Ever read one of those wonderful year-end letters that ladies sometime write to their friends? The ones that "catch you up" with their family's activities over the past year? I just finished reading one of those.
As Nana's and Mom's and MeeMa's will do, she was justifiably singing the praises of her children and grandchildren and sharing with us something of how each has grown over the last year.
Now this lady really loves her family! So, it was interesting to me that her family report was written on the backside of her letter!
On the front side . . . . was a plea . . . . asking us to remember her and her husband in prayer as they prepare for another trip, next year, to the poorest nation in the world, the mission-field of Mozambique.
She and her husband have the ability to travel extensively. They could probably go just about any place that they wanted to go and do just about anything that they wanted to do. They are "well-to-do" by every definition of the term. They are wealthy in the eyes of the world.
But, they have CHOSEN to be wealthy in the Kingdom of God.
Here's what I mean.
They take trip for themselves, AND they also take trips to serve the Kingdom and to serve the needy.
They give into Kingdom efforts around the world, AND they also give right here at home.
They serve in foreign missions, AND they also serve local missions.
They enjoy the company of the powerful, AND they also seek out the company of the not so powerful. They associate themselves with the poor among us.
They enjoy their beautiful home AND they get out of their home and find ways to help people.
They try to be BALANCED about things.
No wonder their life is so rich!! No wonder they have such favor with God and man!! (see Isaiah 58)
Do you think that we could learn something from this good couple about how to properly handle wealth?
I am not talking about personal wealth. Few of us have individual wealth. But, many of us, through our churches, have CORPORATE wealth!!
We give to the church, and the church, through our giving, becomes a huge pool of resource.
Together, we have great financial resource.
Together, we have great stores of energy and manpower.
Together, we have great influence.
Together, we are wealthy.
Having found that WE are wealthy, this questions stands before US.
"Are WE balanced with OUR wealth?
Are we, through our churches . . .
Giving to foreign missions AND giving to local ministries?
Serving in foreign ministries AND serving in local ministries?
Associating with the powerful AND Associating with the needy?
Enjoying our beautiful sanctuaries AND getting out into the places where people need our help?
