more from Alcorn

When Paul was taken in chains from his filthy Roman dungeon and beheaded at the order of the opulent madman Nero, two representatives of humanity faced off, one of the best and one of the worst.  One lived for prosperity on earth, the other didn’t.  One now lives in prosperity in heaven, the other doesn’t.  We remember both men for what they truly were, which is why we name our sons Paul and our dogs Nero.

Why does God make many of us rich?  We don’t have to wonder, because Scripture directly answers the question: “You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God” (2 Corinthians 9:11, italics mine).  God entrust riches to us not so we can keep them, but so that we can generously give.   Paul made this same point earlier:  "Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality.  At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need.  Then there will be equality" (2 Corinthians 8:13-14).  This passage argues against the notion that we who have more than enough should store up as much as possible for the future, so we’ll never have to rely on the gifts of others.  That may fit our individualistic spirit of American pride, but it doesn’t fit the teaching of Scripture.

  

Material blessings and restored families are definitely worth being thankful for.  The brother in China would be grateful to have them again; indeed, he gives heartfelt thanks each day for the little he does have.  And while the American brother is certainly right to give thanks, he and the rest of us must be careful to sort out how much of what he has experienced is part of the gospel and how much is not.  For any gospel that is more true in America than in China is not the true gospel.

We miss something in missionary martyr Jim Elliot’s famous words, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”  We focus on his willingness to sacrifice and serve, but we neglect his passion for personal gain.  Reread his ords and you’ll see that Jim Elliot was a profit seeker!  What seperated him from the common Christian wasn’t that he didn’t want treasure, but that he wanted true and lasting treasure.  He wasn’t satisfied with treasure that would be lost, only treasure that would last.

Whatever good thing you do for Him, if done according to the Word, is laid up for you as treasure in chests and coffers, to be brought out to be rewarded before both men and angels, to your eternal comfort.  John Bunyan

What we do with our money doesn’t simply indicate where our heart is.  According to Jesus, it determines where our heart goes …If I want my heart to be in one particular place and not in another , then I need to put my  money in that place and not in the other.  I’ve heard people say, “I want more of a heart for missions.”  I always respond, “Jesus tells you exactly how to get it.  Put your money in missions, and your heart will follow.”

     As believers in Christ, our theology gives us perspective.   It tells us that this life is the preface – not the book.  It’s the preliminaries – not the main event.  It’s the tune-up – not the concert.

     When you’re on a long airplane flight, you naturally talk to people, socialize, eat, read, pray, sleep, or maybe talk about where you’re going.  But what would you think if a passenger by the window seat started hanging curtains over the window, taped photographs to the seat in front of him, painted murals, and put up wall hangings?  You’d think, Hey, it’s not that long of a trip.  Once we get to the destination, none of this will matter.  Even a long plane flight is short compared to the span of your entire life.