money colored shirt
HI Folks,
I have a shirt that is almost the exact color of American money. A nice, rich green color. Although this shirt makes me feel GREAT (for some reason) when I wear it, it hasn't brought me any riches. And the color doesn't seem to be "rubbing off", if you know what I mean? When I looked at my shirt this afternoon, I got to wondering why it makes me feel so good to wear it. I think it is really just the color, although the shirt is well-made, and quite nice. I guess it makes me feel "rich". Carolyn has told me at this point that to feel "rich" is a particularly non-Christian attitude, or feeling, and she may well be right. But I am sure we can all understand that not having to worry about the next tank of gas, or where our next meal is coming from is a good feeling, can't we? We learn to rely upon God for these things as we grow and mature in Christ, don't we? Instead of money. My human side still likes that feeling of having sufficient funds to cover the gap, unfortunately. (hey, I'm far from perfect).
Once I began to wonder about shirts, and colors, and things like that, I couldn't help but begin to wonder about a few other things, which SEEM to be tied together, but in fact have very little bearing on one another. Like praying for instance.
Almost everyone prays. Some of us do it more formally, and habitually than others, but almost all of us have offered up a prayer to God in a stressful moment or situation. How many of us have made false promises to God in a moment of clear conviction? You know, like..."if you just will help me in THIS situation Lord, I'll..._____(fill in the blank)". That sort of thing.
Prayer is a wonderful and powerful tool which we have been given by God to speak our hearts. It is NEVER wasted, but when prayer is used to make a false-promise, or a well-intentioned though null, declaration of faith...is it something like wearing a "money-colored shirt"? Is this sort of prayer just something that makes us feel good, for the moment? Or is it something more? Theologians disagree on the efficacy of a well-intentioned but faithless prayer. I for one, know that God heard it...no matter the outcome. It has been my experience that the outcome of this sort of prayer is usually an opportunity to "reach the lost", and to welcome a new Christian into the fold of believers. We must make it our DUTY to search out these opportunities, musn't we? Please don't let these "foxhole prayers" go unanswered due to some inaction on OUR part....brothers. Sometimes God acts directly in answer to our prayers, and sometimes He uses us Christians ... be sensitive to these leadings, please.
Another thing this green shirt got me to wondering about was how the filling of a pew on Sunday mornings expresses our faith and belief in God. I suspect that some of the people sitting in pews on Sunday mornings are there simply because it is customary...or because if they DON'T go to church their neighbors and friends will "talk". That's a bit like wearing a money-colored shirt too, isn't it? Do we go to church to pray to God and to worship Him, ...or to be seen by our sometimes judgemental friends and neighbors? Is our attendance an expression of Faith in our Lord and Saviour, or is it simply an expression of our fear of the perception of others?
When we DO go, let's make sure that we are there for Him,and not "them"...okay?
Every time....because He is there for YOU, every time!
That's it....my mind wanders when I wear a money-colored shirt, I guess.
Merriest of CHRISTmasses for you, and your loved ones my brothers!
Richard Becton
Missionary, Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua
www.casadeservicio.org
I have a shirt that is almost the exact color of American money. A nice, rich green color. Although this shirt makes me feel GREAT (for some reason) when I wear it, it hasn't brought me any riches. And the color doesn't seem to be "rubbing off", if you know what I mean? When I looked at my shirt this afternoon, I got to wondering why it makes me feel so good to wear it. I think it is really just the color, although the shirt is well-made, and quite nice. I guess it makes me feel "rich". Carolyn has told me at this point that to feel "rich" is a particularly non-Christian attitude, or feeling, and she may well be right. But I am sure we can all understand that not having to worry about the next tank of gas, or where our next meal is coming from is a good feeling, can't we? We learn to rely upon God for these things as we grow and mature in Christ, don't we? Instead of money. My human side still likes that feeling of having sufficient funds to cover the gap, unfortunately. (hey, I'm far from perfect).
Once I began to wonder about shirts, and colors, and things like that, I couldn't help but begin to wonder about a few other things, which SEEM to be tied together, but in fact have very little bearing on one another. Like praying for instance.
Almost everyone prays. Some of us do it more formally, and habitually than others, but almost all of us have offered up a prayer to God in a stressful moment or situation. How many of us have made false promises to God in a moment of clear conviction? You know, like..."if you just will help me in THIS situation Lord, I'll..._____(fill in the blank)". That sort of thing.
Prayer is a wonderful and powerful tool which we have been given by God to speak our hearts. It is NEVER wasted, but when prayer is used to make a false-promise, or a well-intentioned though null, declaration of faith...is it something like wearing a "money-colored shirt"? Is this sort of prayer just something that makes us feel good, for the moment? Or is it something more? Theologians disagree on the efficacy of a well-intentioned but faithless prayer. I for one, know that God heard it...no matter the outcome. It has been my experience that the outcome of this sort of prayer is usually an opportunity to "reach the lost", and to welcome a new Christian into the fold of believers. We must make it our DUTY to search out these opportunities, musn't we? Please don't let these "foxhole prayers" go unanswered due to some inaction on OUR part....brothers. Sometimes God acts directly in answer to our prayers, and sometimes He uses us Christians ... be sensitive to these leadings, please.
Another thing this green shirt got me to wondering about was how the filling of a pew on Sunday mornings expresses our faith and belief in God. I suspect that some of the people sitting in pews on Sunday mornings are there simply because it is customary...or because if they DON'T go to church their neighbors and friends will "talk". That's a bit like wearing a money-colored shirt too, isn't it? Do we go to church to pray to God and to worship Him, ...or to be seen by our sometimes judgemental friends and neighbors? Is our attendance an expression of Faith in our Lord and Saviour, or is it simply an expression of our fear of the perception of others?
When we DO go, let's make sure that we are there for Him,and not "them"...okay?
Every time....because He is there for YOU, every time!
That's it....my mind wanders when I wear a money-colored shirt, I guess.
Merriest of CHRISTmasses for you, and your loved ones my brothers!
Richard Becton
Missionary, Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua
www.casadeservicio.org
posted by Casa de Servicio | 2:42 PM
|
0 comments
links to this post
