Friday, March 12, 2010

on priveledge

tijuana spring breakthrough was a challenging, inspiring, fruitful, and REAL experience for me. i saw so many things and met so many people that have really made me think and reflect on my priveledge - the blessings i have that i did nothing to deserve.

honestly, i felt a lot of guilt while in mexico. how different my life is from many of those i met in tijuana. and only because i was born into a different situation, a different environment, family, country than these beautiful people. as we drove through the unpaved streets of communities like maclovia rojas and la morita, where the people live in tiny homes along unpaved streets, i couldn't help but think whether or not i could be happy living in the conditions the people of those communities live in. i wondered whether or not i would willingly give up every luxury i have - my iphone, my ipod, my laptop, a soft, warm bed, running water, a washer and dryer, an abundance of clothes, a tv, my car - and live more simply. and i found myself feeling so guilty because i just couldn't imagine it.

a certain scripture passage kept entering my mind this past week:

matthew 19:21
Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

jesus' words just kept playing over and over again in my head. i am struggling to discern what this means. the most outstanding point that i get from this passage is that jesus says to sell your possessions and give to the poor FIRST and THEN come and follow him. and i believe that jesus meant what he said.

the possessions that i have are nothing. they are objects, creations of the world. they are not friendship, fellowship, love, and community. they are not faith. they don't/shouldn't determine who i am.

1 comment:

  1. They don't define you (things) but how you use them does. Jesus could see that the one thing the rich ruler needed was to be free from his idol of wealth so that's why Jesus said what he said to him. Applying this to our own lives is only applicable if we've made an idol of wealth/security. Giving is God's way of keeping us from that sin. Just my 2 cents.

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