Haiti is an impoverished nation where 80 percent of its people live in great need. One child in 14 never reaches his or her first birthday; another one in five never lives to the age of 4; and voodoo is practiced across the land. Yet, in the middle of the despair, Haiti is experiencing a revival. Ramshackle churches are being filled as many are receiving Christ and being released from demonic oppression.
On a flight home from Haiti, I flipped through the catalog that I found in the seat pocket in front of me. I had just left a country where people were desperate for food, and now I was viewing pages of useless gadgets for sale: spring-loaded “gravity-defying” shoes, a luxury mattress for my dog, even a full-size 80s-style arcade game for the kids. I winced over the stark contrast. People in the developed world are buying luxury beds for their pooches while Haitian children sleep on cold cement floors, I mused. But even as church membership thins in some nations, more and more Haitian Christians are meeting God in profound ways.
On the eve of entering the Promised Land, Moses warned the Israelites that a land of abundance could be a spiritual snare. He urged them to put God first. Otherwise, as they ate well, built homes, and saw their flocks and riches multiply, they would forget Him (Deuteronomy 8:12-14). Moses’ urgings remain ever relevant to those of us living in countries where personal affluence is high. Riches and pleasures can choke our faith (Luke 8:14). The antidote? Thanking God for every blessing we receive (Deuteronomy 8:10) and developing a heart of generosity for the poor (15:7-11).
Let’s exchange consumerism for compassion—extending God’s grace with grateful hearts to those in need.
More:
• Psalm 146:7-9
• Matthew 6:19-21
• James 2:14-17
Next:
When did you last give sacrificially to those in need? How is your wealth and abundance stifling your relationship with God?
Gary4orphans on December 9, 2009 at 9:08 am
Thank you Sheridan for that insight. I frequently travel to Liberia West Africa and see the same things you wrote about. I believe Americans are a generous people, even in these hard economic times, but most simply don’t know, they haven’t seen with their own eyes or touched with their own hands the needs you and I have personally observed. May your post help to open the eyes of our Christian brothers and sisters to find some way in which to help the poor and needy globally. I’ve heard it described as “binocular vision” of missions (as opposed to the narrower telescopic vision of USA needs only). May many see the global need and respond. No, we can’t help them all, but let us help as many as God moves us to help. Amen
daisymarygoldr on December 9, 2009 at 6:11 pm
Great post and timely message that reminds me to put God first!
Savedforever on December 9, 2009 at 9:03 pm
Thanks! brother Sheridan and brother Gary4orphans. I am blessed by your post, here in the Philippines many also are needy, poor children and families. My heart is in mission since I have not yet the resources for mission to go to poor nations like Haiti, I plan to combine ministry and business here to reach out these precious souls, to provide jobs to poor individuals and feed the hungry children and ultimately usher them to church.
Please! pray for me that this plan will come to pass.
God bless!
sheridan voysey on December 10, 2009 at 5:12 am
Hi folks. Thanks so much for your comments.
Gary4orphans, I think you’re right. Many people (Americans or my fellow Australians included) are generous hearted but don’t know of the need. Where possible, I’d love to see every Christian visit a developing country and see, smell and feel the need. Such trips have forever changed my approach to money! (I hope they always will.)
Savedforever, how I love your country and people! I have three Filippino sponsor children and my two visits there were so memorable. May God indeed bless you with the ability to succeed in business, create jobs, develop leaders, feed hungry children and usher many into the Kingdom.
Please Lord, may this be so, for your Name and for those you love. Amen.
Don Grindell on April 30, 2010 at 12:09 pm
I am an American Christian who has live a number of years of my adult life outside. I am currently unemploy ed and facing homelessness again and certainly feel for the Haitians. However; I feel it necessary to speak up in regards to quick criticizing of peoples who are blessed materially. One reason the Jews were persecuted for centuries is that they had more money than others. Material wealth in it’s self is not a result of greed or thievery; that was the reasoning of the communists. Let us beware of judgemental assumptions about wealth;look what happened to the Communists and Nazis.
sheridan voysey on May 3, 2010 at 6:38 pm
Hi Don.
I think we can agree that making money is not a sin. However, hording wealth is certainly challenged by Jesus (Matthew 6:19-21; 19:23-24). There is a world of difference between (state ordered) communism and (freely offered) generosity. The thousands of verses in the Bible about the latter, about living simple lives for the sake of the poor, challenge me everyday.
I pray God will provide you with work soon Don.
Don Grindell on May 6, 2010 at 8:31 pm
Hi Sheridan I certainly do not advocate hoarding of wealth and am certainly not opposed to freely offered generosity {and I speak as a poor person} there are also “thousands” of verses in the Bible about wealth being a blessing from God and poverty a curse fom God. If everyone lived “simple lives for the sake of the poor” we’d still be in the caves and trees. Thank you for your prayers.