A few weeks back I stood on the edge of an immense dump in the village of Duquesa, watching men of all ages search for hours through the sea of trash from Santo Domingo, for recyclable metal that they could bring to have weighed for payment. Seeing these impoverished individuals labor endlessly in extremely dangerous and difficult situations was a heartbreaking experience that became jaw dropping, as we watched what accounted for hours of effort produce minimal financially when placed on the scale.

As Empowering Action daily continues efforts to empower and equip Christ-honoring organizations and ministries serving the poor and spreading the gospel, we, as staff, are motivated to weigh our efforts with an eye towards eternity.

Pastor John Piper has rightly stated,

“Jesus says the mark of a Christian is that his eyes are on heaven and he measures all his behavior by what effect it will have on heaven.”

And the Apostle Paul instructed Timothy to…

“Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. (1 Tim. 6:17-20)

It would be easy to assume that this command to “do good, be rich in good deeds and be generous and willing to share” does not apply to you and I, but the Bill Gates’ and Warren Buffett’s of the word, when, in fact, most reading this are “rich in this present world” when compared with the rest of the world’s population.

The facts are:

• If you have assets of $2,200, this places you in the top 50% of the world’s wealthiest.
• If you made $1,500 last year, you are in the top 20% of the world’s income earners.
• If you have sufficient food, decent clothes, live in a house or apartment, and have a reasonably reliable means of transportation, you are among the top 15% of the world’s wealthy.
• If you have $61,000 in assets? You’re among the richest 10% of the adults in the world.
• If you earn $25,000 or more annually, you are in the top 10% of the world’s income-earners.
• If you have any money saved, a hobby that requires some equipment or supplies, a variety of clothes in your closet, two cars (in any condition), and live in your own home, you are in the top 5% of the world’s wealthy.
• If you earn more than $50,000 annually, you are in the top 1% of the world’s income earners.
• If you have more than $500,000 in assets, you are part of the richest 1% of the world. *

In his book The Treasure Principle Randy Alcorn states,

“I’m convinced that the greatest deterrent to giving is this: the illusion that earth is our home.”

Followers of Christ are, in essence, on a temporary work Visa on earth, for “our citizenship is in heaven” (Phil. 3:20) and therefore we need to:

• “Measure all our behavior by what effect it will have on heaven.”
• “Set our minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” (Col. 3:2)
• “Store up treasures in heaven” (Matt. 6:19)
• and “be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.” (1 Tim. 6:18)

Please continue to pray for Empowering Action, as we seek to foster such thinking and facilitate such actions for the glory of God.

* ( Source: http://irememberthepoor.org/3/)