I read a devotion tonight. It really stung.So guess what? Yeah... you guessed it. Here it comes.
"I should think that if our charities do not in some way inhibit us, they are not nearly large enough."
— C.S. Lewis
Most of us who read this e-mail have far more than we need. To the majority of the rest of the world, our iPods, laptops, luxury cars, nice clothes, and expensive homes are an unattainable dreams.
The distance between the very rich and the very poor continues to widen. Why do we hold on to our wealth so adamantly? On the streets a homeless man gave us half of his dinner because he saw that we were hungry. I've never given half my dinner to anyone. Why is a homeless man more generous than I am with all the wealth I have?
Lewis puts it perfectly, implying that our generosity should actually sting a little bit. Our giving carries more weight when it's substantial enough to keep us from satisfying our every whim.
Is your generosity towards other people, your church, organizations, and ministries enough that you feel the sacrifice? Is it really giving if you're not giving anything up?
Grace and Peace.
Mike Yankoski — World Vision
1 comment:
Ouch! I never did like shots! Thanks for the reminder. For futher conviction of this subject, take a look a Richard Foster's "Celebration of Discipline." The chapter on simplicity eats my lunch everytime.
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