Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Wealthy and Unaware

Then Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." 

– Jesus (Matthew 19:23-24)

DSCF1146 During the last 20 years of ministry I have often struggled with both the American church and my own heart. What is it that makes it so difficult for us to surrender everything we have in order to follow Jesus? What is it that makes it so difficult for us to step out in faith, trust God, and touch a dying world? I think I have finally found the answer.

During our international travels we have frequently laughed at the perceptions of the locals we encounter. In many parts of the world they assume that if you are an American you are wealthy. Wanda and I have often looked at each other and laughed over this perception because we know our economic situation. A ministry salary + 10 kids = (Well, you do the math). Then we shake our heads, explain that we don’t have the money to purchase the goods they are selling, and walk away.

If I were to take a poll of the typical church-goer I am sure that very few would see themselves as wealthy. Most would label themselves as low, low-middle, or middle income because they judge themselves by what they see on a daily basis. They own a home, but it is not as big as they would like. They own a car, but it is not as new as they would like. They live on a tight budget and not nearly as lavishly as others they live near or with whom they work or go to school. Of course they (and I) are not rich. At least we assume that we are not.

However, when you stop and analyze our standards of living, we are. In fact, even if you take a low income family existing solely on public assistance their income and standard of living far exceeds the typical citizen of our world. In fact, it would place them in the upper 15% of our planet. So where does that place the rest of us?

I would venture that each of us awoke this morning and placed our feet on a floor, not dirt. And not only was it a floor, but it had a covering such as carpet, tile, or hardwood. We walked across that floor to a bathroom which had indoor plumbing carrying water that was safe to drink. We used a toilet that offered sanitary disposal of our waste with minimal effort. We put on clean clothes (unless you are a college student who has waited too long to do your laundry). And we ate at least a couple of meals today. If we had woken up sick this morning, we would have had access to a doctor, treatment, and medicine, even if we were uninsured. And as you read these words you are doing so through a computer through which you have access to information and knowledge for which much of the world is starving.

household-possessionsBut in addition to all that, we have STUFF! We have our televisions, computer, games, vehicles, clothing, toys, books, MP3 players, etc. that fill up our homes and storage. In fact, we regularly accumulate so much STUFF that we have to rent storage space to place it in or host yard sales to get rid of our STUFF to make room for more STUFF!

And yet, we stand in the midst of our houses or apartments surrounded by all of our STUFF and fail to realize that we are wealthy. And all of that STUFF is what makes it so hard to follow Jesus with abandon. We convince ourselves that we are not rich, that we need all of this STUFF, and Jesus would never ask us to give it all up. And because we are unwilling to give it all up, we seldom give any of it up.

In Revelation 3:17-18 Jesus gives the following message to the church in Laodicea:

You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.

At first glance, it is tempting to see the Laodiceans as different from the church of the US in 2009. They seemed to think they were rich and have everything they needed while we seem to be unaware of our own wealth. But we are actually their twins. Like them, we think that we have everything we need in the STUFF that surrounds us. But, in reality, the church is “wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.” And God begs us to exchange our STUFF for real wealth.

And therein lies the difficulty. We have to let go of the STUFF in order to gain the life and the wealth to which God call all believers. And the more we have, the harder it is to let go and follow. And, because the typical American believer clings so tightly to these possessions, we are ineffective at touching the needs of the world around us. Instead of reflecting the priorities of Jesus, we mirror the culture around us.

Meanwhile, people are waiting to catch a glimpse of the real Jesus in us. And while they wait, they are dying.

I don’t know about you, but I am tired of STUFF.