Newsletter
September Newsletter - We Didn’t Know We Were Poor
My parents and their peers were dramatically impacted by the Great Depression. My Dad was born in 1929, the year most experts agree this catastrophic economic event began. His formative years were shaped by it and the influences of the Great Depression continue to inform many of the decisions his generation makes today. An observation I have often heard by survivors of that era is, "We didn't know we were poor." This sentiment reflects a shared experience. Poverty was so common, it was considered the norm. When you are poor and everyone around is too, there is little evidence to suggest another lifestyle is even possible. Sure, there were remote examples of lavishness, but they seemed too distant to be considered an option.
Sad to say, I think many Christians live in a Great Depression of the spirit today. They are surrounded by others of equal spiritual bankruptcy and assume that it's the way things are supposed to be. Just as during the economic malaise of the 1930's, these melancholy believers may see rare signs of spiritual empowerment in the "fortunate" Christians, but never see themselves without an impoverished heart. They don't know they are poor. They reflect the Yiddish proverb, "To a worm in a jar of horseradish, the whole world is horseradish."
One of the Bible's most encouraging verses is Philippians 4:19, "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." The context of this truth teaches that Paul's focus is on spiritual riches, not material wealth. He does not deny the Lord's ability or willingness to meet the believer's physical needs. His emphasis is, however, on the more important spiritual treasure. Perhaps the Apostle remembers Jesus' instruction, "For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 'But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 'So do not worry about tomorrow; . . . .' " (Matt 6:32-34a, NASB) The majority of Jesus' audience would never rise above a subsistence living so His lesson was not to follow Him as a means to accumulate worldly possessions. The Lord promises spiritual riches in exchange for Kingdom allegiance and, as a bonus, the God of the universe is able to meet your daily needs too.
A recent tour of the Senator John Heinz Museum reminded me of the vast wealth generated by Pittsburgh's founding industrialists. Men like Carnegie, Heinz and Westinghouse created financial empires with legacies that endure today. Their riches have outlived them by many generations. I encourage you to invest in your spiritual portfolio; make a deposit into your Kingdom account. The reward is both present and eternal.
One way to get out of the horseradish is by participating in one of our discipleship modules starting September 14. You can find a list of options in this month's edition of our newsletter or on the website. Topics range from marriage enrichment to spiritual gifts.
The Lord does not mean for His followers to be spiritually poor. Discipleship is His plan for gaining Kingdom wealth.
Every blessing,
Pastor Grueser
