"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal." Matthew 6:19
It seems pretty straightforward to me. This isn't obscure Jewish scripture that applied to some culture generations ago thereby allowing us wiggle room. It's a command from the very mouth of Christ.
And yet.
Somehow we've come to believe that we deserve to HAVE. Have things, have homes, have...well...wealth. Treasures. It's totally AMERICAN of us to think that having "stuff" is what we're supposed to do. But we've taken it too far..
Simply put, we're UBER wealthy and don't know it. We just are. We own our homes. We own our car--often more than one. Our kids go to private schools. Consider the following stats:
- Almost half the world — over three billion people — live on less than $2.50 a day.
- At least 80% of humanity lives on less than $10 a day.
- According to UNICEF, 25,000 children die each day due to poverty.
- The poorest 40 percent of the world’s population accounts for 5 percent of global income.
- The richest 20 percent accounts for three-quarters of world income.
- More than 80 percent of the world’s population lives in countries where income differentials are widening.
I often hear phrases like "I just get by each month," or "How am I going to make ends meat?" or my favorite "I can't believe I'm in a tax bracket that labels me 'upper middle class'--it isn't fair!" All this from people whose households earn 60-70 grand a year. No kidding.
A couple of months ago at church, the preacher made this statement: "80% of the world's wealth is held by 20% of the world's people. And that means you."
Honestly, I don't think it registered. I don't think people even realize how much they have! If you own your home or a car or have a job that pays more than $10 a day, you're FILTHY RICH! If that fact actually registered with us, we'd behave differently than we do. We'd HAVE to.
Here's one that should shock you: The United Nations says it would only take $30 billion to end world hunger. The U.S. spends 18 times that on it's military alone. No kidding.
What will it take to convince us that what we have isn't really ours--it's God's. What will it take to make us realize the injustice of the severe poverty that most of the world knows? The houses we live in, the cars we drive, the designer clothes we wear, the fun vacations we take--I'm convinced are nothing short of sinful. Yes we need cars--but not 2 or 3, and not ones that cost 10 or 20 or 30 grand. Yes we need houses, but not lavish palaces (and really, I think there are more of those around than we'd like to admit)
I hear folks say "I've earned this!"
To that I say "Praise God that in His mercy and grace He doesn't give us what we deserve!"
I hear folks say "But I give alot also--I've earned much and kept much, but I've given more than most."
To that I say "To him that much is given, much will be expected."
How long, oh Lord? How long will the wicked be allowed to gloat? I pray our eyes will be opened to the wealth we have, then our hearts convicted that it doesn't belong to us...it belongs to God who gave it to us!
