How Jesus' Story makes us do weird stuff

They asked us to remember the poor, the very thing we were eager to do.
—Galatians 2:10

Our story isn’t that remarkable.

His is.

When World Vision contacted us about sharing our story in their magazine, about coming up to Seattle to be in the DVD filming for Unfinished, of course we were thrilled. What an honor to share our story as a little part of His! And through the last few years, whenever we share our simple story of downsizing, moving, starting a church, endeavoring to live differently, we often receive two responses:

1. Why would you do that?
2. Are you telling me I have to do that?

My short answer:

1. Jesus
2. No, but when you get to know Jesus’ story you’re gonna want to do weird stuff.

Here’s the deal: Jesus’ Story (the Gospel) motivates us to good works.

Good works are not a requirement of the gospel they are the fruit of the gospel. They are the fruit of grace, the fruit of a free gift.

Have you ever received a free gift and you couldn’t help but want to pay it forward?

Right before Christmas I had the idea of buying the Jesus Storybook Bible for a few friends. We have been so blessed by that Bible and I thought it’d be fun to bless some young families. But when I added the Bibles to my cart the cost really added up. Hmm, I thought. Maybe not. I left the Bibles in the cart but never completed the transaction. Christmas came. We had a great day and that night tucked the kids into bed. Then Jeff reminded me that someone had given us a family Christmas card we hadn’t opened yet. I had tucked it in my purse and forgotten about it. So I pulled out the card and tore the envelope to see a Christmas picture of our friends. But instead I found a hand-colored picture of a beach and words that about gave me a heart-attack: “One free week in Hawaii.”

After jumping around the house like a crazy woman, you better believe the first thing I did was hop back on the computer and order those Bibles! It didn’t matter that they arrived after Christmas, of course I could be a teeny tiny bit generous after how someone else had been SO generous to us!

Do you see the connection? I wasn’t ordering the Bibles out of guilt or trying to “pay back” the people who gave us the trip – they didn’t even know about it. Besides, our tiny gift of a few Bibles was truly nothing compared to the riches we had received. It wasn’t about comparing what we gave with what we got. It was just about recognizing how much we have received in the glorious gospel of grace, and being genuinely thrilled at giving forward a teeny tiny bit.

ANY of our giving to the poor, serving, loving, sacrificing is nothing compared to the amazing riches we have received in Christ. But if we truly understand the greatness of the gospel we will be genuinely glad to give. That’s a hilarious giver.

But, consider this: We must have some inkling of how great the gift is. If I had never heard of this strange place called “Hawaii” I might not be that excited. I might not be inspired to give at all. I might not even want to accept the gift and go because I didn’t know if the destination was good or not. But Oh! I knew the glory of the island! I even knew the beauty of this particular place. Oh I knew what an amazing gift this was.

So too we must, as much as is humanly possible, understand how great is the love of God demonstrated in Christ Jesus. How great is the gospel of grace. How life is about Him, not us. How His story is the greatest tale of love and redemption and wild grace.We must ask God to show us the length and depth and width and height, the love of God that surpasses knowledge, so that we can continually be amazed at His riches and feel genuinely thrilled at giving to others.

That’s where the good works come from.

So too, when we “get” the gospel we will “get” a heart for the poor. HEART. Not “obligation” to the poor. Not “vague guilty feelings about the poor.” Not, “I have so much stuff, I guess I can give a little” to the poor. A HEART for the poor. A LOVE for the poor.

1 John 3:17 says, “If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?

Throughout the entirety of Scripture we see that God has a special love and concern for the poor, the widow, the downtrodden, the broken (James 2:15-16. Ex. 23:10-11, Lev. 19:10, Deut. 15:7-11, Jer. 22:16, Amos 2:6-7, Luke 6:36, 38, 2 Cor. 8-9.)

When His gospel grips our hearts we will have a special love and concern for those same people.

When we understand the gospel, what we’ve been freely given, we will freely give. God’s grace makes us just. Just as Peter urges Paul, remember the poor, God would urge us today, remember the poor. Do whatever it takes to remember them. Pictures on the fridge or prayer for them or going to where they are – remember them. We’ve been given so much.

When we’ve really seen and understood the gospel, that free grace is given to those who deserve it the least, we’ll want to help others by extending free gifts of grace. The true gospel motivates us to good works.

His story inspires all of ours.

{Thanks for reading.}

*Please take time to read the other stories from World Vision’s magazine this month and especially their For Every Child campaign. Also, Richard Stearn’s new book Unfinished released yesterday! Snag a copy today OR come back on Friday for a BIG (24 hardback copies!) giveaway. I’m working out the details and very excited to get this book in your hands. Thank you!

*More details about our journey are available in Faithfully Frugal.