Were you dropped on your head as a baby

I remember the Christmas season after the flood in Louisiana.

It was a different time in the country, people saw a need and were giving to it.

Many different people gave to such a worthy cause.

Soon afterwards a news story that followed it.

Consumer buying for Christmas way down so people might have to get laid off at some of the stores.

First thought, people are going to get laid off around Christmas time.

While it stinks for those people, it also says something about our society.

The giving was up and the spending was down.

This was huge.

People stopped buying as many gifts and started to donate more and more.

While it wasn't good for the economy, people gave to those who need.

How much stuff do we really need at Christmas time?

There was a greater cause then buying lame Christmas gifts.

Yet the story we hear is people are losing their job because of giving.

Is that ok, to give to a worthy cause rather than to buy a gift?

America gave up Christmas presents and things in order to truly give gifts worth giving.

The foundation of Christianity is this…

Giving to others, giving more than just a little bit of our income.

A rich young man once came to Jesus and asked what I must do to get eternal life?

Jesus told him to basically follow his 10 commandments.

He told Jesus I do.

Jesus then told him to sell all his possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.

Matthew 19:22…

"When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had a great wealth."

He didn't get it.

He was good except one area.

Money.

He couldn't give up everything he had.

This is a major difference between the Acts 2 Church and us today.

If you have been around church long enough, you might have heard something like…

"We want to be like the Acts 2 Church."

Really???

The early Church was known for people selling all they had and going all in for Jesus, for the Church.

Everyone was equal, they gave it all.

They would sell their land, give their animals and provide to other people in need.

We often miss the point today.

Minister's can be no different.

We can get sucked into the wrong idea too.

I have seen ministers with brand new corvettes, an absolutely stunning house, a house on a lake, having the nicest most expensive things (TiVo, big screen TV's, brand new Harley's, new trucks and the latest and greatest of everything).

When we get stuck in this habit of buying everything nice, top of the line we look more like the Pharisees and less like servants of Jesus.

I am guilty in this area as much as the next person.

While God doesn't want us to have the worst stuff in the world, he wants the best for us.

I think he has a major problem when a family is broke just hoping the collectors don't call and people are living well, well above their means.

It's even more of a problem when they go to the same Church.

Currently, some Christians have no idea what living in the Acts 2 Church was all about.

We can fall guilty in this area.

This is a tough lesson because I know I am just as guilty.

It's easy to say…

• I need a bigger house because I need a place for fellowship to happen and that can't happen in a small house.
  
• I need a bigger TV because when I have people over I don't want their eyes to squint.
  
• I need a newer motorcycle that way when I am riding with my Christian motorcycle group I don't have to worry about it breaking down.
  
• I need top of the line hockey equipment because that offers more protection and if I am hurt I can't reach out to people playing hockey.
  

The list could go on and on.

Everyone's list could be different.

Sometimes we fall way short of where we need to be and are stuck in our own messes.

Because having the nicer things cost more money and often we suffer and can't give because we needed a brand new car when I used one would have done.

Following Jesus causes us to think different, yet often we don't.

We are more like the Rich Young Ruler then we think.

But we can change, Dave Ramsey's FPU class has helped Hailee and I in this area.

We are house shopping right now and are trying to find a nice house but something we could afford.

Nothing bigger and better then what we need.

People gave when Louisiana was in need, who's in need today?

In our community?

In our Church?

In our country?

In our world?

Are you living above your need for the wrong reasons?

What can you do to change?

What do you think?

Have a great weekend.