My friend, Angela, shared an article with me on Patheos by Ben Corey today about preachers/ministry workers who live in multimillion dollar homes and live lavish lifestyles while so much of the world is impoverished. The article then went on to point out that not only are they at fault for choosing those lifestyles (mansions, jets, luxury cars, motorhomes for their dogs), but we as rich Christians are equally to blame as for giving to their ministries and for living lavish lifestyles ourselves. The author says, “Having an abundance of wealth kept for ourselves is not a sign of God’s blessing, but evidence of our own sinfulness.” Rob Bell gave a bunch of statistics on this in the Nooma Film, Rich. Bell says, “There’s a popular bumper sticker that reads “God Bless America,” but hasn’t America already been blessed? It’s easy for us to fall into a mindset of viewing “our” world as “the” world, because it’s all we generally see. We’re constantly bombarded with images of the latest styles and models of everything, and it can easily leave us feeling like what we have isn’t enough because we see people that have even more than us. But how does what we have compare to what most people in the world have? Maybe what we have is enough; maybe it’s more than enough. Maybe God has blessed us with everything we have so we can bless and give to others.”
Essentially, Mr. Corey says that we need to consider living lives of giving – radical giving – and not holding tightly to the stuff that we think is so important. Mike Bickle refers it to being a conduit of blessing – where the Lord blesses and we just pass it on down the line. He practices this in his personal life. It’s well know that he could live quite a lifestyle as he is a successful author and speaker and his wife owns a real estate company. Yet they choose to live simply, in an older duplex and he drives a Corolla. Their desire is to fund the prayer movement – so by living simple, they can pour the majority of their resources back into the ministry. That is a radical difference from the ministry leaders who feel they deserve a Gulfstream jet or a $5 million dollar estate. This is a short 80 year internship on earth… and when we think that we should grab all we can and try to hold on to it for the here and now, we have lost the whole point. Corrie tenBoom said, “I’ve learned that we must hold everything loosely, because when I grip it tightly, it hurts when the Father pries my fingers loose and takes it from me!” Jesus said that it is easier for a camel to squeeze through the eye of needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom. If our focus is storing up treasure here, we are going to be sorely disappointed in eternity, because it will rust, rot and burn on earth. Only what is stored in the eternal storehouses will last. That is true treasure! (Matthew 6:19-21).
Mr. Corey followed up his article the following day with five practices toward a more radical christian life (points are his, comments are mine).
1. Practice purging possessions.
I do this regularly. But I need to do it more! I get sentimental (even as a semi-minimalist) and think I need to hold on to stuff. It’s weight of stuff that just slows me down and clutter my life and time.
2. Practice curbing your impulse to acquire.
Oh we are so materialistic in America! I think I need this or that and suddenly I find myself with stuff that I am not even all that happy that I got. I really had to work on this principle and I feel that I have seriously improved in this area. I don’t get emotional about it like I used to, and have learned the value in waiting for 24 hours + before making a decision. Just because something new comes out – iPhone, Macbook, etc. doesn’t mean I have to get the newest version. Can I learn to be content with what I have?
3. Practice fasting.
This can be food of course – both healthy physically and expected spiritually. Jesus says, “When you fast…” thus, saying, in essence, that He expects that you will do it. But this can also be abstaining from things that capture our attention – media, buying stuff, etc. We really will be okay with less.
He says, “1-3 serve as the preparation for a life spent doing 4 & 5, but practice these NOW and see how life-giving they are.”
4. Practice radical generosity.
This is becoming such a fun part of my life. I want to have stories like Mike Bickle and Robert Morris – and The Lord is increasing my faith in this area. I challenge myself every year to increase my giving (beyond my tithing to my church). My ultimate goal is to live on 10% and give 90% away. Can you imagine how awesome that would be? I want to be intentional about giving, and sensitive to the leading of The Lord for when He says give, I want to be obedient to do it. Not just money, but possessions and time too!
5. Practice radical hospitality.
“Hospitality is a form of generosity but goes a bit further. Hospitality is what generosity looks like in a relationship….Through hospitality, you’re not simply being generous but you’re also developing meaningful relationships which are essential to Kingdom living.” This one is something I used to be pretty good at when I had my own home, but it has been quite a bit more difficult since I just have a small apartment. But I do think The Lord will allow me to do it again. Denny Rogers has such a giving heart in this area – for years we have had so many people over at our home for dinner and fellowship. He is an example of hospitality – generosity in relationship.
Link to the Article on Patheos.
So at the end of the day, the way I live before God, and the way I give into the kingdom is what matters. It’s easy to pick on the preachers with ostentatious displays of wealth, but they will have to stand before The Lord and give account for their stewardship. I need to focus on what I can do with what He has given me and be faithful to be a giver… with joy!
PS. I don’t give to those ministries that have leaders living in luxury. I don’t consider that wisdom or good stewardship.