David Platt said, “You and I both have a choice. We can stand with the starving or with the overfed. We can embrace Jesus while we give away our wealth, or we can walk away from Jesus while we hoard our wealth.” No one wants to admit they are a hoarder. I suspect most followers of Jesus want to consider themselves generous. But we can’t deny the fact those of us in the West live in incredible comfort while nearly half the world is starving and lacks access to clean drinking water.
Half of the people groups in the world have never heard the name of Jesus. Half the world has never been given a cup of cool water or a piece of bread in the name of Jesus. This is devastating.
Pastor Platt went on to ask, “Would it be fair to say your plans for today involve indulging in pleasures while throwing scraps to the poor outside your gate? If so, what would a radically generous alternative look like?” I have long aspired to live like John Wesley. He lived on 10% of his income and gave away 90%. Mr. Wesley wasn’t giving scraps to the poor. He was living on scraps and generously giving to those in need. I confess I am not at the 10/90 ratio yet. I’m still a long way from it. It remains a goal of mine before I die, and each year I aspire to get closer. It begs the question, until we are at least to a 49/51 split of our wealth, can we not be considered as throwing scraps to those outside our gates (Luke 16:19-21)?
How much of the money God has entrusted to us to steward do we spend on selfish indulgences? How much do we spend on personal comfort? How much goes toward what most of the world would consider extreme luxuries? I’m not trying to make anyone feel guilty about the wealth with which God is blessing them. I am saying He has given you such wealth to be used for His Kingdom. We ask for His will to be done on Earth as it is in Heaven. What is the will of God? Is it not to feed the hungry, give clean water to the thirsty, clothe and shelter the poor, care for the sick, and free those in chains (Matthew 25:31-46)? All these things take money. We have the means. We have the wealth. We have the opportunity. Are we hoarding or giving it? We’ve got to give it away.
Give it away. Give it all away. What have we got to lose? One day we will die; what will become of our wealth then? One day we will stand face to face with Jesus. For what will our earthly comforts and security count then? Will we not be utterly ashamed to have lived in luxury while others of His children literally starved to death? What then will we say? It’s not too late. Give it away. Share your wealth, don’t hoard it. Begin to give in radically generous ways.