**Disclaimer- I’m writing to Christians. If you’re not down with JC, you get a pass.
“I’m convinced that God did not mess up and make too many people and not enough stuff. Poverty was created not by God but by you and me, because we have not learned to love our neighbors as ourselves.” – Shane Claiborne, Irresistible Revolution
Wants and Needs are something I think about daily. What do I need to live? What does it mean to really want something? What lies have I bought into surrounding wants vs. needs? How do my decisions to satisfy some of my wants affect other people? Or, how might my decisions to satisfy some of my wants affect my relationship with God? The questions go on and on.
In large part, the western world is a world of instant gratification and self-centered consumerism. The land of: have it your way, supersize me, iPod, iPad, I don’t care about the cost that’s what credit cards are for, I want it now, now, now, me, my, I, give-me, give-me, give-me. If you don’t believe me look at the national debt, personal credit card debt or ask a teen what lay-away is, they’ll probably respond lay-a-what? And then give you a blank stare.
Manna
In the Jewish scriptures when the Israelites are marching in the desert between Pharaoh’s empire and the Promised Land, God commands the people to gather only what they needed. (Exod. 16:16) God rains down manna, food, from heaven each day which he assures, will be enough. If the people try to stockpile manna, the next day it is infested with maggots. Each morning God’s provisions are new, and the people are dependent on God’s faithfulness.
When I read this story I think it’s clear that we as a western society are gathering more than we need. In doing this, I wonder if many have insulated themselves from caring for other people or depending on God. I wonder if they are so content in their riches that they forget that they need God or anyone else. As Proverbs says, “Give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’” (Proverbs 30:8-9)
Fighting Poverty
What would it look like if we took a fearless inventory of our personal finances to see if we are taking more than we need? What if instead of accumulating as much as we could, we generously helped redistribute the blessings we have received. Like Paul urged the emerging Church, “Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn, their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality.” (2 Corinthians 8:13)
I’m not talking about government mandated wealth redistribution. I am talking about an incredible opportunity and responsibility the Church has in affirming the theology of loving our neighbors as ourselves through living off what we need and being generous with the rest. Let us deplore the prosperity gospel and the poverty gospel, but embrace the gospel of abundance rooted in the theology of enough.
Most of us have more than enough. God out of his glorious abundance, has abundantly blessed us that we might abundantly bless others. By living in “enough” we affirm that stuff isn’t the source of happiness, but rather, God. By living in “enough” we affirm our deep call to love others.
Will you join the fight against poverty? Will you commit to living in “enough” and to giving the rest to the poor; your time, your talents, and your money?
My prayer is that we’ll learn contentment. My prayer is that we’ll learn to have a deep, unshakeable faith in God whether in need or in plenty.
“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether lining in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” (Phil. 4:12-13)
LOVE. JOY. PEACE.
