Today’s guest blogger is Steve Keaton. I also met Steve through Pfeiffer University where we both worked on our Masters of Christian Education together.
From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.
This summer has been one of many adventures. In 3 short months I have been blessed to have found myself driving the roads of Costa Rica with amazing rain forests and smoking volcanoes, sipping coffee on the porch of a beach house watching the waves roll in and the sun rise at Myrtle Beach, and swimming in the crystal blue waters of the Bahamas while stingrays joined us for a few surreal moments of interaction. It has been a one of a kind summer. And as awesome as those trips have been, 2 of the 3 of them I also found myself face-to-face with least, the last and the lost.
In the midst of paradise I found people living is such poverty and conditions that I had never thought possible. In all my years of ministry I thought I had experienced it all. Yet God showed me that I certainly had not. I am haunted by the image of a small Costa Rican girl wearing a white dress running, giggling, dancing and playing, while her jet black hair floated in the breeze. She lived in a shack and had no clue where here next meal would come from. How about Mr. Aderly from the Kemp Road neighborhood of Nassau, The Bahamas? He is an 83 year old former sugar cane harvester and construction worker who lives in a house built entirely of scrap pieces of wood that he found on the side of the streets. He may only live a few short miles from the luxury and pampering of the Atlantis Resort and cruise ships, but it feels like a million miles. These are just a few of the mental pictures that run over and over in my head.
-
Devotional by Steve Keaton
Title: Much Required
Text: Luke 12:48 (NIV)From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.
This summer has been one of many adventures. In 3 short months I have been blessed to have found myself driving the roads of Costa Rica with amazing rain forests and smoking volcanoes, sipping coffee on the porch of a beach house watching the waves roll in and the sun rise at Myrtle Beach, and swimming in the crystal blue waters of the Bahamas while stingrays joined us for a few surreal moments of interaction. It has been a one of a kind summer. And as awesome as those trips have been, 2 of the 3 of them I also found myself face-to-face with least, the last and the lost.
In the midst of paradise I found people living is such poverty and conditions that I had never thought possible. In all my years of ministry I thought I had experienced it all. Yet God showed me that I certainly had not. I am haunted by the image of a small Costa Rican girl wearing a white dress running, giggling, dancing and playing, while her jet black hair floated in the breeze. She lived in a shack and had no clue where here next meal would come from. How about Mr. Aderly from the Kemp Road neighborhood of Nassau, The Bahamas? He is an 83 year old former sugar cane harvester and construction worker who lives in a house built entirely of scrap pieces of wood that he found on the side of the streets. He may only live a few short miles from the luxury and pampering of the Atlantis Resort and cruise ships, but it feels like a million miles. These are just a few of the mental pictures that run over and over in my head.
Through all of this, one question has continued to beg from me an answer. How did I get so lucky? Have you ever thought that? Have you ever wondered why you ended up where you are, with the family you have, live in the country that you do? What took place for us to have had the amazing fortune of having a real roof over our heads, so much food on our plates that we feel little guilt if any when we throw our leftovers in the trash, or stand gazing into our closets pondering which pair of shoes to wear today? I mean, sure we may have some really tough times in our lives, but we still have been given so much. But what are we doing with the blessings we have been given? Are we more concerned with filling up our storehouses on this earth than using our resources, both financial and the strength of our bodies and minds to reach and meet the needs of the least, the last and the lost? If we are the true, authentic and radical Christ-followers that we confess we are then we must also understand that one day we will stand before our Creator and answer for not only what we have done, but also for what we have not done.
Today’s scripture speaks of the fact that those who have been blessed or entrusted with much should fully understand that those blessing are not solely meant for our own use, but are also required to be used to help the Mr. Aderlys of this world. I’m not saying that we must jump on a plane and fly to an exotic country. There are people all around us in need.. In need of a meal, in need of the safety and comfort of a home, and mostly in need of the life-changing love of Jesus Christ. Are you willing to do something about it?
Something to Think About:
* Make a list of how you have been blessed. (Much is given)
* What are you doing with it? (Much is demanded)
* What else can you do to meet the needs of the least, last and lost?A Few Minutes with God:
God, I thank you for all I have been given in my life. Please continue to reveal to me all of the blessings I truly have. I don’t have a clue why I ended up at this place in my life. I’m not sure why I was blessed with the family and life you have given me, but God I do know that I have been given much. I also understand that because I have been blessed with so much that I am required to do amazing, life-changing and Christ-like things with it. Please open my eyes and my heart to the needs of people in this world and give me the courage to help meet those needs in any way I can.. Amen.___________________________Steve Keaton is the founder and executive director of Tsunami Ministries. He is a 20 year veteran of youth ministry and began his journey into the abyss of youth ministry at University City UMC in Charlotte, NC. He was basically the guy that busted all the kids for smoking and smooching.You can follow Steve on Twitter at tsunamisteve
`
`
`