United States of Excess.

James 2

 

14 What good is it, my brothers, if a man says he has faith, but has no works? Can faith save him?

15 And if a brother or sister is naked and in lack of daily food,

16 and one of you tells them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled;" and yet you didn't give them the things the body needs, what good is it?

17 Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead in itself.

 

America is a very blessed country. God, in giving us freedom, has provided far more food, clothing and other things than we ever will truly be able to use. Sadly, there are those in our country who are starving, without homes, without even the barest necessities for survival.  Are we called to look at them, shout epithets and crass, throwaway phrases like "Get a job, you bum!"? Not if we are the God-fearing Christians we claim to be. Poll after poll states that somewhere around 80% of Americans claim to be Christian.  Where are the examples, though. Alas, too many "Christians" either fall into the category of those who have a spoken faith, which is to say they are merely self-proclaimed Christians who are not living the life of a real Christian.  They are talking the talk, but not walking the walk.

 

            This wouldn't be so tragic if if it weren't for the evidence of our excess and how we are drowning in it. We have fast food restaurants on nearly every block of our cities and towns.  We have buffet restaurants galore, and any number of other restarurants, diners, pizza places and other food outlets with which to gorge ourselves to oblivion. Yet, out on the streets, out on the highways and byways there are people wondering when they will have their next meal and where it will come from.

            So, yes, we are blessed, but we are not properly sharing the blessings.  Jesus pointed out the error of this, the error of not feeding the poor and what the consequences would be:

 

Luke 16

 

20 A certain beggar, named Lazarus, was laid at his gate, full of sores,

21 and desiring to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man's table. Yes, even the dogs came and licked his sores.

22 It happened that the beggar died, and that he was carried away by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died, and was buried.

23 In Hades, he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far off, and Lazarus at his bosom.

24 He cried and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue! For I am in anguish in this flame.'

25 "But Abraham said, 'Son, remember that you, in your lifetime, received your good things, and Lazarus, in like manner, bad things. But now here he is comforted and you are in anguish.

26 Besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, that those who want to pass from here to you are not able, and that none may cross over from there to us.'

27 "He said, 'I ask you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father's house;

28 for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, so they won't also come into this place of torment.'

29 "But Abraham said to him, 'They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.'

30 "He said, 'No, father Abraham, but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.'

31 "He said to him, 'If they don't listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if one rises from the dead.'"

 

Jesus also knew that this was a direct consequence of the fact that no one would willingly listen to His own words.  He admonished them knowing full well that few, if any would follow in obedience and make sure that the poor were fed, clothed and sheltered.

            Imagine what it would be like if the owners of all the various buffet restaurants, fast food chains, and other eating establishments took the excess from their kitchens and rather than throwing it all away as is the practice, they went out and distributed it to the poor, needy and hungry. It would revolutionize our country, and it would, more importantly please our Lord, Jesus.  That said, however, this would have to be done with the proper motives.  Forget doing this to make Taco Bell, McDonalds or Pizza Hut look good.  How about doing it because of the abundant love we received from God in the person of Jesus Christ?  How about feeding the poor because God showed us grace?

 

Romans 5

 

8 But God commends his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we will be saved from God's wrath through him.    

 

But that's the problem with America. God, apparently, has been left in the dust of our pursuit of self.  Everyone seems to be out for number one!  At the rate we are going as a nation, we are not just asking for God to remove His hand of blessing, but almost begging for it.    We turn our backs on God and then have the tamarity to bitterly wonder why it is He seems to have turned his back on us?

 

For whoever will be ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed, when he comes in his glory, and the glory of the Father, and of the holy angels.

Luke 9:26

 

We have a long way to go as a country, and we will never arrive at the place we need to be without God.  If this country is ever going to change, if we are ever going to see to it the poor are properly fed and clothed, we must surrender to the transforming power of God!

 

 

 

Don't be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God.

Romans 12:2