How Much Is Too Much?
I used to attend a church in Texas. It is run by a man that I respect. I respect him, but often times, o.k. most of the time, . find myself on the other side of whatever topic is being discussed.
I was thinking of him lately because he used to say, haven't been to that church in some years so not sure if he still says it or not, anyway he had a phrase that went something like this; "Souls for the buck."
He would measure a mission project's success on how many souls they won compared to how much money the mission cost. So the more money spent the more souls he expected to be lined up in heaven in his corner. (Alright so he most likely is not thinking about stacking up people's souls in his Heavenly corner, but it certainly comes across that way.)
I sometimes will spend huge amounts of money on one person. Recently we paid a hospital bill for someone amounting to around 37,000 Kenyan shillings. I know that in the American context that is not a high hospital bill (should be around $578,) but in our Kenyan context that is a lot of money. One person, 37,000.
I could have fed a lot of people with that money. I could have paid the rent on a lot of houses with that money. I learned something a while back, God does not care about money. He does not need any, and he would spend millions on one person. So why should I be any different? (Come on he paves his streets with gold, not because there is so much but instead because it is so insignificant.)
How much is too much? I think the answer is; there is never a time when we can surpass someone's value as a human being.
I pour money, food, clothes, medicines, and love into people that I know will die. Some of them will die sooner than later. How much is too much? There is no answer. If I have to give my life for them, it is still not too much.
Sounds radical, but I think it is high time we started becoming radical. Radical in our deeds, not our beliefs.
Missionary to Nakuru, Kenya. Co-founder of A Future and a Hope, a home for girls.
