A Blessed New Year

A 401K

Owning a house

A college fund for your kids

How necessary are these things?

For most of us in middle-class America, they are as common and expected as owning two cars and watching satellite TV. And not that there is anything wrong with these things. What we need to ask ourselves is, "How much importance do they have in our lives?"

That's exactly the question David Platt asks in his book Radical. After reading the book, my husband and I had to admit to ourselves that we too had bought into the idea of the "American Dream." Over the years, we had listened to people's advice and strived to do all the 'right' things. And we worried when people asked us "How are you going to get all your kids through college?" or "Why do you put your money down a hole by renting instead of owning?" Have a portfolio, invest in your future, work your way up the ladder, well-meaning people told us.

But as Platt discusses, as Christians in the U.S., or any country, we should not be looking to our retirement funds for security. What's more important is making an eternal investment in spreading God's kingdom, here and now, and reevaluating how much we really need more stuff or Starbucks in our lives. Oftentimes, we want a fancy new building for our church, or a new outfit for an upcoming wedding, or we simply 'need' a new car. I've actually had to explain to someone why I chose not to buy a "really cute" bag at the store simply because I wanted one. She countered with, "Sometimes you just have to buy yourself something, just for fun!" But I remind myself that $150 could buy me a fancy pair of shoes, or groceries to feed my family for a week. In another country, $150 is a month's salary! 

2013 can be the year of shifting priorities. If every Christian in the U.S. invested more money, time, and prayer to those less fortunate, can you imagine how many hungry people would be fed, how many lonely people would have company, and how many lost sheep  would be found?! 

In the last chapter of Radical (but still read the whole book, it's worth it), Platt offers this challenge:

1) Pray for the entire world (www.operationworld.org is a good resource for that)

2) Read through the whole Bible

3) Sacrifice your money for a specific purpose

4) Spend your time in another context

5) Commit your life to a multiplying community (meaning a good, Christian church family)

Make this year extra-memorable by taking on this challenge, in whole or in part. You will find yourself blessed beyond belief in 2013!