We're all familiar with the biblical account of God's destruction of the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. What sticks with us about their evil is their sexual sin, thus the coining of the term "sodomy". It's hard for me to even read the story of Lot offering his daughters to appease the men of Sodom, in an effort to prevent them from attacking his angelic visitors. We come away from the account with an uderstanding of how much God hates sin and that wickedness brings condemnation. But how tempting it is to say in our hearts that we are not wicked like Sodom. I mean, sure there's immorality around, but America isn't nearly so wicked as Sodom, right? Check this out:
Behold this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had pride, excess of food, and prosperous ease, but did not aid the poor and needy. They were haughty and did an abomination before me. So I removed them, when I saw it. Ezekiel 16:49-50
The sins of Sodom don't sound so different from the sins of our own nation, or even our churches, do they? Prosperity, excess, ease, and the failure to reach out to the poor and needy. Unfortunately this hits way too close to home for me.
This is exactly what the book Radical: Taking back your faith from the American dream is about. Let's buck the sins of the culture and begin reaching out with our excess. In humility, let us acknowledge that everything we have is a gift from God, and not ours by our own merits. (I'm preaching to myself here.) Giving to the poor and needy is not just an exercise in generosity. It's an act of obedience.
Giving is an act of obedience....my husband and I often talk about our giving...are we really even sacrificing when we give? Something to ponder. I also have noticed in my reading how many times God commands the Israelites to take care of the poor, the needy, and the stranger among them. We are commanded to be hospitable, and this means more than having someone over for supper!
ReplyDeleteI am preaching to myself as well. :)
Absolutely true. I think it's one of those topics we should always ponder, and do something about. I think as Americans, being surrounded by excess, but also having excess, we need to constantly re-evaluate where our money is going, and what are we doing about caring for people as we are commanded to do. I have to re-think this often, as I seem to slip back into things (old habits and thoughts on materialism) quickly. I pray for God to change my heart and my wants often. He always does. He is faithful in that. I just have to remember to focus on what He has already revealed to me on this and many other subjects. The world can get us so turned around :( I think we all preach to ourselves on this one, and that is probably not a bad thing. Let's keep letting the Word change us!
ReplyDeleteGreat post!
ReplyDelete