The lifestyle Roger Stichter is sharing in his book The Principle of Maximums (see Book Trailer) is what I’m learning to live and what I find lived out by Chhinho Saing, founder Shalom Mission Cambodia. This harmony of hearts solidified my desire for “second career missions” into a personal commitment to serve Chhinho and SMC in Cambodia.
You don’t have to personally go somewhere to make it happen. I believe King David’s rule is from the heart of God and applies to all of us in Christ:
Then all the wicked and worthless fellows among the men who had gone with David said, “Because they did not go with us, we will not give them any of the spoil that we have recovered, except that each man may lead away his wife and children, and depart.” But David said, “You shall not do so, my brothers, with what the LORD has given us. He has preserved us and given into our hand the band that came against us. Who would listen to you in this matter? ==>For as his share is who goes down into the battle, so shall his share be who stays by the baggage. They shall share alike.<==” And he made it a statute and a rule for Israel from that day forward to this day. (1 Samuel 30:22-25)
So I fully agree with Roger: If more of us would adopt this lifestyle, we would grow beyond merely “waiting for” into “and hastening the coming of the day of God” (2 Peter 3:12a). As Roger says, those who live this lifestyle have positioned themselves to more generously give to financially fellowship with those who are more directly involved in laboring in the harvest.
But then again, perhaps its only those of us who want to hasten Christ’s return who have any incentive to put a cap on the pleasures of our earthly lives so that we can store up more riches in heaven. So what about you? Are you living for today or living for eternity? Who do you really live to make happy – yourself or Christ?
I can’t yet say with Paul the Apostle “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7)
But I do hope I will hear words spoken to me similar to what the Lord Jesus Christ conveyed in Matthew 25:21 would be spoken to those who give themselves to and for Him: “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.”
And will not those who have supported me with prayer and finances (or supported any other full time Christian worker who will hear these words) hear these words for themselves also? Do you hope He will have these words for you?
If not, what ARE you hoping for? A bigger collection of sea shells?