Thursday, December 18, 2008
Secret Millionaire
I have a new favorite show (it's one of several), it's called Secret Millionaire (Wednesdays on FOX) and as Christmas rolls around it could not be more meaningful. You see between it and another of my favorites, Extreme Makeover Home Edition, it gives me some hope, not the kind of hope I find in Christ which is ever present, but hope in my fellow man, which gets ripped up quite often. The concept behind Secret Millionaire is pretty amazing. They find these multi millionaires and have them go under cover so to speak. The millionaires are sent to a place that is in dire need of help and they live incognito for a week. They are put up in a place similar to the places in which the people in that community live, a place unknown to them and a place where they are unknown. They live for a week on the income a welfare recipient in that community would receive. During their week, their job is to find deserving people that are making a difference in their community and help out. Then at the end of the week they need to donate at least $100,000 of their own money to help these people out. It's awesome.
Last night's episode hit kind of close to home because, well, it was close to home. A very wealthy woman named Molly and her mother were sent to Shenandoah, PA. Shenandoah was once a thriving coal town but as the coal industry here in PA diminished, many folks abandoned it. It's a town full of good hardworking people but things can be very tough there. As Molly worked her way through the town, she found three ordinary people who are doing extraordinary things. A mom left single by the untimely death of her husband trying to keep up a home and support three teenage boys, a beauty salon owner who buys food with her own money as well as the donations of others, boxes it up and gives it to the needy in her community and a young mom running a day care/foster home caring for the kids of people struggling to make ends meet. It was beautiful to see the change in Molly as she got to see how the other half lives and the blessing she received as she took what she had been given and made a real difference. It's what we who follow Jesus Christ are expected to do. I want to be a Secret Millionaire.
There's just one problem, I'm not a millionaire and there's a better than even chance that you are not one either. Too often we lament, if I only had a little more I would do stuff like that. But I think Jesus is saying what are you doing with what you have? Every one of the people Molly helped in last night's episode was already making a difference with what she had before Molly ever came along, and so can you. Look for the need in your community, look for the people who are struggling to make a difference and help them. Look for someone less fortunate than you and help them up. Jesus said 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. I think too often we look at a situation and say why doesn't God do something about this, and God says I did, I sent you. I put you (and your church) in this community to represent me and make a difference. You say but it's too big for me. Well find the small things you can do and chip away at it. Team up with others. Do what you can do and trust God to take care of the rest.
We are a blessed people in this nation, the question for us all in this Christmas season is how will you be a blessing? All who follow Jesus have been give the ultimate gift, this Christmas season as we celebrate His birth, what will be your gift to the world around you. What you have in Christ is worth far more than money. How will you share your wealth?
(1) comments
I have a new favorite show (it's one of several), it's called Secret Millionaire (Wednesdays on FOX) and as Christmas rolls around it could not be more meaningful. You see between it and another of my favorites, Extreme Makeover Home Edition, it gives me some hope, not the kind of hope I find in Christ which is ever present, but hope in my fellow man, which gets ripped up quite often. The concept behind Secret Millionaire is pretty amazing. They find these multi millionaires and have them go under cover so to speak. The millionaires are sent to a place that is in dire need of help and they live incognito for a week. They are put up in a place similar to the places in which the people in that community live, a place unknown to them and a place where they are unknown. They live for a week on the income a welfare recipient in that community would receive. During their week, their job is to find deserving people that are making a difference in their community and help out. Then at the end of the week they need to donate at least $100,000 of their own money to help these people out. It's awesome.
Last night's episode hit kind of close to home because, well, it was close to home. A very wealthy woman named Molly and her mother were sent to Shenandoah, PA. Shenandoah was once a thriving coal town but as the coal industry here in PA diminished, many folks abandoned it. It's a town full of good hardworking people but things can be very tough there. As Molly worked her way through the town, she found three ordinary people who are doing extraordinary things. A mom left single by the untimely death of her husband trying to keep up a home and support three teenage boys, a beauty salon owner who buys food with her own money as well as the donations of others, boxes it up and gives it to the needy in her community and a young mom running a day care/foster home caring for the kids of people struggling to make ends meet. It was beautiful to see the change in Molly as she got to see how the other half lives and the blessing she received as she took what she had been given and made a real difference. It's what we who follow Jesus Christ are expected to do. I want to be a Secret Millionaire.
There's just one problem, I'm not a millionaire and there's a better than even chance that you are not one either. Too often we lament, if I only had a little more I would do stuff like that. But I think Jesus is saying what are you doing with what you have? Every one of the people Molly helped in last night's episode was already making a difference with what she had before Molly ever came along, and so can you. Look for the need in your community, look for the people who are struggling to make a difference and help them. Look for someone less fortunate than you and help them up. Jesus said 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. I think too often we look at a situation and say why doesn't God do something about this, and God says I did, I sent you. I put you (and your church) in this community to represent me and make a difference. You say but it's too big for me. Well find the small things you can do and chip away at it. Team up with others. Do what you can do and trust God to take care of the rest.
We are a blessed people in this nation, the question for us all in this Christmas season is how will you be a blessing? All who follow Jesus have been give the ultimate gift, this Christmas season as we celebrate His birth, what will be your gift to the world around you. What you have in Christ is worth far more than money. How will you share your wealth?
