Truths

So, I've been trying to outline the crazy spiritual journey that's been taking place in my heart, and Eric's heart, for the past few years. (post 1, post 2) Thankfully, we've walked that path together and the Lord has guided us in unison. Opened our eyes together. Grabbed our attention together. Challenged us together. For that I am continually grateful.

I could just race to the point and tell you where this journey is taking us, but if you'll hold with me through this post, you stand a chance at benefitting as I have, and grasping just a bit more of God's goodness, truth, and wisdom along the way. Here are some of the truths I've come to know and believe:

Truth #1: A life lived fully for Christ has no regrets.

As part of our homeschool curriculum last year, we read the incredible story of Gladys Aylward, missionary to China, who did amazing, miraculous things at a young age, but also lost her life at a relatively young age. Finishing the book, though, neither the kids nor myself said, "what a shame she didn't live longer". Instead, we marveled at the way she used every ounce of what she had to give for the Lover of her Soul. If you've never read her story, I suggest this version, as it is perfect for a read-aloud for kids:

Right around the same time, I came across a present-day Believer, Katie, who is giving of herself non-stop for her Heavenly Father as she loves the people of Uganda. Inspiring. Real. Raw. If you've not heard of her before, please start here, and then you just might devour the entire blog like I did. I kid you not. Eric was on a business trip, so I stayed up until the wee hours of the night (morning?) and read every word she'd posted from the beginning. Worth every minute. For me, it was life changing.

Matthew 16:25 "For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it."

Truth #2: God's love and forgiveness comes to us freely, but to truly love Him in return does have a cost.

I will forever be grateful to fellow India adoptive mom, Kristi, for one day posting the links to David Platt's teachings from 2008. The Radical Series is available online for free, but has successfully been released recently as a book:

(obviously a smidge different, but the main idea is just about the same as the original sermons)

And, along a similar vein, I would also recommend Frances Chan's book, Crazy Love:

The overwhelming main point is that you can't just believe in a Christ who takes away the sins of the world, who heals the sick, and helps the blind see. If you call yourself a Christian and you LOVE Him, Jesus spoke directly to you when He said that “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me." (Matthew 16:24) But not only that... to do so is pure joy because to die is gain! (Phillipians 1:20-22)

Truth #3: My God expects me to share.

If I do believe that every good and perfect gift is from above (James 1:17), then I must likewise believe that it is not mine to hoard. My talents are His talents. My income is His income. My wisdom is His wisdom. My love is His love ("We love because He first loved us."- 1 John 4:19).

And, knowing what I now know- having been glimpses of God's heart for the oppressed, the widow, the orphan, the hurting, the sick, the lonely...- I must ask myself what resources of mine must I share so that His jaw-dropping, indescribable LOVE may be tangible and understood to those who have felt that His mercy had been out of their reach.

"Deliver those who are drawn away to death, and those who totter to the slaughter, hold them back [from their doom]. If you [profess ignorance and] say, Behold, we did not know this, does not He who weighs and ponders the heart perceive and consider it? And He Who guards your life, does not He know it? And shall not He render to [you and] every man according to his works?"- Proverbs 24:11, 12

There is so much more, but I'm sure I will write that story as the journey continues to unfold.

So, where does that leave us?

Why don't you find out?

Poor

One of my other transformations in thinking came while we were in India. There are so many people there. So much poverty. You hear about it... you know about it... but it's interesting what happens when you actually come face to face with it because the American brain can't really comprehend.

You attempt logic, firstly to explain the poverty. And in the land of the American Dream, where hard work pays off, and everyone has a shot at fame and success, this means you wonder if the poor are to blame.

Typing that seems wrong, but if you've ever hesitated to hand a homeless person a dollar on the side of the road, than you've- consciously or unconsciously- judged whether or not that person had a hand in their circumstances.

"If they only worked harder to get a job"

"If they didn't drink away their money"

"If they weren't so lazy"

Seeing so many lonely roadside stands stocked with coconuts, water bottles, and betel nut packets, it made me wonder why they were attempting to sell the same thing that the guy 20 ft. down the road was selling with no success. There they all sat, in the heat of the day, with no customers. I wondered how they made any money at all!

And aside from the roadside stand owners, there were so many other people simply laying about doing nothing. We wondered if the soaring temperatures made everyone lethargic; I know I didn't feel like being especially industrious in 95 degree weather!

On part of our trip, a smart- yet uneducated- young man (roughly 18?) gave us a tour of a historic site. He was charming, and well-spoken, yet admitted that he couldn't write his own name. He was part of a caste, he said, that didn't allow him to be educated. Jess, who traveled with us, said to him, "You should come to America and go to school!" But how does one tuck away money for a $1500 plane ticket when food is about all your wages will purchase? It's like picking up pennies on the sidewalk, hoping to buy the Empire State Building.

With that, the many layers ... the contributing factors... as to why a person might be poor, come to life.

It's usually more complicated than it first appears.

And, is it our job to judge the poor? To place their reasons for poverty in a hierarchy? Or what about the type of poor that a person is? Poor in spirit? Poor in health? Poor in morals? Poor monetarily? Poor in knowledge? Is one worse than another, or is poor simply poor, no matter the kind?

What does the Bible say?

"Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God." Proverbs 14:31

"Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward them for what they have done." Proverbs 19:17

"Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy." Proverbs 31:9

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free..." Luke 4:18

"But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind..." Luke 14:13

My mind spun back around, in the end, to the simple command of Jesus:

"Love one another"

We are commanded to love the poor. That doesn't always look like a dollar in a hat, or handout of a meal. In fact, depending on the type of poverty, and the reason for it, real love demands a more long-term action: walking beside someone through addiction recovery, educating a mother in the care of her child, holding someone accountable to their commitment to work, or enabling a poor person's talents to be used.

But, the point- the whole reason I'm writing this- is that I left all my pondering with the undeniable knowledge that God asks us to act. Judging someone's reasons for poverty, with the purpose of excusing myself from helping them, is not Christ-like.

I'm currently reading a great book that sheds light on how exactly one should help the poor. I highly recommend it:

Full disclosure: buy it through this link and Amazon rewards us with 5-15%. :-)

Once you've moved to the point of *wanting to help*, this is a great way to know *how* to help. If you do happen to read it, let me know. I've recommended it others and some good dialogue is happening!