I Am Rich
According to this cool site and their Global Rich List…I have more money and resources than over 99% of the people on earth.
This knowledge certainly puts life into perspective when the “Joneses” no longer live across the street but in a different country. We are used to measuring our value through the comparisons of those whom we live closest too (our neighborhood and friends) rather than the global view.
I wonder how God views our riches? [insert sarcasm here] Does he use the local street view or the global view to make his consideration of our generosity?
It is amazing how generous and willing to give we become when we visit places of extreme poverty. I have been in places in Central America and even in local homeless shelters that I refused to leave without giving the extra dollars in my pocket and extra clothes in my bag. It wasn’t a sacrifice to give…it was a moral mandate. I couldn’t have left the needy in their state knowing that I was living in abundance.
How rich are you? How does measuring our resources in light of the transcendent and global view of God change the way we build our plans to spend?
Have you read “The Hole in Our Gospel” yet? It really brings the realities of poverty home to our comfortable American mindset. I’m currently listening to the audiobook and being very challenged by it.
I will pick it up at your recommendation. Thanks!
If you don’t mind listening to audiobooks, you could save yourself a few bucks by downloading it free this month from http://www.christianaudio.com.