Imagine...

I was born into a government that two years ago was rated least corrupt in the whole world.  The benefits of that system were that all of the money that taxpayers paid, were by in large used to benefit its people. Not just the ones who paid their taxes but also those who couldn't afford to. Sometimes by no fault of their own. Other times because of bad decisions they had made. Even the criminals who live in multi million dollar facilities. Even those who chose bad lifestyles that forced them into hospital. Even teenage mothers who found themselves with a baby to feed and no income to feed it. A majority of their services were free thanks to taxpayers money and a majority of it was unearned. Yet, this was a socially acceptable way to distribute money and it hasn't yet hindered the economic growth of our country.

I was born again into a new government system when I accepted Jesus as my personal Saviour in 1997. I became a Citizen of Heaven. Jesus became my new ruling agency. The Lord of my life. I voted him in. He won in the election rally that was going on in my heart. I became a part of His party, His Kingdom, His Church which the Bible says is His bride. I represent Him.

In Isaiah 9:6 there is a prophecy about the coming Messiah - Jesus. Within that verse it says that the "government shall be upon His shoulder". I found this commentary about that statement in Gills exposition of the Bible. It says

And the government shall be upon his shoulder: not only of the world in general, but of the church in particular; this child is born to royal dignity; he is King of saints; his government consists in ruling in the hearts of his people, in enacting laws for them, and causing them to submit unto them, in subduing their enemies, in protecting them, their persons and properties, rights and liberties, and in supplying them with everything necessary; (emphasis added) and this government is delegated to him from his Father, is devolved upon him by him, is not of this world, but is spiritual; it is righteously administered, is peaceable, and will continue for ever: and its being said to be "upon his shoulder" is an allusion to magistrates having a key or rod laid on their shoulders, as ensigns of their office, or carried by their officers for them, see Isaiah 9:4 and it shows that it was laid upon him, or enjoined him by his father, though not against his will; and it denotes a weight of honour and care bore by him, whose shoulders are fit for the same, and equal to it; and that he is the prop and support of his church and people, who are safe under his government and protection:

Two and a half years ago, we chose to come to Ethiopia and live under the government system that exists here. We are subject to its every mandate. We cannot live here unless we follow its rule. But the support it offers to its people; tax payers and non tax payers alike is so highly contrasted to that of our country of citizenship. Both in the natural and the spiritual.

We see the effects of it every day. I felt the effects of it yesterday as I woke up to an email from a poverty alleviation group I am on the email list for. Its asking me to sign a petition to help move governments to action so that more people in developing countries (like Ethiopia) can be educated.

I reply irritated. I know FAR too many people who are still not educated. I work with five.. I am asked constantly to work with more. To help more receive the "free" education the government here has promised. Yet they still charge for. More even than what we pay in New Zealand.

And then I start to talk with my King and I start to imagine. And I post this status on Facebook:

Imagine if we viewed the Kingdom as a GOVERNMENT that sat upon the Shoulders of its King. The heirs to the throne were set a part for the work of the Kingdom. They were established to identify and help meet the needs of its people. That like a democratic System it gathered the voice of its people and then used its resources to fight the works of its opposition to gain a higher party delegate. But not to benefit the party, but to ACTUALLY benefit the people. With all its resources gathered, none of its members NOR even the members of the opposition party should live in poverty because they understood the meaning of relationship and giving because these are the foundational principles of the Kingdom it serves.

See, more than the New Zealand government I was born into or the Ethiopian government I am subject to, I am a child of the King and HE has MANY children the world wide. The King of that government, as above, desires to supply the needs for all of them.  Imagine if He was able to disperse those funds so that this desire could be accomplished.  But He is not a forceful communist King.  He is a Loving Father who has supplied a book that is meant to bring “instruction, correction and edification.” 

He has instructed US, His children, Heirs to His throne, Princes and Princesses, Kindgom citizens to GIVE to the poor. Not just to the church bucket that passes around the pews of the church where everyone can see and tax breaks are given, but also to those who will not give ANYTHING  in return.

While I did some time in Bible College- two Bible Colleges. Both experiences opened me up to two astounding facts I HAD never heard before and have never heard since.

Early historical writings, around the time of the early church by a non-Christian writer, noted of the "church" at the time that they were a people who LOVED eachother and looked out for each other so much that they SOLD even their own things so they could distribute their wealth equally.

Hello?! This is not some radical martyr pseudo facade these people were pursuing. They were actually being obedient to their God and displaying Him in all their generosity! They brought Him Glory with their sacrificial acts.

The next Bible College I attended made me aware that 70% of all instructions to give in the Bible were referring to giving to the Jerusalem offering which was for the POOR.

Not to build nice buildings to attract some more people to be comfortable. Or to put out the newest sound system. The offering was for those in need. To share the gospel of Love thru actions of Love to represent the Father of Love. The governor General.

I am currently reading a book called Radical- Taking back your faith from the American Dream  by David Platt.  I feel like we are kindred spirits.  He writes in there:

The price of our non-discipleship is high for those without Christ.  It is high also for the poor of this world.  Consider the cost when Christians ignore Jesus’ commands to sell their possessions and give to the poor and instead choose to spend their resources on better comforts, larger homes, nicer cars and more stuff.  Consider the cost when these Christians gather in churches and choose to spend millions of dollars on nice buildings to drive up to, cushioned chairs to sit in, and endless programs to enjoy for themselves.  Consider the cost for the starving multitudes who sit outside the gate of contemporary Christian affluence. 

Oh imagine if we applied that selflessness, that Kingdom perspective to the global village that we live in. I believe the King wants that. I really, really do.  Imagine how much glory His Kingdom would receive when the representatives of Him actually followed through on living out His commands to GIVE to the poor. 

It sounds all very RADICAL and over the top.  I totally recommend this book and selling some of your belongings to help out your poor brothers and sisters who may not be sitting outside your church gates, but are sitting somewhere crying out to God for Him to help them.  Maybe, just MAYBE HE wants to use YOU to be a conduit of His blessing.  Maybe in giving you might find that YOU indeed end up being more blessed than those who receive.  There is a chemical reaction, a release of hormonal goodness that makes us feel Happy when we give, when we do GOOD.  My second grade teacher in Australia called them Warm Fuzzies.  My fifth form teacher in New Zealand may have called it endorphins.  But it comes as a result of selfless giving that is often hard for our minds to comprehend or partner up with the act of giving away material possessions that we hold so dear.

Oh Imagine how much more we could do.  Imagine.