On his radio broadcast, Dr. David Jeremiah, pastor of Shadow Mountain Community Church made this comment, “In the Bible, the opposite of disadvantage isn’t advantage, the opposite of disadvantage is childlikeness.”
His point was that in order for us to enter the Kingdom of God it has to be through childlike faith. If our dependence on wealth and material things are keeping us from God, then the remedy is to trust, like a child and realize that we don’t have anything God needs or wants, but rather all we have are open hands to receive His blessings.
We see a lot of disadvantaged men, women and children at our shelters every day. Like many, they often times think the answer to their circumstances is things. You know, a job, money, a house or a car. And realistically, those things would improve their lives. But are they the answer?
My family did a lot of traveling during the holidays. The churches we served were mostly miles from where our extended families lived, so we would load up after church and drive through the night to get home for Christmas. On one of those drives, in the wee hours of the night, thinking I was the only one awake in the car, I noticed in the distant lonely field beside the road, a lighted nativity scene. Then I heard the sweet voice of my 4-year-old son singing, “Away in a manger, no crib for a bed.” And then it was quiet again.
What an advantage he had over me. While my mind was racing a million miles an hour over presents, schedules and gas mileage, his was innocently reflecting on the only really important thing.
Yes, things matter. We can’t exist in this world without them. But they don’t matter near as much as child-like faith in our God who provides. Our existence in His Kingdom depends on it.
This Christmas, I’ve added to my list, a child-like faith. A new pair of boots would be nice, but unlike my relationship with God, I can live without them.
Merry Christmas and remember, Every Story Matters.
