Give Yourself Away

2008 July 14

by Tyler

Scene: The coffee shop within Powell’s bookstore in Portland called World Cup Coffee and Tea.

A few weeks ago Rose (that is my wife for those who do not know) and I went out to coffee. I had lots rolling around in my head. So we just started talking. This post is a synopsis of that conversation. We are only posting this so that you can join that conversation and help us grapple with these things. This whole thing will be in two parts, one today, the other tomorrow.

Me: I struggle so much with living in suburbia, living on much more than $2 a day and also being a Christian. I read verses where Jesus tells a man to sell everything he has before he can follow Jesus, I read about Jesus explaining the kingdom being accessible to the sheep, but the goats not making the cut, and I hear story after story about how well off I have it compared to most people. I can’t help but cringe every time I fill up my tank or go to the store to buy clothes. How can we, as a couple desiring to live with Biblical principles, follow Jesus’ words and yet live in such a consumer driven society?

Rose: It is hard to compare our lives with the rest of the world. When we look at our lives, barely living pay check to pay check, it is considered wealthy by the world’s standards. Growing up in such a small home, it has always been a dream to have a nice home for our kids, and to be able to provide a nice life for them. That is important to me. But, when I think of my time in Africa, then I feel like I have way more than I could ever need. Does that mean I need to change my thinking? Or should I not compare myself to someone who lives in a totally different culture? I’ve been changed by having seen true poverty in Kenya, Uganda, and Romania, and it is so important for people to be able to see face to face, these things that are only words (poverty, malnutrition, etc).

Me: I think of Monica, the girl from Uganda that we sponsor, and I think about the fact that she walks miles a day, every day, just to get water. I don’t know how my life, other than giving $35 a month, can make an impact in her world. I need to keep my job and spend money to go to school, yet I can’t help but wonder whether I am that man that needs to sell everything.

Rose: Just like you can’t ever be perfect, I don’t think that if you sold everything you would find Christian perfection. I don’t think God is calling us to sell everything we have. I know Jesus is saying that in those verses, but I sense it is more of a mindset or heart issue. I can think of so many people who are driven by money everyday and it truly has become their idol. And there are others who have a lot of money but have used their income wisely to bless others, while still providing essential needs for themselves.

Discuss.

Filed under: the rest... Tags: Jesus

http://newheights.wordpress.com/ Darin

We assume that these people who live with less are the poor, maybe it is not them but us. Maybe the way we view poor is already colored by our consumer culture.

In my favorite show the Amazing Race I am always struck when the American’s are shocked that a person living in a dirt hut is smiling, laughing and playing with others. Our culture mindset says they shouldn’t be happy, they are poor.

I think that was Jesus message and that can happen no matter what. I do think we as Christians hide behind the idea that the amount doesn’t matter though. The story I heard from a pastor who said that most of the envelopes for giving that he receives at his church are actually empty is a testament to our problem.

I made a shirt that says Consume Less and quotes Jesus but if I wear that while I go to the movie, buy another shirt I didn’t really need, etc. am I really?

Good question.
http://www.randymooney.com randymooney

I think Rose was on to something in regards to the point of the passage. It’s not that Jesus commands us to sell everything we have and give to the poor. He looked at the man who came to him and (I believe) pinpointed the thing that was holding him personally back … when Luke shares the story (Mark was the other one), he shares how the man was sad because he had great wealth. If you compare yourself to other nations/cultures someone will always be richer and someone will always be poorer. True, in our standard we are most likely the richest nation in the world, but I don’t believe that makes us bad or going against it.

If we were in the same scenario as Jesus and the “rich guy” was … I wonder what specific thing God would call us out on … give up tv, give up the job you have (or work less), give up notions of making a perfect church on earth until Jesus comes, give up blogging … etc… it seems like it would depend on the person.

But of course I am picking up on what you said when you brought the passage into the conversation and may not be seeing the whole “forest” and just seeing the “tree”.
http://manofdepravity.com Tyler

Darin-

I totally agree that money does not equal happiness. Of course, living in the US, this is a mental battle almost daily for me. I see things that cost money that would make me happier. Buying a mac is one example. It was not a cheap purchase. Hopefully it lasts 8 years like yours and then it will be worth it.

Randy-

I think you are right, the verse is probably not for everyone to sell everything and give that money to the poor. But, what if it is? What if God is seeing us in the USA and thinking that all of us are driven by money…what if it applies to all of us in this rich nation? That is the question I fight in my head everyday!
http://keshathomas.com kesh

I think the key is being content. Being OK with whatever you have a lot or a little. God is the one who has given you what you have. Helping those who have less is definitely something you can do and something Jesus calls us to do. Also, not taking what you do have for granted rather offering it to God and remembering that it all belongs to Him.
http://superlindsey.wordpress.com Lindsey

Oh, man. I’m definitely struggling with this lately.

A lot of days I feel awfully guilty because I’m moving into a new apartment, or because my dad bought me a new camera, etc.

I just read “The Irresistible Revolution” by Shane Claiborne and it definitely gave me a lot to think about and challenged me in a lot of ways. I like this passage a lot: “There are the Matthews who encounter Jesus and sell everything. But then there are also the Zacchaeuses who meet Jesus and redefine their careers. So not everyone responds the same way, but we must respond. We must seek our vocation listening to the voice of God and the voices of our suffering neighbors,” (pg. 42).

If I thought God was calling me to sell everything I had, I would probably wrestle with that an awful lot but hopefully, I could place my faith in Him and trust Him enough to do it. I mostly think right now, God’s telling me to stop drinking Starbucks, cut back on my internet usage, and think twice before I buy things. If I claim I don’t have enough money to sponsor a child, but I buy 3 drinks from Starbucks a week, something is wrong.

I think it’s an issue of the heart more than the wallet. But as far as your question about us as a rich nation…I don’t know. I have no idea. It’s hard to figure out.

Claiborne also mentions a quote from Rich Mullins a lot. It’s really challenging and I’m still wrestling with it a lot, but I think it’s relevant so I’ll throw it out there:

“We do need to be born again, since Jesus said that to a guy named Nicodemus. But if you tell me I have to be born again to enter the kingdom of God, I can tell you that you have to sell everything you have and give it to the poor, because Jesus said that to one guy too…But I guess that’s why God invented highlighters. So we can highlight the parts we like and ignore the rest.”
http://superlindsey.wordpress.com Lindsey

Oops. That was long. Sorry!
http://manofdepravity.com Tyler

Lindsey-

I can point to probably 3 or 4 books other than the Bible that change my life. Shane’s book is definitely one of them. No worries about the length. You said some great things to say.
http://godthepossible.blogspot.com/ Preston

In Jeremiah 11:20 it says God judges according to the Heart. I truly believe the Christian life is living on the basis that God will judge your motivations and not our actions (thus the trap of the Pharisees). I would tend to side with Rose here and not get caught up in “doing” something in order to give the appearance of being righteous. Someone can sell off all their stuff and give it to the poor, but if someone is still selfish then what good will any of this do them? That person is now just a sinner without any stuff!

Tyler – you said something that puzzled me. You said we can never be “Perfect” in the Christian sense. But yet Jesus says “Be perfect as I am perfect”. What most people get confused by this statement is that Jesus us speaking of the manner of perfection. I think this where your getting hung up on the idea of perfection here. Christian perfection is simply living according to the present amount of moral light (knowledge) you presently have. As you grow in moral knowledge from the heart so will your “Christian perfection”. Again, its all about the motivation of the heart – we need to figure our what makes the heart grow in moral perfection? Hint – Love of God…..
http://manofdepravity.com Tyler

I was referring more to Christian perfection in the way others view it, not me. I didn’t actually call it that, Rose did…but I get your point. I’m just trying to be open with my thoughts. I purposely didn’t provide answers in this post, that one is tomorrow.