It seems that Saturday was worthwhile in God’s economy – the waiting, the questioning. Jesus didn’t need more time to defeat Satan, the time was only important to us – the proof Jesus really had died, to make the resurrection more clear. I have thought a lot about God’s economy in the last year or two, even before all the financial problems hit. We passed our 5 year mark (originally we planned on coming to the field 5 years after residency but Project MedSend www.medsend.org took my loans for us to come to PNG early). They are paying medical school loans on my behalf. It made me wonder if I have accomplished the things for which God asked so many people to give sacrificially for. Work and Witness team members occasionally have wondered if they did the right thing coming to us when sometimes their airfare alone could have built the buildings they worked on.
It seems God has been teaching me important lessons in faith. It turns out God is not concerned with the dollar values as much as he is about the value of a changed heart. Who have I led to the Lord in the last 5+ years who may not have known him if we had not come? Would anyone have helped raise up the HIV ministry? Who has Gail known would have turned away from God without her loving encouragement? What messages have made a difference in the churches and women’s ministries here?
Likewise, I have told W&W teams that “rich” western churches could send money here to build buildings for Papua New Guineans but it would not have had the same effect. Of course we need both, but if God directs you to come you must come! When people come with W&W their hearts are changed- they understand what we are doing here, they meet the people and they see the needs. They return impassioned for missions (I hate to think if Dr. Todd Winters would have never come – he got so impassioned for our work he started Nazarene Hospital Foundation www.nazarenehospitalfoundation.org that supplies so many of our needs). Not only do the “workers” hearts change but they have a true “witness” that goes beyond the “work”. National people spontaneously volunteer to work along side them, they comment that they can’t believe anyone cares enough about them to fly to the other side of the world to help them. The most common testimony I hear at the churches is, “If it wasn’t for the Lord, such different groups of people would never come together, but in the Lord we are family!” Many leaders now in the PNG church talk about the investment that has been made in them through missions over the years and the need to become a sending nation themselves. It is happening too! At a recent College of Nursing worship service, 23 nursing students felt a call to missions! Would that have happened without years of personal involvement from both short and long-term missions?
God has bigger plans than our eyes can see. Jesus points out that the widow giving her last 2 cents was greater than the showy gifts of the wealthy. It is the heart that God sees. The Creator of the universe does not need 2 cents, nor a million dollars. What He wants is loving obedience, and if we give Him that, He will bless our two little loaves and 5 fish and turn them into a feast that blesses others. Often God is glorified more in the way we live during our times of “need” than when we have abundant “blessings”.
The world financial situation is out of control - not just the US but in all kinds of countries from rich to poor and being hit. You may have even been asked by your church to pray and fast during the Lenten season for the situation of the international church (which is cutting administrative positions and possibly mission positions to follow). Nearly all of our work and witness teams have cancelled. But it is not a time to despair, God is in control. Do we trust Him, do we love Him, and are we willing to be obedient to His direction? It may look like Friday was a disaster and Saturday is filled with despair, but if only we had the eyes to see the promise of Sunday. In words of the famous sermon, “It’s Friday… but Sunday’s a comin’!!”
I don’t know what your current financial situation is but for most people a little uncertainty has entered in (and for some a lot). What is God teaching you through it? Will He use it to reshape your priorities, to re-evaluate your spending? Will it drive you to prayer? Will you still be faithful to giving when it truly becomes sacrificial? Do you invest yourself and not just your pocket-book? Will you see the opportunities around you to comfort those who are hurting or scared of the future? What a time for believers to show our faith – faith that Wall Street does not control our destiny, but that we have a hope that does not diminish, spoil, nor fade! Could it be that God has plans to grow His kingdom while the systems of the world show they have no real power to give us joy and hope? Our hope is not in quick economic recovery. Our hope is in an eternal God of love who does not change in recessions, depressions, nor disasters.
May you proclaim the Lord’s death and resurrection in the way you live with certain Hope in uncertain times. Be a blessing to others on what may prove to be a really nice Saturday!
In Christ
Scott
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1 comment:
Thanks for the excellent reminder. Hope you guys had a great Easter! Stephanie and I are looking forward to being back in paradise with you all next year. Until then we'll keep praying!
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