Challenging questions

Two Sundays ago, Donny concluded our message series about redesigning our lives with a very challenging message about redesigning the garage. Most of us have garages filled with stuff other than cars. One of the things Donny emphasized is that what the bible teaches about possessions is very different than the American ideal that we always seem to be striving for. Nowhere does the bible teach the importance of gathering as many possessions as you can in order to make yourself happy. Donny closed out the sermon with some great questions that should cause us all to think about how we handle the money God has given us. Here they are:

· What if you and I were as diligent about seeking out people who had a need and meeting that need as we are about preparing for our own retirement?

· What if we desired seeing poverty eliminated as much as we do our own careers taking off?

· What if we searched as intently for helping the poor, the widows and the orphans as we do looking on the Internet for cheap tickets to the next game?

· What if, as a part of our regular individual budget, we set money aside for the sole purpose of giving it to someone who needs it?

· What if we pursued righteousness with the passion that we pursue our favorite hobby?

Richard Foster in his classic book Celebration of Discipline said, “May God give you and me the courage the wisdom, the strength always to hold the kingdom of God as the number one priority of our lives. To do so is to live in simplicity.”