Have you found your salvation?

0

Paul is quoted in Philippians 4:11, “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” I have found myself wondering just how old Paul was when he wrote those words? It seems to me that at this point in my life, I should be more content in my circumstances than I often find myself. How about you?

We live in a world where we have everything at our finger tips, maybe even too much stuff! Joshua Becker who writes for an online magazine Becoming Minimalist states the following statics about Americans:

1. The average size of the American home has nearly tripled over the past 50 years (NPR).

2. The United States has upward of 50,000 storage facilities, more than five times the number of Starbucks. Currently, there is 7.3 square feet of self-storage space for every man, woman and child in the nation. Thus, it is physically possible that every American could stand — all at the same time — under the total canopy of self-storage roofing (SSA).

3. While 25 percent of people with two-car garages don’t have room to park cars inside them and 32 percent only have room for one vehicle. (U.S. Department of Energy).

4. 3.1 percent of the world’s children live in America, but they own 40 percent of the toys consumed globally (UCLA).

5. Americans spend $1.2 trillion annually on nonessential goods — in other words, items they do not need (The Wall Street Journal).

I recently spoke with a friend just after she and her family had returned from a mission trip to Brazil. The wisdom that is gained from mission trips is always so rich, I asked her, “What did you learn that will forever change your life?” She explained that each day different teams would go out and minister to the people. She was sadden to see these people with so little and they were so poor. Their houses were tiny and their food was minimal.

Talking to one of the other individuals on the team, she began to brainstorm as to businesses they could assist the Brazilians to start in hopes these people would begin making more income and there by changing their lives. She told me as the week went on she noticed the care these Brazilians took when inviting the missionaries into their homes. Each family hosted with a true sense of love and caring as their guest sat on mattresses on the dirt floors. As she finished her story she said she realized that there was nothing they(missionaries) could give these people more important than the salvation message-that was what they needed to change their lives forever.

And so the Great Commission once again is the message of importance to all of us, none of the stuff we have or will have measure up to these scriptures. “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commended you; and lo, I am with you always even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20

This conversation continues to weigh on me as I think about those around me. We have everything but what people need is salvation. We spend hours every day gathering things and finances. The fact is that contentment comes only in knowing that salvation is what makes the difference in a life no matter the age, not how much stuff they have to live their life.

http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/47/2017/01/web1_SmithMary_10.jpg

By Mary Smith

Your pastor speaks

The writer is the superintendent of Christian Academy Schools in Sidney.

No posts to display