From Desperate to Generous

(Image courtesy of dreamstime.com.)

A few years ago, I heard a missionary speak about the most difficult place to be a follower of Christ. I was expecting him to say “Pakistan” or “India” – some place where the persecution against Christians was the most intense. Instead, he said, “The most difficult place to follow Christ is in the United States of America.”

Surprised, I listened intently to the reason why he would say that. He continued, “Because of the materialism in the U.S., it is difficult to stay focused on Christ.” His words still convict me to this day.

Earlier this summer, I was talking to a different missionary friend. He and his family grew up in the United States, but felt called to Haiti. Since Haitian’s speak a form of French, his family went to Canada to learn the language and prepare for the mission field in Haiti. They were missionaries to Haiti for about a decade. A few years ago, they returned to the States.

So, I asked him: “Do you find it harder to follow Christ in the U.S. or when you were in Haiti?” His answer confirmed what I already suspected.

He nodded his head to my question and his forehead wrinkled. “In the United States,” he said, “because of the materialism.” He went on to explain:

“Haitian-Christian’s pray earnestly. Their country is so dangerous[1], and they have so little. They pray daily for safety and food. They feel their need for God’s intervention in daily life more than we feel it here in the States.”

He added, “In Haiti they pray, but they don’t study like we do here. In America, we love to study the Bible and theology, but in Haiti they are surviving; they rely on God for every daily need.”

While it is good that we study the Bible (and we should!), it is equally important that we pray. But why don’t we American-Christians tend to be as desperate in our prayers? I think it’s because we don’t feel our need.

When we get sick, we seek out a doctor without hardly a moment’s hesitation.

When we feel hungry, we open the fridge or swing through the drive-thru.

When we feel hot and uncomfortable, we go indoors and crank up the A/C. (Then, when we get too cold, we complain!)

Every discomfort we feel, we have an answer from the material world that meets it.

Acts 2:42-47 says the following:

And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.  And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved (emphasis added).

In short, I think the American-Church needs to remember that in our surplus, we need to be ready and eager to do three things:

1) Be generous with the goods you have. We must remember that God is the giver of all the things we have, so we must be ready to give generously if someone is in need, especially if the one in need is a member of our Christian family. After all, the things we have are not ours, they are God’s and he has given us them to look after until our time is up.

2) Receive everything with glad and generous hearts. Whether food or medicine, we need to be quick to thank God for providing for our needs through a fast food restaurant or a pharmacist. Every good thing comes from God.

3) Praise God for his material blessings, and use those material blessings to gain influence. Rather than despise our privileged position of wealth, we need to praise God for entrusting us with his belongings. “Having favor with all the people” in the context of these verses seems to indicate that the Church was giving generously to all people in their city. By doing so, the Lord blessed their material generosity by adding new believers to their number. Having a lot requires a lot of responsibility, but it can produce a lot as well.

While this text could be expounded to greater lengths, I hope we can see how our material blessings should not and do not have to be a hindrance to spiritual growth; instead, they can provide ample opportunity to praise God and meet the needs of others around us – all for the sake of pointing people to Christ, the Giver of all good things.

All in all, we may have more possessions and opportunities than most living in the United States, but we are just as reliant and desperate for God. Let us be mindful of this sobering reality, and let us use what we have to honor our Lord.

Father, please give us eyes to see the needs around us. Please form in us grateful and generous hearts, so that your kingdom might grow. In Jesus’s name, amen.

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[1] Another reason Haitian-Christian’s pray is for safety from demonic spirits. The demonic presence of witchcraft is very strong, my missionary friend explained in greater detail.