Alrighty Then, Let’s Talk Motivation and Conviction

And I quote…

I find no greater indictment of Christians in our day than the statistic that folks who claim to be committed believers give on average less than 3 percent of their income.

We’re the wealthiest nation in the world, and yet we’ve got missionaries lined up fifteen deep without funds to take the gospel around the world. While they wait, we have our toys, our clothes, our jewelry, our second and third homes, and consumer debt up to our ears. We don’t know how to cook anymore, so we eat out all the time. We can’t afford to send our missionaries because we’re busy maintaining our luxury lifestyles.

The problem in our world is not Hollywood, terrible people, gangs, or the educational system. If Christians lived like Christians, things would be remarkably different. If all forty million Americans who claim the name of Jesus took God’s holiness seriously, the entire country would be transformed in ten years. We know the enemy, and it’s mostly us. But we’re under  command to stop, turn around, and pursue holiness. We will have to develop a whole new attitude.

Chip Ingram. He’s one smart cookie. I read this this morning from his book God: As He Longs For You To See Him (yes, I realize I have been reading it for the past 5 months now. Don’t hate, I’m starting Ch 7 of 10, the home stretch is in sight. It’s my addiction to reading 5 books at once. Just finished Heaven is for Real - Nebraska shout out inserted here – and Jon Acuff‘s new book, Quitter. Rave reviews coming soon.).

I read this and shouted “Preach it!” Or I would have anyway, had I not had the cutest 5 week old baby boy ever asleep right beside me. No  sooner had those words left my mouth, errr head (?) did I immediately get the sense of looking into a mirror and myself asking me, “Really Tiff?” Sure, we do tithe 10% (not the place to get into a pre-tax/post-tax discussion, not going there). Yes, after a lot of hard work we are debt free. We give to the missions fund every month and we even sponsor a child. Score! My work here is done. Check the box.

Or not.

Chip’s words were highly motivating, but not just for others. For me as well. I’d even go so far as to say convicting. Conviction in a positive light. It made me ask (and answer) some tough questions – the ridiculous amount of money we’ve spent the past 2 months eating out, blaming a house renovation, time and a baby. Can we not really make time to throw something in the crock pot or on the grill and eat as a family IN ADDITION to saving some of that money to give?

Do we really NEED that second or third vacation home on the beach? Oh, wait, no that was just a dream. But in all seriousness, being debt free while still saving and giving the politically and spiritually correct allotted amount does not give us an all access pass to spend carelessly.

Toys aren’t bad, eating out isn’t bad, spending money on our selves and families is not bad. However, are we out of control? Are we even carelessly in control and could be doing more to make an impact? One we might never see this side of heaven but is still important?

Yes. The answer is yes. And I’ll walk a fine line here and hope I don’t get a lashing, sometimes it’s not even all about faith. If you don’t Believe, ok (well, not okay but for the sake of this argument I’ll accept it for now) – it is still about helping one another. Giving each other a hand, and taking care of humankind b/c we’re all in this together, living, surviving and doing the best we can.

I may not ever reach JC Penney status – who altered his lifestyle as his wealth grew so that he was living off of 10% and giving 90%. But one truth for today, I can do more.

We will do more.