While Jesus was in the Temple, he watched the rich people dropping their gifts in the collection box. Then a poor widow came by and dropped in two small coins.
“I tell you the truth,” Jesus said, “this poor widow has given more than all the rest of them. For they have given a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she has.” Luke 21:1-4 NLT
I have often wondered how modern "name it and claim it" preachers interpret this story...
Our modern view of Christianity is that Jesus came to give us a better life, yet here we have a very clear picture of a faithful follower of the Lord who was not enjoying the "benefits" of her faith. This presents us with an interesting dilema. Either this woman had a faith problem that had left her in poverty, or we have a poor understanding of what Christ came to the earth to do.
Some modern teachers would have to suggest that this woman had an obvious lack of faith, evidenced by the fact that she was utterly destitute. Perhaps some sin in her life, or faithlessness left her in financial bondage when Jesus Christ had come to set her free...
This explanation doesn't work, because it undermines the Lord's commendation of the woman's actions. Why would Jesus commend the faith of the faithless? He would NOT. So there must be another explanation...
Could it be that modern Christianity has distorted the Gospel to the point that we no longer understand why Christ came?
Jesus Christ did not come so that this widow could enjoy health, wealth, and a good life on earth. What He came to do for this widow was not to bless her finances. He didn't come to rescue her from financial troubles. He came because this woman - and you and I - had a sin problem. What we need is not financial blessing. What we need is salvation!
Jesus Christ came because "the wages of sin is death" and without His willingness to pay the price for our sins, we are utterly doomed.
So does this mean that Christ wasn't concerned with the widow's financial situation? Not at all.
We don't know what happened to the widow after she had given her last pennies in offering to the Lord. Did she starve to death because she had no money left to buy food? Did she lose her home because she had no means to pay her bills? Did Jesus miraculously provide for her, blessing her beyond measure? Or just maybe, did one of Jesus listeners that day hear the truth of the woman's plight and recognize an opportunity to live out the faith about which Christ was teaching?
...Just a thought.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Friday, August 14, 2009
The Illusion of Luxury
Afterward you may go and celebrate because of all the good things the Lord your God has given to you and your household. Deuteronomy 26:11a
Our family is going on vacation in just a few days… We’re quietly excited about this fact. I have had to encourage the kids (and myself) to be discreet in our enthusiasm about the trip, because some people won’t understand.
It’s silly, I know, but it’s how it is. My family is in ministry. Most everything we do, we are able to do because God has provided through the generosity of others. And there is an unwritten law that missionaries and ministers of all kinds really should be living in poverty, denying ourselves anything that could possibly be construed to be luxury.
Not too long ago, I was reprimanded for my extravagant lifestyle – travelling around in this big fancy, expensive bus (never mind it is the 1985 model – built while I was still in high school and pretty much everything in it is original, and it is, in fact, the only home our family has). And then there are those who think we must have this wonderful, relaxing life where all we have to do is travel…
So I feel like I’m taking this big risk in even writing this, but what can I say? I’m ready to live on the edge! I’m tired… My husband is tired… My kids are tired. We’re ready to take a break! So we’re going to put all our energy into one more week of VBS this summer, then we’re going to park the bus, get on an airplane, and fly to Florida. There we will be met by another bus – this one driven by someone else – which will deliver us to Disney World where we will stay in a little motel room which will feel so spacious to us because it will have two FULL-SIZE beds and an actual bathtub! And there will even be CABLE TV!!!!
Now, I feel compelled to tell you that we are doing this trip entirely with funds that were NOT donated. We have been carefully putting away our pennies for quite some time so that we actually CAN take a real vacation – one where we might actually drink soda instead of water with our meals… Where instead of packing snacks in a backpack, then sharing a meal for two among four people, we might actually all order what we want from the menu… It’s crazy! We finished paying for the trip months ago, and have been secretly counting down the days.
They say, “Confession is good for the soul.” So here I am, trying to justify myself to you all, as if somehow this will keep me from feeling like I need to be sneaky and secretive about taking this trip with my family. Mostly, I just want my kids to be able to talk freely, share pictures (I might share a few myself!), and just enjoy their vacation – a few days to get out of the “fishbowl” and pretend to be “normal”. I don’t think it’s really too much to ask… is it?
Just a thought…
Our family is going on vacation in just a few days… We’re quietly excited about this fact. I have had to encourage the kids (and myself) to be discreet in our enthusiasm about the trip, because some people won’t understand.
It’s silly, I know, but it’s how it is. My family is in ministry. Most everything we do, we are able to do because God has provided through the generosity of others. And there is an unwritten law that missionaries and ministers of all kinds really should be living in poverty, denying ourselves anything that could possibly be construed to be luxury.
Not too long ago, I was reprimanded for my extravagant lifestyle – travelling around in this big fancy, expensive bus (never mind it is the 1985 model – built while I was still in high school and pretty much everything in it is original, and it is, in fact, the only home our family has). And then there are those who think we must have this wonderful, relaxing life where all we have to do is travel…
So I feel like I’m taking this big risk in even writing this, but what can I say? I’m ready to live on the edge! I’m tired… My husband is tired… My kids are tired. We’re ready to take a break! So we’re going to put all our energy into one more week of VBS this summer, then we’re going to park the bus, get on an airplane, and fly to Florida. There we will be met by another bus – this one driven by someone else – which will deliver us to Disney World where we will stay in a little motel room which will feel so spacious to us because it will have two FULL-SIZE beds and an actual bathtub! And there will even be CABLE TV!!!!
Now, I feel compelled to tell you that we are doing this trip entirely with funds that were NOT donated. We have been carefully putting away our pennies for quite some time so that we actually CAN take a real vacation – one where we might actually drink soda instead of water with our meals… Where instead of packing snacks in a backpack, then sharing a meal for two among four people, we might actually all order what we want from the menu… It’s crazy! We finished paying for the trip months ago, and have been secretly counting down the days.
They say, “Confession is good for the soul.” So here I am, trying to justify myself to you all, as if somehow this will keep me from feeling like I need to be sneaky and secretive about taking this trip with my family. Mostly, I just want my kids to be able to talk freely, share pictures (I might share a few myself!), and just enjoy their vacation – a few days to get out of the “fishbowl” and pretend to be “normal”. I don’t think it’s really too much to ask… is it?
Just a thought…
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Hallelujah!
One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him. When Jesus saw what was happening, he was angry with his disciples. He said to them, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. Mark 10:13-14
A few weeks ago at kids camp, the band had just finished playing, the final song having a "Hallelujah" in it. Seizing the moment, the chapel speaker for the week began to ask the children about the song.
"Does anybody know what 'hallelujah' means?" the speaker asked.
Without hesitation one little girl piped up and said, "Yay!"
The speaker took this answer as a good beginning and began to explain the component of the word 'hallelujah' that indicated the name of God, at which point the children concluded that 'hallelujah' means, "Yay, God!"
I don't know if that definition would really satisfy the seminary professors, but I was touched by the truth and simplicity of the children's understanding. We adults really have a knack for complicating things, don't we?
The next day I was back in chapel, scoping things out in what I like to call my "mean mom" mode - giving kids "the eye" for distracting the others around them. A pair of boys caught my eye sitting by themselves while the others were down in front singing and dancing. These two boys were deeply involved in something that was definitely not the song being sung up front. They were laughing and poking each other, so I wandered over to check things out. What I found brought a smile to my face, and fresh hope to my heart. One of the boys had his Bible open, and he was pointing things out to the other boy. It was one of those kids' Bibles with nice color pictures interspersed through the pages. Probably they were laughing at a picture that they thought was silly, but that didn't really matter. One would turn the page and point out something else, and they would both laugh. Then the other would grab the Bible and flip some pages, and find something to show the first boy. These boys may have had no idea what song the others were singing. I'm sure they had little understanding of the significance of the words they were reading or the pictures they were laughing at. But whatever their motivation, these boys had an enjoyable encounter with God's Word that evening. And if all they got from it is that there's some funny stuff in the Bible, it's a start. Maybe it will be enough to bring them back looking for more...
And I began to wonder, do I still have any "shock and awe" as I read the Bible? Or, have I gotten so 'mature' that I cannot appreciate the awesomeness of my God and His Word like these little children were doing?
So I just want to take a minute and say, "Yay God!"
...Just a thought...
A few weeks ago at kids camp, the band had just finished playing, the final song having a "Hallelujah" in it. Seizing the moment, the chapel speaker for the week began to ask the children about the song.
"Does anybody know what 'hallelujah' means?" the speaker asked.
Without hesitation one little girl piped up and said, "Yay!"
The speaker took this answer as a good beginning and began to explain the component of the word 'hallelujah' that indicated the name of God, at which point the children concluded that 'hallelujah' means, "Yay, God!"
I don't know if that definition would really satisfy the seminary professors, but I was touched by the truth and simplicity of the children's understanding. We adults really have a knack for complicating things, don't we?
The next day I was back in chapel, scoping things out in what I like to call my "mean mom" mode - giving kids "the eye" for distracting the others around them. A pair of boys caught my eye sitting by themselves while the others were down in front singing and dancing. These two boys were deeply involved in something that was definitely not the song being sung up front. They were laughing and poking each other, so I wandered over to check things out. What I found brought a smile to my face, and fresh hope to my heart. One of the boys had his Bible open, and he was pointing things out to the other boy. It was one of those kids' Bibles with nice color pictures interspersed through the pages. Probably they were laughing at a picture that they thought was silly, but that didn't really matter. One would turn the page and point out something else, and they would both laugh. Then the other would grab the Bible and flip some pages, and find something to show the first boy. These boys may have had no idea what song the others were singing. I'm sure they had little understanding of the significance of the words they were reading or the pictures they were laughing at. But whatever their motivation, these boys had an enjoyable encounter with God's Word that evening. And if all they got from it is that there's some funny stuff in the Bible, it's a start. Maybe it will be enough to bring them back looking for more...
And I began to wonder, do I still have any "shock and awe" as I read the Bible? Or, have I gotten so 'mature' that I cannot appreciate the awesomeness of my God and His Word like these little children were doing?
So I just want to take a minute and say, "Yay God!"
...Just a thought...
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