Blessed to bless others

[Pastor Gary]

I apologize in advance for the possibility of being misunderstood or causing offense, but this is greatly on my heart, so here goes:

Some of you live modestly. Some from paycheck-to-paycheck. I am not addressing you.

This is to those who have been financially richly blessed. Those who are blessed with luxury cars, multiple homes, expensive toys -- boats, airplanes, motor homes...

Enjoy your blessings. Thank God for them. And while you enjoy them, please consider making a conscious effort to live more simply. The expression that comes to mind is "Live simply so that others may simply live."

We have Pastors and Overseers in many places who live with less than many of us waste in a month. An average American is wealthy by their standards, and a wealthy American is beyond their ability to imagine. When you are soaking in your spa, remember that the Overseer of the Philippines and his wife and children shower with a water hose and no hot water. In other countries leaders have no transportation... at all. The enormous disparity in resources, often the result of little more than being born in a "luckier" place than someone else, is more disturbing when it has a face and a name.

I challenge you: fast some luxury from now until the Assembly and keep track of the money you would have spent. Find a Pastor or Overseer from an area of need and bless them with that cash in Nashville. You won't miss it, but they will be tremendously blessed.

If you need a suggestion, ask.

[paul]

I apologize in advance for the possibility of being misunderstood or causing offense, but this is greatly on my heart, so here goes:

Some of you live modestly. Some from paycheck-to-paycheck. I am not addressing you.

This is to those who have been financially richly blessed. Those who are blessed with luxury cars, multiple homes, expensive toys -- boats, airplanes, motor homes...

Enjoy your blessings. Thank God for them. And while you enjoy them, please consider making a conscious effort to live more simply. The expression that comes to mind is "Live simply so that others may simply live."

We have Pastors and Overseers in many places who live with less than many of us waste in a month. An average American is wealthy by their standards, and a wealthy American is beyond their ability to imagine. When you are soaking in your spa, remember that the Overseer of the Philippines and his wife and children shower with a water hose and no hot water. In other countries leaders have no transportation... at all. The enormous disparity in resources, often the result of little more than being born in a "luckier" place than someone else, is more disturbing when it has a face and a name.

I challenge you: fast some luxury from now until the Assembly and keep track of the money you would have spent. Find a Pastor or Overseer from an area of need and bless them with that cash in Nashville. You won't miss it, but they will be tremendously blessed.

If you need a suggestion, ask.

It tough when you personally know those who have so little yet make such tremendous sacrifices to minister the gospel. Thank you PG for your heart to those in so many countries that are in such great need.

[RamboPreacher]

I agree PG.
I have a challenge, though, and it's one that I may get flamed for, but honestly I have no other way to explain it.

I don't know if I am one of those "rich" folk, but I want to be debt free, and so have been working toward that end for some years, and am finally nearly there (house, car, utilities, left).

Part of the reasoning in this is that I know the call that God has for me, and I know that I might be lead in directions that will be a different lifestyle than we are living.

mart of that also is a "giving spirit" that I believe that God has blessed me with. I get browbeaten a lot in the paintball ministry for example. many "Churches" and "Christians" will tell me - how can you spend that kind of money on those things, and play a game like that, when we have hungry missionaries and mission fields that could use the money.

Should I take the time to explain to them that it is a ministry and a mission field, right here in America (and overseas, we have nearly 5000 members around the world)? the answer is that I try to explain it as much as possible, but there will always be those that will judge/prejudge.

and then the giving spirit kicks in again, I have found that whenever I give stuff away, God puts me in a place or position where I receive much more than I have given. when lead, then I give that, and it multiplies.

I could give testimony after testimony, but the bottom line is that I have more "stuff" than I have ever had. And whether anyone flames me or not, I attribute it to God's harvest law. I do not give to get, but when I do give, it seems to roll in.

Why on earth should this HS dropout have a position in a large financial institution with 17 engineers working for him? Only God knows. Why do I have the most precious and beautiful wife, beyond the proverbs best wife, after what I have been through? God only knows.

This one thing I do know that I do try to live simply. I do support what I can, locally/nationally, and internationally. I am very conscious of where that money goes as well. I believe that is part of being a good steward. I don't give to organizations, for example, that have huge administrative overhead; or to places that will "feed the hungry", but not teach them how to farm, or irrigate or find water sources, etc.

So it goes. There is another point to consider, and that is that I truly believe God's Word. I don't want stuff now, but it comes. My kind of life-motto is that if I have it to give now, I will give, whether I am lead or feel like it or not. God's the blessing giver, and I am just the servant.

[paul]

RamboPreacher

I think of 2 Cor 9 where paul tells us that according to our giving it is given back to us. This is not a "give to get" but rather a life style of "living to give." It stems from the heart attitude of what giving is all about ( the widows mite). Jesus tells the disciples in Matt. 10 that they had so much freely given to them, that they should in turn freely give. And that giving should come from a thankful heart.

I have come across a few people who truly , I believe, had a gift of giving. It seemed that the more they gave out the more they received. Again not giving to get, but giving from the heart bgecause they felt it was a gift or blessing given them by God.

There is little question that I personally feel so much is wasted in our country that could be better used in other parts of the world. Every person, every miistry will give their own recokining to how they used or abused the blessings of God.

You should not feel guilty spending time or money ministering to those in the paint ball group. If yoou are truly doing it as a ministry and enjoying it at the same time then be blessed.

I also do not think it out of place to desire to be debt free in order to do more for the kingdom of God. It seems we have allowed the media and others to convense us it is impossible because of all the toy's we need to make us happy. ??

Nancy and I are very careful with our funds, we live on a failry small salary in order for more to be available to the ministry. God has constantly been their for us.

We returned from the Bahamas last week ( both a time of ministering and a few days off ) to find that a friend who has a landscaping business had completely redone our front and back yard. 1/4 acre new sod, complete new sprinkler system in ground valves and heads, 4 fully mature queen palms, 30- white rose bushes, mature birds of paradise, grond cover for the hill side, 100 feet of new roth iron fencing 4 feet high, and so many more flowers, bushes, bark trails....unbelievable. He told me yesterday that he just wanted to bless us because of the sacrifice we do in the ministry. I thought, what sacrifice, I love doing what I do. ( BTW the pastor where I ministered told me I had a great surprise waiting when I returned home ) Prophetic ???

Was it because I gave hoping that I would get something in return ? Probably not, but more because I have a heart to give. Maybe God just thought it would make my wife happy, maybe God just wanted to surprise me.

[Full Quiver]

That sounds awesome Paul. Share some pics please. I love palm trees!

[Full Quiver]

BTW, great idea PG.