Walk with...

Overlooked. Avoided. Ignored. Shut-out. How would you feel if most of your life you were treated that way. Often in an America that emphasis success and financial strength we avoid anything or anyone that reminds us that resources are not distributed equally. The way of Jesus is not a look-out for number one and take care of self to the exclusion of others. Rather it is a life that understands what we have is to be managed or stewarded for not just our sake but also for the sake of others. It is a way of life that is "rich toward God". In Luke 12:13-21, we find strong words toward a financially successful business man who holds and hoards his wealth for himself. God calls this foolish. Here are my questions:

• What does it look like to be "rich toward God"?
• How would you know if someone was "rich toward God"?
• If our giving is supposed to be "done in secret" (Matt. 6:1-4) then how do we encourage others or be a model for living different in a "fools" world.
• Is there a balance between taking care of our families and being generous toward the less-resourced?
• Jesus commends a servant who "invests" his talent (form of currency), so is investing for the future OK?
• How much is too much to hoard versus investing for the future or in His Kingdom work?
• At what point am I holding onto resources too long that need to be leveraged for others, especially the poor?
• If I give away resources that can be multiplied (by being invested or grown), am I missing a strategic opportunity in the Kingdom?
• What if we became a community that began to walk with those who are less-resourced?
• What if we stopped avoiding but actually engaged in helping those on the margins of our society financially?

Who are those who are most on God's heart? Check out Deut. 24:19-22 and James 1:27.

Share your thoughts, your questions and your next steps.

Grace and Peace,
Troy