How Much Do You Need?
So it's Christmas time again. Last Christmas was a frustrating experience for me. At the same time we were trying to plant a missional church by engaging with the truly needy people in our city (homeless, addicts, refugees), my family was knee-deep in the "normal" American (materialistic) Christmas. Seeing my kids get so many gifts that their eyes began to glaze over confirmed to me that something needed to change.
My wife affirms that gift-giving is a way of expressing love, and so the answer is not to bar my relatives from giving (or my kids from receiving) gifts. I'm still wrestling with the right thing to do as far as my kids go. But this year, I figured I could at least start by changing my own habits. After all, what do I really need? Sure, I could come up with a list of 4 or 5 luxury items that I would enjoy having. But would I feel any better the day after Christmas for having them? Do I feel okay adding another Gap shirt to my closet when my Burundi friends don't even have winter coats?
So this year, my Christmas gift will be clean water for Africa. My family does the whole gift-exchange thing: put some names in a hat, draw one, and buy that person a gift. So I asked my sister-in-law to make a contribution in my name to blood:water mission, a humanitarian aid agency that funds well-digging projects in Africa. Instead of gorging myself on American materialism, I'm shooting for a missional Christmas. I'm only one person. But I wonder: what might the impact be if many of us in Coram Deo decided to do something similar this Christmas?
Now you at least have to think/pray about it. Sorry if you were hoping for a new iPod or something. But maybe people living longer in Africa is more important than your technological hip-ness.
My wife affirms that gift-giving is a way of expressing love, and so the answer is not to bar my relatives from giving (or my kids from receiving) gifts. I'm still wrestling with the right thing to do as far as my kids go. But this year, I figured I could at least start by changing my own habits. After all, what do I really need? Sure, I could come up with a list of 4 or 5 luxury items that I would enjoy having. But would I feel any better the day after Christmas for having them? Do I feel okay adding another Gap shirt to my closet when my Burundi friends don't even have winter coats?
So this year, my Christmas gift will be clean water for Africa. My family does the whole gift-exchange thing: put some names in a hat, draw one, and buy that person a gift. So I asked my sister-in-law to make a contribution in my name to blood:water mission, a humanitarian aid agency that funds well-digging projects in Africa. Instead of gorging myself on American materialism, I'm shooting for a missional Christmas. I'm only one person. But I wonder: what might the impact be if many of us in Coram Deo decided to do something similar this Christmas?
Now you at least have to think/pray about it. Sorry if you were hoping for a new iPod or something. But maybe people living longer in Africa is more important than your technological hip-ness.
posted by Bob | 1:04 PM
4 Comments:
Transformation is an amazing thing. It allows me to look at my past and notice that when I thought I was doing “good” things, my heart was still in the wrong place. I can see this in my past Christmases. I was always a big believe is giving, more then receiving. However, what has changed in my heart is who should get the Glory. I use to give, so I could brag, and therefore have people confirm how cool I thought I was. I could really care less who received my gift, if they really needed it, or if it was enough. All I really wanted was the gratitude to tell everyone how sweet I was. I praise God for opening my eyes. I don’t have much, but I will be looking at how I can give. What is different this year? Well, I will be giving to something that God has weighted on my heart. I will be giving because I know that the person that gets it will really need it. I won’t be bragging about how I gave a gift to someone, but I will be telling people how much of a need there is for this mission. That is what I challenge everyone to do. Don’t just give money because the bible tells us to, or because our Pastor tells us that it is good. Don’t get me wrong. These ARE good reasons and if you don’t have a weight on your heart to give, this isn’t a free pass ticket. What I am challenging you to do is give to something that weights on your heart. If it is Africa, then send your gifts to Africa. If it is in Omaha, send them to organizations in Omaha. If it is for the homeless, find a good missionary based homeless organization to . Don’t just give because that is what “Christians” are suppose to do. Give because God has transformed you to ache for his lost children.
Hey sheep... thanks for your comments. Good thoughts.
Next time you post please use your name. The point of a blog is to be a public forum.
If anyone wants to do good overseas while still getting some cool clothes for others . . . .. get your RED on. At the Gap, bp, and any ipod store. . you can get products where %50 goes straight to Africa, as well as supporting the factories built in Africa that are currently employing Africans.
the sacrifice: these clothes are a little more expensive because 14 year-old in Taiwan aren't making them. So, the clothes are a bit expensive for the bargain hunter. But, good is being done.
my 2 cents,
Aaron
too many typos in the above post: :)
take 2
If anyone wants to do good overseas while still getting some cool clothes for others . . . .. get your RED on. At the Gap, bp, and any ipod store. . you can get products where %50 goes straight to Africa, as well as supporting new factories built in Africa that are currently employing Africans.
the sacrifice: these RED clothes/products are a little more expensive because 14 year-olds in Taiwan aren't making them. So, the clothes are a bit expensive for the bargain hunter. But, good is being done.
my 2 cents,
Aaron
2:32 PM
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