Cross Points 7.10.22
Two Measures of Faith
I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. My faith, my desire to follow and obey Christ is sincere. Can you say that? Is there evidence? Many things might be listed as measures of our discipleship (Bible study, church attendance, service to others, etc.). But let me offer two for your consideration.
House Quotient
I read about something unique called the “house quotient.” The idea is that many church goers are among the affluent. In other words, we have nice houses, nice stuff, money, compared to the average person in the world. What is our attitude about these assets? Do we guard them jealously? If the neighbor is a thief, do we minister in some way, or simply put double locks on our doors?
The house quotient idea is this: keep track of who visits your house. Who do you invite in? Out of the total who visit, how many are immediate family, how many are extended family, how many friends from church or friends from work? And then, how many are outside of those circles who you invite just to be neighborly, to see if you can create relationship, to explore how you can minister to them, or them to you? (Don’t assume all the ministering will be done by you.)
I’m pretty sure heaven would invite such people into the comforts of Jesus’ presence. Have you read his parable about the wedding feast in Matthew 22, where the king invites all they could find, both good and bad? Once they come there are requirements, but the invitation is given. Or his parable about the great banquet in Luke 14, where people made excuses, so the host invited the poor, the crippled, the lame and the blind? If we do likewise, we will be blessed, Jesus says, because they cannot repay us (so God will repay us at the resurrection).
Now, this can be a real quotient, in the scientific sense, but it can be a simple discussion around the dinner table. Are we using our house for Godly purposes? If not, how can we?
Giving Quotient
We are to be good stewards (caretakers) of all we possess: our bodies, our time, our families, our possessions, etc. But this can and should include our money. You cannot serve both God and money, Jesus said (Matt. 6:24), and he spent a lot of time addressing our need to keep mammon off the throne. This quotient is simple. The New Testament may not “require” a tithe, but as the standard in the Old Testament, it certainly creates a model to consider. We are to do it willingly (Acts 10:4), cheerfully (2 Cor. 9:7), with prayers that it helps meet needs. You’ve heard the old saying “Put your money where your mouth is” and you understand the idea that it’s just talk until our money backs it up. When it comes to your Christian faith, does your giving of money back up your talk about faith in Christ?
How do you use your house, and how do you use your money? Measures of Christian faith.
House Quotient
I read about something unique called the “house quotient.” The idea is that many church goers are among the affluent. In other words, we have nice houses, nice stuff, money, compared to the average person in the world. What is our attitude about these assets? Do we guard them jealously? If the neighbor is a thief, do we minister in some way, or simply put double locks on our doors?
The house quotient idea is this: keep track of who visits your house. Who do you invite in? Out of the total who visit, how many are immediate family, how many are extended family, how many friends from church or friends from work? And then, how many are outside of those circles who you invite just to be neighborly, to see if you can create relationship, to explore how you can minister to them, or them to you? (Don’t assume all the ministering will be done by you.)
I’m pretty sure heaven would invite such people into the comforts of Jesus’ presence. Have you read his parable about the wedding feast in Matthew 22, where the king invites all they could find, both good and bad? Once they come there are requirements, but the invitation is given. Or his parable about the great banquet in Luke 14, where people made excuses, so the host invited the poor, the crippled, the lame and the blind? If we do likewise, we will be blessed, Jesus says, because they cannot repay us (so God will repay us at the resurrection).
Now, this can be a real quotient, in the scientific sense, but it can be a simple discussion around the dinner table. Are we using our house for Godly purposes? If not, how can we?
Giving Quotient
We are to be good stewards (caretakers) of all we possess: our bodies, our time, our families, our possessions, etc. But this can and should include our money. You cannot serve both God and money, Jesus said (Matt. 6:24), and he spent a lot of time addressing our need to keep mammon off the throne. This quotient is simple. The New Testament may not “require” a tithe, but as the standard in the Old Testament, it certainly creates a model to consider. We are to do it willingly (Acts 10:4), cheerfully (2 Cor. 9:7), with prayers that it helps meet needs. You’ve heard the old saying “Put your money where your mouth is” and you understand the idea that it’s just talk until our money backs it up. When it comes to your Christian faith, does your giving of money back up your talk about faith in Christ?
How do you use your house, and how do you use your money? Measures of Christian faith.