May 12 - Is it Worth the Money to Go?
2 Corinthians 4:6-7 "For God, who said, "Let your light shine
out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of
knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure
in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from
us."
The thought has probably crossed your mind that mission trips cost a lot of
money. In fact, in some circles, it is believed that we should send our money to
the nations, and not send people. Their logic declares that nationals can do
much more with the amount of money we spend on trips than we can. You will learn
a lot about poverty, poverty alleviation and global justice issues during your
time in Guatemala and your opinion of short term missions may change. That is
often the case during a trip like this. It is true that short term missions NEED
to change in order to become more effective in the long run, but that does not
mean that people need to stop going.
There are several major problems with the "logical" view of sending only
money and not people. One of them is that nowhere in the Bible does it say that
God inhabits money. God dwells in people! He said, "Go." "Go...to the ends of
the earth." He is sending you and has promised to be with you. God has placed
something in you that can never dwell in a currency and that is Himself.
The reason that Jesus said "Go" is because one person has the strength from
God that another person needs. We need the strength that God has given
Christians in Guatemala and around the world and vice versa.
You are being sent to places where you are going to pray, preach, sing,
testify, build or train leaders like only you can do. No dollar bill can do it.
You are going to meet people and form relationships that no amount of money can
accomplish.
Economic markets rise and fall, but God has no shortage of dollar bills and
quetzals (Guatemalan money) or any other currencies. The Bible says that the
earth is His. It ALL belongs to Him. What He does sometimes have a shortage of
is obedient servants who will go into all the world.
Don't let the logic of human reasoning overstep the clear command of
Scripture and GO with joy!
God, you have shone your light into my life and you are taking me to
places where that light can shine, dispelling all darkness. Let my life always
be a carrier of your light. During this trip, I pray that there will be an
exchange between cultures that brings life both to mine and the lives of the
people we encounter.
With Gratitude,
Sondra
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