Have you ever had God confirm something to you over and over? The point then becomes: Now what? What do you, or I, do about it?
The easy "Christian-church-goer" answer is: Well, you just do it.
Really? Even if it made you look crazy? Even if you feel others would never understand? Even if it meant you were all alone in it?
Seriously: What if God laid it on your heart to stop all the extra curricular activities you have for your kids such as, sports, dance, scouts, and anything of the like, and wanted you to focus on teaching your children the Bible and taking them to help with local mission projects? Would you do it?
What if He wanted you to give away things you needed, buy things you didn't have the resources for to give to others, or give money to a group or organization even though it meant having to do without more than just your latte for the week?
Here is the main question which must be answered: Are you really willing to give everything up for Jesus Christ? Not, just what you feel like He's "called" you to give up... Everything.
Until you are truly willing, can you honestly say you are living for Christ as His slave?
What does the Bible say about the two thoughts, Jesus told us to teach our children about Him but He also said that he blesses so that we can give the overflow to other. I don't thing He wants us to not be able to take care of our children and have them in need.
ReplyDeleteMost likely not, but He wants us to lean on Him for provision. That may mean He provides through charity or an amazing, well paying job. Either way we are to see it as a blessing from Him and be generous with whatever little we have. We truly can not out-give God.
ReplyDeleteWe also need to stay in constant communication with Him to know just how much and where we should give. Giving for giving's sake is just as wrong, for we may be supporting something He condemns, or giving away what He intended for us to use.
The American problem in general, comes in when we spend hours every week making sure our children have every possible opportunity out there, while we neglect to study the Scripture with them on our own because we "ran out of time". It is not the churches job to teach our children God's Word and help them memorize Scripture- it is ours. We are to do it at home, then supplement with brothers and sisters in Christ at church. The problem is we don't understand need. We need enough food to stay alive and healthy. We need to provide shelter and clothing. A good education is a great help, but we must never even put that above God. I personally would love to go back to college and finish my degree and go on to a doctorate, but that is not what He has called me to do for now. I would love for my children to be able to go to at least one fun class a week: (I have a daughter who loves art/dance/and animals, and a young son who really wants to take martial arts, but we have been convicted of the thousands in other countries who long for God's Word yet can not obtain it on their own, so we sponsor Bibles. There is a young girl in India we also sponsor who would have no education at all and very little food, if we did not give to her. Is that worth my children not getting to do the extra fun stuff? Yes. It is for now, because those are our first-fruits. When we have more of an income that will hopefully change, but giving will always be more than on the fun we spend for ourselves.
Trust me- we can not out give God. He has provided so much for us in return! New computers, a vehicle, a fully funded mission trip, free specialized medical care... He spoils us really!