Ten Ounces Of Rice

Sorry to be the fly in the ointment as we all begin our work week and presumably increase our wealth, but…

Economists tell us that nearly half the world’s population (2.7 billion) lives on ten ounces of rice and two dollars per day. Many of these are our brothers and sisters in Christ.

My fellow Americans, we live as kings! Even if you live in a lower-scale neighborhood with bills spread out on your kitchen table, you are still the “big dog” on the block of humanity. And though we have our mitts on 90% of the world’s wealth, we still opine for more. But when is enough, enough? According to the World Bank, Americans are numero quatro in the world at per capita wealth, coming in at $513,000 per adult per year. How does it feel to be a half a millionaire? And if you rub your greenbacks with your spouse’s, you can call yourselves millionaires!

But before you crack open a bottle of Bordeaux, think about this: God’s vision for His people is “that there will be no poor among you since the Lord will surely bless you in the land…if only you listen obediently to the voice of the Lord your God to observe carefully all this commandment which I am commanding you today. If there’s a poor man with you, one of your brothers, in any of your towns in your land…you shall not harden your heart, nor close your hand from your poor brother…” (Deuteronomy 15:4,5,7).

So today, let’s give thanks. Sure, of course.

Then, let’s give.

And with what’s left over, let’s give again.

Kings can afford to do that after all.