Many sat on the door step of starvation. My heart cracked as it watched hundreds offer the little grain, chicken and the like they possessed before setting up shop in the square. If they did not follow suit? Sales would slump. The family would pay.

Affection did not accompany the sacrifices. The god of the market was faceless. It wasn’t worship. It was survival.

When I returned from Africa a question met me at church. “What do you want more, Jesus or His stuff?”

I’ve lingered long over the thought.

I know He promises His own inheritance. Yet, Im convinced the true gift of the gospel isn’t toys. The sacrifice of the cross gave us…God.

We should boldly seek His resources for His mission. We must also ask what we want more, Blessing or Blessor?

“…give me neither poverty nor riches! Give me just enough to satisfy my needs. For if I grow rich, I may deny you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ And if I am too poor, I may steal and thus insult God’s holy name.” (Proverbs 30:8b-9 NLT)

-Micah McElveen