Extravagance

Before you read on, be sure to watch this.

This video bothered me. I believe in missions and I back up that belief with my checkbook. I believe in ministering to the poor and that’s why I’ve found myself interacting with kids in the midst of a garbage dump in Central America. I’ve played with orphan kids in Romania and I’ve knocked down walls in Ecuador so that radio waves can invade Afghanistan.

I realize that, if Americans would simply tithe their 10%, we could knock out world hunger.

But I think there’s a reality check between thinking that it’s wrong to make a music video because kids in Africa are starving and realizing that this is America and we’ve been blessed and we’ve worked hard for what we have.

Yes, but a woman shouldn’t have to work two jobs and sell oranges just to send her kids to school. It’s wrong. It’s a fallen world. And we should do everything we can to help.

Yeah for Sarah Mclachlin. We now are all very aware of what her right hand is doing.

And, just since I’m being a jerk (or at least coming across as one), the cost of a t-shirt is $5, an investment that would make it look like Sarah actually has a shirt on in this video, rather than appearing to be topless, covered only by a guitar.

I'm trying to find a balance. The balance between being concerned about the poor all over the world and enjoying the blessings in my own life.

When I was trying to think about this in terms of the Bible, a story of incredible extravagance came to mind. Remember when Mary poured expensive perfume on Jesus? The disciples were quick to jump all over her - "Why this waste? This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor."

And I love what Jesus says. "Why are you bothering this woman?"

I think America has been extremely blessed because, regardless of how much we try to hide it, we were founded on Christian principles - a nation under God. And the answer isn't that we're bad people for having fancy computers and fast cars and big houses.

I know a wealthy couple, the Merillat's, in Michigan. Because of their extravagance, I went to one of the most beautiful Christian college campuses in the Midwest. Because of their extravagance, I enjoyed a semester at Focus on the Family learning about leadership in church, family and society.

We need to give extravagantly out of the blessings that we've been given.

I think Rich Mullins sums up what I am failing to say plainly:

Before I got into this music business, I was determined to live a life of dire and grinding poverty. I remember my uncle saying, "Wow, you are so proud of being poor - what's so great? You would do a lot better to be a little more industrious, a little more frugal. If you're really concerned about the poor, becoming poor isn't going to help them, it's just going to ease your own conscience. If you're really concerned about the poor, go out and make a fortune and spend it on them."
++Rich Mullins++