what is your life worth to you?

 


“I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior.” 1 Timothy 2:1-3

When I read this, I was reminded of a news article that was just published in today's St Paul Pioneer Press, how the gap between the richest 1% and the poorest levels are increasing. The have's and the have nots. When I was in high school, we were taught that this gap cannot survive for very long. Look at what happened during the French Revolution...or even the American Revolution, when dictators attached themselves to whatever they could, leaving the people at the mercy of fate...often going hungry.

I know of someone who has a lot of money, a successful business, wears expensive jewelry and drives a huge vehicle. yet when his sister was in need of financial help, his disdain was evident. "If I help her now, she'll come to expect it all the time!" he sneered. Yet he flaunts the fact that he is so Christian..."look at this!" he exclaimed, opening his checkbook. "Look at how much I have given to my church..." thousands of dollars. I thought about that disparity...so now both he and his pastor can drive around and look good...but what about his sister, the lowest among him?  What does the Bible say about this? Let's see:

Matthew 19:24 ESV 

Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”

1 John 3:17-18 ESV 

But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.

Luke 12:33-34 ESV 

Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Deuteronomy 15:11 ESV 

For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, ‘You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.’

Proverbs 19:17 ESV 

Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.

Acts 20:35 ESV 

In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

These are but just a few of the admonitions that we are told..."Love your neighbor as much as you love yourself and love God above all things!"  Yes...the poor we shall always have with us..and why is that? Wouldn't it just be grand if we all had what we need, no more and no less? Surely, but then...how could we be of help to another? How can we show compassion, if everyone had everything they need? You may think, so why would God test us? It isn't a test of us so much as a showing of compassion, of Love...as well as proving that money does not buy happiness, nor does it gain you eternal life! We are not puppets. God isn't going to demand that we give because he said so...it has to be of our own free will. Let's repeat that first Bible quote again, shall we?

Matthew 19:24 ESV 

Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”

The next time you are tempted to want to keep all for yourself...look around you. Look at the hungry, the homeless, the poor...those who are working two jobs to feed a family. They are trying....it's the greed of others who are keeping them poor. Is that fair? Do you see this as justice?
It is said if you want peace...work for justice. Give even if it means that you must go without. What is it worth to you? Why...it is worth a spot in heaven!