Did Jesus Die for This? (Banksy)

Art by: Banksy

This art piece by legendary Street Artist Banksy called, “Christ with Shopping Bags” or “Consumer Jesus” is a beautiful satire of the Christian Christmas Consumer Culture.

“Jesus is the least materialistic person to ever roam the earth…and we turned his birthday into the most materialistic day of the year.”

-Chris Rock (Comedian)

My Dad, my Hero, the Legend Reverend Yong Bae Kim stopped by our house yesterday for my birthday and every chance I get I ask my Dad for wisdom because he’s the wisest person I know. He was sharing with me that every year their Church (Siloam Community Church) usually goes down to Mexico to help serve the Churches they planted to support them financially, physically, and spiritually. This year they couldn’t go because of Covid-19 so my Dad told his congregation even though we can’t go be with our Brothers and Sisters physically the least we can do is send them money. One of his church members complained and said we are struggling and you’re asking us to send money?!? We can’t even provide for ourselves right now! My Dad replied, “Think about it, if we are struggling here in America, how much more do you think our Brothers and Sisters are struggling in Mexico?” Also he told that person, “Look, it’s an offering not an obligation. If you can’t give or don’t want to give that’s your choice. We will give what we can.” My Dad said every year they usually collect around $3,000 to give to the Churches in Mexico but this year they collected $4,700 to give and the person who gave the most was a struggling single mother that was one of the poorest people in the congregation. When learning about this my Dad wanted to give her recognition but she wanted to remain anonymous.

Wow, this was a great reminder that no matter how much we are struggling, there is always someone out there struggling more. We as Christians are to go the opposite way of consumerism and be givers even when it’s hardest to give.

Let’s pray and meditate on how God gave to us and let’s let that love overflow and be moved with a heart of generosity to give to our Brothers and Sister in need.

Who can I help that is struggling more than me?

How can I help them physically, financially, spiritually?

I will leave with you an encouragement from the Apostle Paul in the letter to the Corinthians in Chapter 8.

2 Corinthians 8

Encouragement to Give Generously

1 We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, 

2 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 

3 For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, 

4 begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints— 

5 and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. 

6 Accordingly, we urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you this act of grace. 

7 But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you—see that you excel in this act of grace also.

8 I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine. 

9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. 

10 And in this matter I give my judgment: this benefits you, who a year ago started not only to do this work but also to desire to do it. 

11 So now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have. 

12 For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. 

13 For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness 

14 your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness. 

15 As it is written, “Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack.”

Commendation of Titus

16 But thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same earnest care I have for you. 

17 For he not only accepted our appeal, but being himself very earnest he is going to you of his own accord. 

18 With him we are sending the brother who is famous among all the churches for his preaching of the gospel. 

19 And not only that, but he has been appointed by the churches to travel with us as we carry out this act of grace that is being ministered by us, for the glory of the Lord himself and to show our good will. 

20 We take this course so that no one should blame us about this generous gift that is being administered by us, 

21 for we aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord's sight but also in the sight of man. 

22 And with them we are sending our brother whom we have often tested and found earnest in many matters, but who is now more earnest than ever because of his great confidence in you. 

23 As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker for your benefit. And as for our brothers, they are messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ. 

24 So give proof before the churches of your love and of our boasting about you to these men.

Living for God, Giving for God,

Choong Man Kim (:DK)

source: DIVIN3KINGDOM.org

Chris Rock’s Monologue on Saturday Night Live