Shoes vs. Feet

Rich and Poor

Jesus said, “You will always have poor among you.”

We know that we, as Americans, are among the richest people in the world. Much of the time we can ignore this uncomfortable truth: that while we live in plenty, others suffer and die from the lack of food, shelter, and medicine. But on a trip like this, we can ignore it no longer, and that is a good thing. God does not want us to live in ignorance of the needs of others. So what do we do with this tension?

Questions for thought/discussion

1. What are our responsibilities for/to the poor?
2. What do we “do” with the extravagance/materialism of our culture and the great need of people in places like Africa?
3. How do we avoid giving out of guilt? What’s the “right” motivation for giving?
4. What do we do with the argument that we have needy people in the U.S. and we should give to them first?
5. How does contentment relate to this issue? What does contentment look like in our home culture? Not just being content in having less than some BUT in having more than others? Is there such a thing in being content in having more?
6. How does God view our homes/our spaces/our stuff? Is sharing more difficult than giving outright?