You may be thinking that your life holds only what you need. Ninety percent of Christian's garages tell another story. Especially in the United States but outside of this country as well so many resources are stacked up, boxed or left laying around without being used while so many go without. Christian excess shouldn't be as long as there are orphans and widows to care for. That doesn't mean we throw pearls before swine. For every good hearted Christian there are ten selfish people waiting to take advantage of them. Why is this situation even an issue for Christians? Should Christians have the excess they have? People store up on earth for their earthly existence. Christians are no different and that's a sin. No one is telling you to part with your heirloom items or that special something your child made for you in 4th grade. The "stuff" we have in excess is not a tribute to the goodness of God but rather the selfishness of man. God's Word says that he will care for all of our needs. ALL. What the Word doesn't say is that he will give us all of our wants. What the Word doesn't say is that we can ignore the orphan and the widow. What the Word doesn't say is that we are entitled to excess. What good will any of the excess do if you were called home to be with Jesus today. Your and my life are not ours to decide when and where we die.
Here is the solution. Live like you have given your life to God. Simple. Go through ACTS and decide that God can have all of your life and not just the parts you want to give. Abandon your self and have Jesus live through you instead. The Bible tells of several who were willing to follow Jesus until he told them to sell and give away all they had to follow him. You don't need to be a billionaire to be that rich person. Your riches differ from another person's riches. Your excess is testimony to that difference. Your riches (given by God) were yours to give away. Yet, you have stored up treasure on earth instead of heaven. Should you have died so that Christ can live through you, you would understand this. Your life would show that your life, like Jesus', was poured out as an offering to God. Yet, do you have someone, anyone, who can provide testimony that your life has been poured out for those the Lord has sent you to care for, bring the Gospel to and to minister to? If your closest friends were to stand before you would they testify to your being poured out or would they testify to your excess?
Excess is not necessarily food, clothing and shelter. Excess is also love, acceptance and approval. Your excess is found when you receive these three but then don't or refuse to give it away. You love to receive but somehow don't want to give. The Bible tells us that it's better to give than to receive. Anyone ever tell you why? Besides the trueness of the Word of God, there is no way you can give away all that God has given you. No amount of giving on your part will ever overshadow the giving God does in your life. Whether he gives you physically tangible items or a heart full of love there is no way you can give it all away. If your Christian life consists of giving a tenth then you haven't given your life to Jesus. Those who abandon their lives and have Jesus living in them give 100% of ALL of their lives. They live as if nothing belongs to them because it doesn't. They give out of the grateful heart and the love of Jesus that radiates through them. Some give all and others only think they give all. Church leaders are intent on gathering the 10% and church members who are then duped into thinking the 10% is all that's necessary to give. This is backward thinking inspired by Satan himself. We have a limitless God who asks for your very life. He died so that he can bless you and others you know. Give away your excess!
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