The Wheatland Mission

A Theology Of Stuff: reprise

There are many things that I would like to share during our worship gatherings that I don't get to due to a lack of time or my inability to read my notes. Every once in awhile I will share a few things that got forgotten during the regular message time. By the way, I have to admit that I stole the idea of "stuff" from Rob Bell.

Last weekend we talked about the story of the "Rich Young Man" from Matthew 19. Here was a person whose life was organized around his wealth and all of the prestige and power that came with it. In spite of his misdirected priorities it was evident that he was considered a good person. Good that is, according to the standards of his culture and society. Goodness in God's Kingdom is measured differently and it begins with dependence upon him. The story of the "Rich Young Man" leads us to properly possess what we possess and keep what we possess from possessing us.

Let me share a thought about giving. Many of us have heard it taught that if we give generously that God will give generously to us. Many of us, in fact, have seen this come true in our own lives. At the same time, there are many who have given faithfully, generously and even sacrificially but haven't seen the financial blessings that some might promise.

It is important for us to recognize that the blessings we receive from God, as a result of our giving, come not because we pull the right levers on God. God does not dispense blessings as if he were a vending machine responding to the right amount of money being deposited. Being blessed by God when we give is not a quid pro quo but a result of living in God's Kingdom.

The man in the parable was asking what he had to do to have eternal life. Jesus changed the conversation by talking about the life of God or, the Kingdom of God, and that his refusal to release his possessions for the sake of the poor kept him from participating in that life.

When Jesus said, "it is more blessed to give than recieve", he was giving us a picture of what life is like in the Kingdom of God. (Acts 20:35)

How does this affect your relationship with "your stuff".

posted by The Wheatland Mission @ 6:32 PM