The luxuries I take for granted contrast sharply with the basic necessities that most of the children I visit will never have. Having visited with people in this kind of poverty before, I am directly confronted with one overwhelming and convicting question: WHY? Why have I been given so much when so many in my world have so little.
Jesus reminds me that there is a simple answer to that question: I have been given what I have by God to bless others in His name. He will expect me to be a blessing to others with the “stuff” He has entrusted to me. In fact, the Father requires this of me! I have not been blessed because I’m better or smarter, but because He believes I will be a conduit of His blessings. And, God is deadly serious about me using these blessings properly.
I don’t believe God wants us to feel guilty about the blessings we have; instead, He wants to feel honored. Honored that we are entrusted with things that He has given to us to carry on His work in the world.
We are honored to have so much and we honored to be able to share some of what we have with children in poverty because we believe that is what Jesus expects us to do with our blessings. We sponsor two children each month through Compassion, won’t you sponsor one, too?
//Invitation:
O Father, thank you for the opportunity to share your blessings with others. Please use this upcoming trip to Uganda to help others see that in the name of Jesus, they have a great opportunity to bless children in poverty. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.