Lessons From Lepers

How do you view yourself?  Do you have trouble believing you have a place in God’s heart and a purpose in this life? 

What about your view of others?  If someone doesn’t have the same income as you, or lives on the wrong side of town, do you think less of them than someone who makes more money and lives in an upscale neighbourhood?

I think anyone who speaks honestly will answer, “Yes”, to those questions at some point in their lifetime.  We’re all human, and these thoughts are part and parcel of the human condition.

But, a few weeks ago I came across a story in the Old Testament that taught me to re-think the, “Yes” answer.

You find the story in 2 Kings, chapter 7.  Here’s a bit of background…

Israel is suffering the effects of their rebellion against God.  The Arameans (enemies of Israel), having attacked one of Israel’s cities, are holding its occupants hostage.  Food is in short supply and people are becoming desperate.

Four lepers reside outside the city gates.  Lepers are considered highly contagious and “unclean”.   Anyone exhibiting signs of leprosy is banished from the city, forced to eke out a miserable existence by begging outside the city walls.

Life isn’t treating these lepers well.  The starving people inside the city don’t have warm, fuzzy, charitable feelings towards the beggars outside its gates.

The four lepers are trapped between the walled city and the attacking army.  They know they’re chances of survival are about as good as that of a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs.  In a fatalistic decision they decide to take their chances with the attacking army.

“Now there were four men with leprosy sitting at the entrance of the city gates.  ‘Why should we sit here waiting to die?’ they asked each other.  ‘We will starve if we stay here, but with the famine in the city, we will starve if we go back there.  So we might as well go out and surrender to the Aramean army.  If they let us live, so much the better.  But if they kill us, we would have died anyway.’ “  2 Kings 7:3-4 (NLT)

In typical God fashion, He decides to use the four lepers, the “untouchables” of the Israelite population, as messengers.  He throws panic into the Aramean army.  When the lepers show up the Aramean camp is abandoned and overflowing with store houses of food, silver, gold, and other plunder.

They gorge themselves on food and wine, stashing away silver and gold.  But then they remember the plight of the walled city and their fellow Israelites.  Instead of holding a grudge for the way they’ve been treated by the Israelites, the lepers return to the city, telling the gatekeepers about their treasure.

“Finally they said to each other, ‘This is not right.  This is a day of good news, and we aren’t sharing it with anyone!  If we wait until morning some calamity will certainly fall upon us.  Come on, let’s go back and tell the people at the palace.’ “  2 Kings 7:9 (NLT)

Israel feasts that day because the lepers choose to share their abundance.

I love this story because three valuable nuggets are hidden inside.

• If God can use four “unclean” lepers to save a city from starvation.  He can use you, too.  Never discount yourself because of your past, or your present.  You’re never so “unclean” that God can’t clean you up.  Broken lives are restored by the grace and mercy Jesus offers us through His sacrificial death on the cross. 

• We live in a “me” centered society.  How much money can I make, how many TV’s do I need, how expensive a car can I drive?  We put our trust in material things, panicking and hoarding when we can’t get them.  At first the lepers go into hoarding mode, but then they reconsider, realizing it’s better to share the unexpected wealth than to squirrel it away from themselves.  This is true not only of material blessings, but also our time, talents, and faith.  We weren’t blessed with gifts to hoard them.  We’re meant to share them for God’s glory and His kingdom.

• The third take away from this text is to remember not to judge people.  We can’t discount ourselves from being a messenger of God and we shouldn’t discount others simply because of the way they look, dress, or speak.  God will use anyone He wishes to put in your path to help you learn and grow.    Don’t be hasty to discount someone you feel “beneath” you.  They just might be able to teach you something.

Things To Think About…

Do you struggle to believe you matter to God?  Do you hoard gifts and blessings?  Do you judge people by their appearance before you know their heart?  Please share your thoughts by clicking on “comments” below.

Whose Responsibility Are The Poor - Part 2

On Sunday I closed out my post by asking you to consider some of the prevalent attitudes towards helping the poor.

·         “If they want food then they should get a job like the rest of us.”

·         “I work hard for my money.  Why should I give it to a bum on the street who can’t be bothered doing an honest day’s work?”

·         “Life’s short and it sucks.  The world owes me.  I deserve that new BMW.”

·         “We’ve got our own troubles.  People starving in Africa really aren’t my problem”

Where did we go wrong?  When did we start caring more about accumulating personal wealth and less about taking care of the poor and marginalized in our communities and around the world?  When did the instant gratification of getting it on credit replace our desires to make a difference in the world?

For most of us our pay cheque is already spent long before it hits our bank account.  Can you relate to paying 19% or 28% interest on your credit card for stuff you “just had to have” five years ago (with good intentions of paying it off before the interest free period ran out)?  You’re not alone, in fact these days you’re pretty much considered a “normal” consumer. 

I challenge you today to closely evaluate the state of your budget.  I’d like to offer a different way of living...perhaps even issue a challenge towards it.

What if, instead of spending frivolously on toys, expensive cars, and designer clothes we slashed our spending, worked at eliminating personal debt, and opened our eyes to the world around us?

What if we started caring about people starving in Africa, or orphans living on the street in India, or Mexicans making their homes in a garbage dump, or the homeless family in our own inner city?  If you knew your donation meant someone could eat more than one meal a day do think you’d really care that you drive a five-year-old Ford instead of a new Mercedes? 

Do you think you’d miss carrying the $800.00 Louis Vuitton hand bag when your $40.00 off-the-rack purse means you’re investing in a child by providing money so she can go to school and learn to be a future leader for change in her country? 

What about giving up one of your daily lattes and putting the money towards financing a start up business through micro-finance at www.kiva.org (it only takes $25.00 to make your first loan – just six lattes).

Isn’t it time we stopped wrapping our self-worth up in possessions and instead start investing in food, education, justice, and equality for the poor?  You can start out small, right in your own back yard.

1.       Try donating to your local food bank, or giving some of your time to pack food hampers.

2.       Volunteer at the homeless shelter, or give to your church’s outreach or benevolent fund.

3.       Pledge to sponsor a child through World Vision, Compassion, Christian Children’s Fund, or Samaritan’s Purse.  Your sponsorship will completely change their lives.

The opportunities are endless, but it’s up to us to wake up, shed our cloaks of complacency, and start sharing the wealth we’ve been given. 

This change in attitude might mean re-arranging your budget.  Personally, for my husband and me, it means addressing personal debt so we’re free to give more generously.  We’re working on this, but still find great reward in donating small amounts where we can.

Whatever the sacrifice, it’s worth it.  God promises blessing to those who give generously.

“Give generously to the poor, not grudgingly, for the Lord your God will bless you in everything you do.  There will always be some in the land who are poor.  That is why I am commanding you to share freely with the poor and with other Israelites (people) in need.”  Deuteronomy 15:10-11

Deuteronomy 15:10-11 - Whose Responsibility Are The Poor?

MEMORY VERSE:

“Give generously to the poor, not grudgingly, for the Lord your God will bless you in everything you do.  There will always be some in the land who are poor.  That is why I am commanding you to share freely with the poor and with other Israelites (people) in need.”  Deuteronomy 15:10-11

Recently I’ve been reading the book of Deuteronomy.  The Message calls this book, “the longest sermon in the Bible and maybe the longest sermon ever.”  (And you thought you’d sat through the longest sermon right in your home church! J)

This is Moses’ last sermon.  It’s his final instructions to the Israelite community before he dies.  He longs for the community to follow God, but he realizes they’re distracted from good intentions as quickly as a squirrel chases after a nut, so he speaks carefully, breaking his dissertation into three topics:

1.       He reviews the entire events of the Israelites’ journey since they left Egypt.  He focuses on “landmark” moments, highlighting God’s leadership, protection, and provision throughout the time they’ve been in the wilderness.

2.       He reminds them of the laws they are to follow so they can be a God-centered community.

3.       This is a defining moment for the community of Israel and Moses presents them with a call to action.  A call to make a choice to commit their lives to God and obey His commandments.

I know reading through the laws in the Old Testament can be the perfect cure for insomnia.  But if you stop to consider some of them you’ll see that they are designed to protect the Israelites, prevent disease, and encourage healthy community and equality among the people.

The two verses I’ve chosen as the memory verses for the week talk about caring for the poor and offer good practices for us to follow in our own lives.  I don’t think God ever intended for the disparity that exists among people and nations today.

He didn’t intend for a class system to exist.  He didn’t intend for luxury condos to be built on one side of the street while people struggle to survive in slums and garbage dumps on the other.  In fact in Deuteronomy chapters 14 and 15 He puts in place very specific laws to ensure wealth is distributed equally.

“At the end of every third year, gather the tithe from all your produce of that year and put it aside in storage. Keep it in reserve for the Levite who won't get any property or inheritance as you will, and for the foreigner, the orphan, and the widow who live in your neighborhood. That way they'll have plenty to eat and God, your God, will bless you in all your work.   Deuteronomy 14:28-29 (The Message)

“There must be no poor people among you because God is going to bless you lavishly in this land that God, your God, is giving you as an inheritance, your very own land. But only if you listen obediently to the Voice of God, your God, diligently observing every commandment that I command you today.”  Deuteronomy 15:4-5  (The Message)

Many of us truly are some of the richest people in the world.  On any given day we may throw away more food than people in a developing country will see in a week.  How can we ignore the plight of people who are marginalized and fighting for justice when God calls us to help the poor and be responsive to the needs of those around us?

I want to explore these thoughts in more detail in this week’s mid-week post, but for now I’ll leave you to consider your reactions to some statements that I believe are part of our problem...

• “If they want food then they should get a job like the rest of us.”

• “I work hard for my money.  Why should I give it to a bum on the street who can’t be bothered doing an honest day’s work?”

• “Life’s short and it sucks.  The world owes me.  I deserve that new BMW.”

• “We’ve got our own troubles.  People starving in Africa really aren’t my problem”

Come back on Thursday, August 9, when we’ll explore this topic in more detail.

If you’d like to share some your thoughts about helping the poor please do so by clicking on “comments” below.

“Give generously to the poor, not grudgingly, for the Lord your God will bless you in everything you do.  There will always be some in the land who are poor.  That is why I am commanding you to share freely with the poor and with other Israelites (people) in need.”  Deuteronomy 15:10-11

Matthew 6:3-4 - More Than A Tax Write-Off

MEMORY VERSE:

When you help someone out, don’t think about how it looks.  Just do it – quietly and unobtrusively.  That is the way your God, who conceived you in love, working behind the scenes, helps you out. Matthew 6:3-4 (The Message)

Last week was an exciting mail week!  On two occasions large, bulging envelopes lounged inside the mailbox.  Bills present themselves in severe, thin, business envelopes, no promise of excitement there; but these were nothing like bills.  These held all the excitement and promise of unopened gifts on Christmas morning!

I tore them open and a cascade of letter writing materials poured out – greeting cards, return address labels (with my husband’s name and correct address), a gift bag, and even a pen!  “Cool, free stuff!” I thought...but then I saw it...a letter from the charity who sent the package asking for a donation. 

While a single word, “CRAP!” reverberated in my brain, my husband said, “You better send them some money.”

Let me clarify...I have no problem supporting charitable organizations.  There are a lot of groups doing great work locally and around the world that I fully endorse and support.  I DO have a problem when an organization tries to obligate me or guilt me into donating.

I understand the concept these organizations are using.  A few years ago while working on my studies in marketing, I wrote a paper on motivations in giving within the non-profit sector.  I get it...most people are more motivated to give when they get something in return. 

That something could be recognition, prestige, honour, material goods, gifts...whatever.  The point is a lot of people give to get something back, even if it’s as basic as a tax write off.  One paper I reviewed went so far as to coin the term “conspicuous compassion” which sums it up neatly.  We exhibit compassion but we want the world to know about it!

Jesus calls us to a higher standard.  The Message translation of the Bible uses a great analogy to explore Jesus’ teaching on giving....

The heading at the start of Matthew 6 is, “The World Is Not A Stage”.  Right away it tells us we’re not actors in this life...be authenticate.  Speak and act from a true place within not from behind a mask you put on when you’re around other people.

Here’s the passage leading up to our memory verse...

“Be especially careful when you are trying to be good so that you don’t make a performance out of it.  It might be good theater, but the God who made you won’t be applauding. 

When you do something for someone else, don’t call attention to yourself.  You’ve seen them in action, I’m sure – ‘playactors’ I call them – treating prayer meeting and street corner alike as a stage, acting compassionate as long as someone is watching, playing to the crowds.  They get applause, true, but that’s all they get.” Matthew 6:1-2 (The Message)

Our memory verse for the week conveys this message... 

If you see someone who needs help just do what needs to be done.  Don’t look around to see if anyone is watching.  God saw and that’s all that matters. 

Be like God.  He quietly works in your life to provide for you, to look after you, to shelter you, to do good things for you and He doesn’t worry about how big a tax write off He gets.  He doesn’t expect to see His name on a donor plaque or be invited to a black tie dinner thrown in His honour.

I understand it’s hard to give and not expect something in return.  We all have mixed motivations when it comes to helping.  I’m not saying don’t claim your donations to charities on your income tax.  But if the personal benefit is our PRIMARY or ONLY reason for making a donation then it’s time to examine our hearts and re-evaluate our priorities.

The desire to help people through acts of service and financial contributions should flow from a place of deep compassion.  Making a positive difference in someone’s life brings great joy.  It’s a wonderful privilege and it doesn’t come from a place of guilt or obligation.  Shame on the church that makes the use of guilt appeals to meet a budget more important than the spiritual growth and well-being of their congregation!

Are you giving quietly and unobtrusively behind the scenes?  Please share your thoughts by clicking on “comments” below.

When you help someone out, don’t think about how it looks.  Just do it – quietly and unobtrusively.  That is the way your God, who conceived you in love, working behind the scenes, helps you out. Matthew 6:3-4 (The Message)

A Slave To Debt

In January I wrote a post on acquisition addiction (part 1 and part 2), which typically results in debt.  Are you haunted by bill collectors? Stalked by credit card companies? Have a sick lump of dread in your stomach every time the phone rings because you’re afraid it’s another collection agency?

Do you take a cash advance on one credit card to meet the minimum payment of another? Are you using the 1990’s Roseanne Barr method of avoidance by not signing the cheque when you put it in the envelope to the utility company because you know there’s not enough money in the account for it to clear? You have to LOOK like you’re trying to send them money…so you pretend you FORGOT to sign it.

Are you living on payday cash advances with inflated interest rates of 29% or more and administration fees that gobble up your pay cheque before it hits your bank account?  Are you sinking a little deeper every day in the sea of debt? Is the water closing over your head in spite of all your efforts and hard work?

If you find yourself mired in desperation brought on by debt I want you to know there’s still hope.  I’ve been there and admit to using all of the various tactics listed above. I’ve also experienced all of debt's negative emotional friends:

        Shame                      Fear                      Anger

        Frustration                Desperation           Panic

        Depression                Apathy                   Dread

        Helplessness              Worthlessness

I dug myself out of the pit once. Now my husband and I are back in because of choices we made during the last two years. It’s so frustrating! We’re slaves to debt.

The money we make isn’t ours to spend, share and give; instead it’s going to lines of credit and credit cards. It’s sickening! We’re no longer free to be generous the way we’d like. We’re no longer free to use God’s money in ways that please Him. Until it’s paid off debt is our master.

We kicked 2012 off with the decision to start the process of getting out of debt.  It’s not easy to take charge of your finances when you’re overwhelmed.  You don’t want to know just how deep the hole is; but if you’re ever going to be free from debt’s shackles this is where you need to start. 

Gather up your statements, your bills, your loan documents, and your IOU’s. Get a sheet of paper and a calculator and sit down at the kitchen table. On the sheet of paper list every creditor to whom you owe money and write down the amount you owe beside it.  Now punch those numbers into the calculator, add it up, and finally face your foe - the total dollar value of your debt.

I understand this is a terrifying process.  When you live in debt for an extended period of time the only way to survive is by refusing to face reality. Right now your stomach’s churning and panic lurks around the corner. It’s OK, take a deep breath.  Half the battle is facing reality.

Now take it a step further - beside each creditor write down your minimum monthly payment. Add this amount up. Beside it write down your total monthly take home income.

Some of you are relieved to see your monthly income exceeds your monthly debt payment. Others feel your heart sinking because that’s not the case. Your monthly debt payment exceeds your monthly income.

At this point I’d recommend seeking help from a professional. There are a lot of good financial counselors who can set up a debt repayment plan or determine if you should file for bankruptcy.  In Canada you might want to check out www.creditcounsellingcanada.ca as a starting point.

I also recommend you visit Dave Ramsey’s website at www.daveramsey.com .  Dave has some great resources to help you get on a budget and systematically tackle your debt. He hosts a daily talk show via podcast giving callers advice on their debt scenarios. You'll learn alot just by listening. You can pick up his book, “Total Money Makeover” or find a church near you offering the Financial Peace University course.

Dave speaks from experience and his advice is sound. I highly recommend his website if you’re looking for a method to stop the debt madness and re-gain control of your finances.

You’re probably feeling discouraged, demoralized, and defeated. So here’s a pep talk. Just because you’ve made some financial mistakes doesn’t mean you’re a worthless person. Even if it comes to the point of bankruptcy God still loves you. Money doesn’t define who we are in Christ and it shouldn’t define who we are as people. Don’t lose your identity just because you’ve lost control of your finances.

You don’t need to be a slave to debt for the rest of your life. Are you ready to break its chains? Share your thoughts by clicking on comments below.

Acquisition Addiction - Part II

Does the acquisition of consumer goods satisfy? Can buying more “stuff” solve our problems? Can owning a new car, a flashy new cell phone or an expensive sweater change our self-image, solve our relationship problems or make us happy? (From Acquisition Addiction - Part 1)

Yes, a new car or great new sweater will make you feel better. It will boost your self-image and maybe even build confidence. It’s exciting to score that great bargain and the right clothing can make you feel amazing!

Unfortunately the feeling is only temporary. When the initial sense of euphoria fades our problems rise to the surface like dead fish in an aquarium. They can’t be ignored and they stink! Back to the mall we dash for our next hit of self-worth found in the form of clothes, shoes, cosmetics, housewares, jewelry; you fill in the blank.

 The very act of addictive shopping leads to a set of its own unique problems. The shopper descends into a dark, muddy pit of self-loathing and credit card debt.

Marital problems, family problems, financial problems, work problems, self image problems, health problems, social problems, addiction problems...none of the realities of life are fixed by another trip to the mall.

Every day we’re bombarded by advertising messages telling us we need more “stuff”.  Advertisements tell us we’ll feel better about ourselves if we buy a certain brand of make up or own a specific designer’s clothing. We’ll be more beautiful and popular if we buy a certain hair product. Marketers are trained to manipulate our emotions, our desires and our dreams.  Guess what? Advertising works!

With easy access to on-line and television shopping and malls in every residential neighbourhood we’re walking a thin line between healthy buying patterns and those leading to addiction.

Perhaps it’s time to step back and examine our buying patterns and motivations? Do you see an advertisement and find yourself wanting to buy the product so you’ll be more beautiful, more popular, more desirable or happier? Are your credit card balances higher than your bank balance? Do you own a bunch of stuff you don’t need and don’t even want? Do you hide your purchases from your spouse or your friends? Are you ashamed to talk about your spending habits?

Have you crossed the line from responsible shopping into addiction?  If so I encourage you to speak to your doctor, who can determine the best way of managing your addiction. He may prescribe medication or refer you to a counselor specializing in the area of shopping addiction. He may recommend a combination of both.  Treatment plans are different for every person.

Don’t delay on this. Do it now before you’re faced with the serious consequences of bankruptcy and financial destruction. If you’ve already fallen into the bottomless well of debt, don’t despair, there’s still hope. The first step to ending the slavery of addiction is recognizing the problem and seeking help.  Everyone has to start some time. Make it now!

Acquisition Addiction - Part 1

Before I jump into this post I have a confession to make. I’ve stolen the title from Beulah Alliance Church's sign in Edmonton. The two words screamed for my attention when I drove by the sign a few months ago. Immediately the squirrel in my brain started chattering!

In hope of finding a thought provoking sermon on the topic I clicked around their website but came up empty handed.  I couldn’t resist shamelessly ripping off the title and sharing some of my thoughts on the topic.

Acquisition addiction! How many of us suffer from this affliction? Probably everyone to some extent. We all have our little weakness – things inexplicably leap off the shelf and into our shopping cart. Perhaps it’s a collection of dolls, spoons, Christmas ornaments, or other essentially useless items. We're drawn to owning more and more and more...and more.

My four greatest shopping weaknesses are tea, candles, scarves and yarn (not necessarily in that order). I justify these because I drink the tea, I burn the candles, I wear the scarves and when I have time (sadly none recently) I knit.

But do I really NEED all the tea in my cupboard? Do I NEED shelves full of candles and accessories in the basement? Do I NEED a different scarf for every day of the week? Do I NEED four sweater kits when I haven’t had time to finish a single prayer shawl in the last six months? Of course not, but with acquisition addiction that’s not the point!

Why are we compelled to buy more “stuff”? I may joke about buying more tea or yarn but shopping addiction is a serious affliction leading to a rapid descent into overwhelming debt, depression and bankruptcy.

There’s a medical term for shopping addiction – oniomania. Oniomania is defined as, “a passion or mad desire to buy things.” Like any addiction, it is generally a symptom of some other underlying problem.  Oniomaniacs buy things to hide from pain, to reduce stress, to escape their problems, to boost their self esteem, to comfort themselves, to reward themselves, and to escape loneliness and depression.

We’ve just come through the highest spending time of the year – Christmas. People go in debt to put the best gifts under the tree. Relationships are judged on the value of the gift. Feelings of depression and loneliness run rampant as we compare our failed relationships to the “perfect family moment” playing in the movies and on TV. Consumer goods are purchased to numb the pain and marketers know it!

Does the acquisition of consumer goods satisfy? Can buying more “stuff” solve our problems? Can owning a new car, a flashy new cell phone, or an expensive new sweater change our self image, solve our relationship problems, or make us happy?

Please post your thoughts below (click on "comments"). 

Look for Acquisition Addiction – Part 2 next week.

To Give...Or Not

To give, or not to give...that is the question. OK, that’s a bad rip off from Shakespeare’s familiar quote from Hamlet, “To be or not to be...” but it’s an area where we all struggle.

Do we give to charity or don’t we? Do we give to the homeless or don’t we? Do we tithe or don’t we? That’s right, I said the word...tithe. Depending on the church you attend this may be a common word in your vernacular or it may elicit looks of dismay, mumbled grumbling and a general sense of unease in the audience.

I’m not starting the year off with this post to stir up trouble or start a heated discussion about those who tithe and those who don’t.  (Although feel free to leave your comments below.) As I sit down to work through our personal financial budget for 2012, generosity has been on my mind.

It’s easy to be generous when the bills are paid and extra money is readily available. It’s easy to give 10% to the church and support other charities when it doesn’t affect our everyday life...like the food we eat and the number of channels on our TV’s.

What about when the numbers just don’t add up? When you total your income and expenses and realize the final number is red, not black. How easy is it to be generous now?

The knee jerk reaction is to cut back in the areas where no bill collectors will phone us or send us nasty letters. Of course that’s the church and charities. These people aren’t going to call us up and ask us why they didn’t get any money this month.

I’ve volunteered on a few church boards and councils over the years. I can’t remember a single time when we presented a budget at the annual general meeting that wasn’t a “faith” budget. What does that mean? It means there was no way we’d ever generate that kind of revenue without relying on God to produce it.

So what about our personal finances? Do we do ourselves a disservice when we cut back in the church and charity areas? Are we limiting the amount of blessing and joy we get out of life by being generous? Should we approach it like the “faith” budget and trust God to move in our lives and provide for us through various unexplored opportunities?

I don’t have good answers for these questions.  I function with a highly analytical and logical mind and I have issues with seeing the colour red at the bottom of a column of figures!

But you throw faith into the mix and suddenly there are unknown factors in play – the “what if I give God a chance” or “do I trust Him enough to follow through on other opportunities and see what happens?” spring to mind.

What do you think? Are we too fast to cut back on generosity and giving in our personal lives? Do we limit God’s opportunities to show us what He can do for us?