Money can be something of a conundrum in the Christian life,
particularly as one part of the world has vast wealth, the other vast poverty
and the gap is seemingly ever widening.
Add to this the ‘natural’ tendency towards selfishness and a hostile
economic system which encourages a posture of self-preservation; there will be
a conflict between compassion and the fear of being irresponsible and winding
up in want.
As in all things though, the Gospel turns this issue on its
head and points towards eternity “Make friends for yourselves with dishonest
wealth
so that when it fails, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.” Furthermore, it encourages us to not be afraid.
There are good examples to be found in this area; one
grandmother I met years ago was given a large gift by her children and
grandchildren so she could have the trip of a lifetime. She had never been
abroad and after her many years of selfless service and kindness to her family
they wanted her to have something special. This was in the mid-nineties at the
tail end of the war in Bosnia and the beginning of the genocide in Rwanda. And
she gave this gift to the refugees from these two conflicts instead of treating
herself. I imagine she is reaping the reward of a lifetime of such acts now.
Another I heard of is a schoolboy who on hearing about the
work of a charity in Africa that provides one meal a day for children so they
can attend school every day, decided to forgo his birthday and Christmas
presents and instead give what would have been spent to enable these children
to be fed and get an education. He continued in this discipline year after year
and later became a fundraiser to add to this wonderful legacy.
Sacrifice is no longer sacrifice when it is done in love, it
is joy to the giver and life to the recipient.
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