These Are the Faces

These are the faces that will steal your heart and haunt your dreams long after you've returned home after a mission over seas. They are the poorest I've ever met... They are the happiest I've ever met. These people proved to my 18-yr-old mind that joy is not indelibly connected to possessions. And you know what? They are dying every day because of hunger. They die due to lack of clean water and inability to get to or afford health care and medicine. They die from preventable diseases and exposure. They die while I stay connected to my luxuries.

According to The Human Development Report from Global Issues, 1 in 3 children in the world live without adequate shelter. 1 in 5 don't have access to clean drinking water. 22,000 will die today due to poverty.

50% of the world lives on less than $2.50 a day. 80% live on less than $10. 

And we don't bat an eye spending $20+ on a single meal, much less on an entire day. 

What's worse is that we have the nerve to say things like "I wish I were rich," or "If only we weren't so poor". Here's a news flash... You are rich. You're not poor. My guess is that you're reading this on your own personal computer or phone. You've likely already had two full meals and maybe a snack today. You've consumed an adequate amount of clean water, chilled to your liking. You will sleep in a bed tonight covered in blankets in a climate controlled home. If you are worrying at all over financial problems, it's probably wondering if you will have to cut back on luxuries or downsize your home... not whether or not your children had enough to eat this evening to last them to the next 'meal'. 

We are rich, my friends. Let that sink in. Embrace it. Own the truth that applies to you. 

We like to say things about how the world would be a better place if the 'rich' would just be generous with their blessings. At least I do! I see sportsmen and actors being paid ridiculous amounts of money and wish they would do good with it instead of squandering it on meaningless things. But HELLO, Jessica! I have an exorbitant amount of money of my own and spend it on frivolous things too. 

As I write this, hoping to convince you of your prosperity, I know that I haven't fully embraced it myself. The challenges that I have accepted for this year are designed to open the eyes of my heart to what my heart already knows... I am filthy stinking rich. I need to read the words of Jesus with that understanding. And I need to take responsibility for the way I use the assets He has given me.