"Sell all you have and give the money to the poor"

[Scarletprayers]

I think if we listen to the Spirit he will let us know when, how much, and who to give to. Let me give you a story of how the Holy Spirit taught me a lesson of how given something simple as a bottle of water can bring joy and love.

I was out riding my streetbike enjoying my time alone with the Lord. The day was hot and humid and I was riding some back roads so I got on the main highway to head back to town. I was about 11 miles out from town when I passed by an elder lady pulling a wagon filled with empty jugs. I felt the Holy Spirit telling me to go back. I kept going and again I felt strongly the need to go back so I turned around and went back. I pulled over and at first she seemed worried (maybe I was this outlaw biker....the flames painted on my bike? )

I asked her if there was anything I could do to help, she asked if I had some rope to tie the wagon behind my bike because she was heading to town to get some water. 11 miles out, walking down the highway in heat probably close to 100 degrees. I told her to wait there and I would be back in my truck. I went to the house got my truck and came back and to my surprise she had already walked another mile or two toward town. I loaded the wagon and jugs in the back and she told me which gas station to carry her to that had a water hose. I pulled up to the hose ready to fill the jugs and she told me to wait until she went and got permission from the worker in the station.

I went with her and told the worker I would pay if needed for the water and the lady said it was fine to get what we wanted. As I was filling the jugs I looked at the ice cooler that I keep in the back of my truck and it was filled with a case of ice cold bottle water that I usually keep on ice. I thought to myself wow how much more does the Lord bless us with. I gave her the bottles of water that I had and she chugged one down right there.

I took her back to where she lived and it was nothing more than a camper with no electricity or water. We got to talking as I unloaded the wagons and she asked why I was doing this for her. I told her that Jesus wants her to know that he cares....she stared at the ground in a daze for a minute then asked if I would pray for her....which I did. She gave me a hug and I handed her whatever amount of money I had in my wallet, she thanked me and I was on my way.

That day the Lord used both I for her and her for I to show me the need to love and help others through His love. I felt a joy and love in my heart as drove home that caused me to laugh and give praise to the Lord.

I tell you...our God is amazing!

God bless you!

[Carol R]

That is a pickle where one could go from one extreme to another. I've found myself giving away all my money (I still live with my mom), but seeing how I need to come to a place where I need to be able to pay my own bills, I've been saving my money. When I get a job and save up enough money (while still tithing and maybe give a dollar here or there), there will be one less poor person.

Also, don't forget who Jesus was talking to: a rich young ruler. When the young man asked Jesus how to get into Heaven, Jesus told him to keep the commandments and listed them (atleast the ones regarding other people). After the rich man stated that he already did all that, that's when Jesus told him to sell his stuff and give to the poor. It turns out that the man's riches was his true god. Jesus wanted the young man to stop worshipping the money and worship God.

A person needs a home (though not necessarily a 20-room mansion in Beverly Hills), food (though not necessarily caviar), clothes (though not necessarily a custom-tailored silk suit), and perhaps a form of transportation (though not necessarily a solid gold Rolls-Royce). The sticking point is do you have riches or does riches have you.

Very well put.

[Smalcald]

There alot of truth in what y'all ( a little nod to scarletprayers ) have said. Yet I always come back to this: who is the model of how I should live a life surrendered to God?

Jesus. Right. How much did Jesus own?

How about the Apostles? Were they rich? Did they own more than what they absolutely needed?

What about the widow's mite?

See my dilemma?

Are we just trying to justify ourselves by saying it's ok to have alot of stuff? I'm not sure.

Maybe I should live in a house just big enough to provide shelter. Own enough clothes to be presentable. Buy enough food to eat a healthy diet. etc....

Do I really need as much as I have?

How can I walk past hungry people on the street, and go home to all that I own without feeling guilty? And I don't even have all that much by this country's standards.

Sorry, this is kind of a downer, it's been an emotionally draining week.

Peace,

Fiosh

Well Christ told us he poor would always be with us. Your having a home did not cause the homeless person to not have a home. You could give all that you own to the homeless and become homeless yourself, and there would still be homeless. But I think we see that modest living in all that we do is one answer and we have to support our families; this is also a Christian duty.

The sweep of scripture certainly does talk about the deep deep problems of wealth and materialism, there is actually quite a bit of scripture from the Gospels through the entire New Testament which speak of the dangers of wealth and greed.

For me, I feel a little guilty that I have not done more for my own family, I chose a field which although does work to help alleviate the suffering of the poor, does not pay that well. I don't think there are easy answers to this question. But I think we all know what is simply too much and what meets our needs. Look at what the average income for a family is in the US do we need ten times that much? Most of us don't. St. Paul said having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. Also there is a spiritual freedom to not being a slave to things and money.