This is Linda. She just turned 5 this past Tuesday. I was compelled to sponsor her through Compassion, and it just so happened that I sponsored her the day before her birthday.
I was reading “Crazy Love” by Francis Chan, and in Chapter 4, he goes over the “Profile of the Lukewarm Christian”. One of the characteristics he went over struck me terribly hard:
“LUKEWARM PEOPLE give money to charity and to the church…as long as it doesn’t impinge on their standard of living. If they have a little extra and it is easy and safe to give, they do so. After all, God loves a cheerful giver, right?”
“King David replied to Araunah, ‘No, I insist on paying the full price. I will not take for the LORD what is yours, or sacrifice a burnt offering that costs me nothing’” — 1 Chronicles 21:24
“As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. ‘I tell you the truth,’ he said, ‘this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on’” — Luke 21:1-4
I don’t have a job. I’m in college. I will be in debt after I graduate from school. I will probably have to work a job in order to support my own music career. But I am still filthy, filthy, filthy stinkin’ rich. I will make more than $1 a day, which is what the day’s wage is for underprivileged people in Linda’s country of Ghana.
We mustn’t forget, brothers and sisters, that we are born in a free country blessed with riches upon riches for a reason. This reason is to show God’s jealous love for his people by sharing our wealth with those who need it. We as the Church of Christ MUST BE a manifestation of the goodness of God by giving what we have to those who are in need! This isn’t about social justice, this is about doing what you were set forth on this earth to do, glorify God with all that you have!
Father,
I pray for my sister Linda. I repent of my ignorance to not even have given her a second thought until today. I pray on behalf of her and her family, that you will give unto them the give of ultimate worth, the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. I pray that Linda had the best birthday of her life, knowing that she will be cared for and nurtured in a safe and loving environment. May you reveal your love, that is your amazing glory to my young sister, for I believe that a child can even come to know that which is the glory of God, if it is you God who is willing to manifest yourself to her. Help me to pray and care continually for the broken of this world, as Jesus Christ cared and died for me. You are good, God, and to you I give all glory, honor, and praise. In Jesus’ name,
Amen!
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Will you move out of your convictions, brothers and sisters? Let’s give and sacrifice for the Kingdom!
