Note the strong language that Jesus uses here: hate, love, devoted, and despise!
As I write this, there are news broadcasts of Palestinian people, especially children, suffering from malnutrition because of war. Children in Afghanistan are dying from lack of food because of bad leadership, and right here in the Eastern Cape, South
African children are starving because of corruption and a careless attitude. We can rationalise and argue about right and wrong as much as we want. Jesus’ words ring true: What do we truly hate? What do we really despise?
We may not have much to share with the world, but we can make a huge difference right in our own backyard, in our immediate communities. Of course, God does not want us to give away all we have, but when we are
generous and lavish with what we have, God will not forsake us. Think of the story of Elijah and the widow of Zarephath—how a last handful of flour in a jar and a little olive oil in a jug saved three lives for the duration of a drought, because the widow shared what she had. (1 Kings 17:7-16)
The underlying challenge is to be faithful to God rather than money. How we use money and possessions, not just in our outward appearances, but
also in our hearts, should reflect God.. We should be loyal to the kingdom which has now begun with Jesus. As soon as we start to think of money, or land, or other people, as commodities we might own or exploit, we take a step away from our vocation to be truly human beings—God’s true children—and step towards the other master, who is always ready to accept new servants.
Sit quietly and allow God to speak in your heart about
your faithfulness with what he gives you, then go and do what he shows you and be blessed.
Reflections by Reggie Venter
