Less Sacrifice Than We Think

Dollar figures can be overwhelming, especially in hard economic times. Many non-profit organizations struggle in these days, as Americans tighten their discretionary giving. Against things like skyrocketing fuel costs and a deflated housing market, people battle to maintain their lifestyle. It makes be thankful to be a part of church of so many people who have been heroic in giving to the mission field and the cause of leading people in new life with Jesus in the midst of economic uncertainty.

Still, dollar figures make us gasp. Think of $100,ooo. To the average person, especially the person teetering on the edge of the lower middle class/poverty line, that's a staggering amount. Or is it...

Several Jesus-followers in our area have accepted the radical challenge to sacrifice money, over and above what we already give to the cause of Jesus Christ, to put toward life-changing mission and ministry. My first thought was to fast one meal a week, call that a $10 expense I am foregoing, and set aside that money as my "over-and-above" what I already commit. If just 200 of us did this throughout 2012, that would be over $100,000 extra to be put into the mission field. And suddenly that number doesn't seem so big! In fact, in these first few weeks of fasting a meal a week, I'm starting to think, "This isn't that big a sacrifice at all. What else might Jesus being inviting me to sacrifice so lives will be changed?"

Maybe these aren't the scarcity days we seem to believe they are. What if God has placed in us all the resources needed to do God-sized things for people in need in 2012? Maybe there is really no lid on what God can do.

I'll see you around the next bend in the river.