Much is Required

“Much is required from those much is given, and much more is required from those to whom much more is given.” Luke 12:48
When I heard this I thought, God has given us much. I am incredibly blessed. I am healthy, I have a great family also healthy. We have amazing family, friends, and great church support. Above all we know Jesus and have a relationship with him that is growing daily. On a materialistic stand point I have a good job where I sit in an air conditioned office all day, get paid well, have cars to drive, and have everything I need, and most of what I want. When we were not happy in our jobs, and making our bills was a hard task each month, we both worked hard and through God’s blessings we went back to school to change the way things were going. Karla and I are two motivated people who saw what we wanted and worked to achieve it, with much help from family and God throughout the way. God has given us much.
Over the past few days, the verse has taken on a new meaning. I believe God not only has given us much, but people also have higher expectations when they feel you have been given more. See here some things as simple as being born in America automatically sets you apart. However, the issue is it is not all the material things that add up, it is the eternal life we have been given through Jesus. In a lot of cases, America or Haiti, people tend to count things to see blessings. We are in a place that generally from a material point of view we have more, and in some cases a spiritual point of view as well. This is not to brag, because it is far from the intent of this post. It is to show that when we offer what we have the expectation is usually more than we have.
I am not complaining because I told God I wanted to be used as he saw fit to further his kingdom, to ensure his will was done, who am I to say the trying times are not me growing in my faith to help fulfill his will? It seems that the more you do, the more is expected, I drop you at the hospital so you don’t have to walk, I’m expected to pay. I give money for someone to buy something at the market, they assume the change is theirs no matter how much it is. I offer to cook with what I have, and you do not like it. I take you to the beach and buy dinner, you expect lunch and dinner and a nicer beach. Please do not be offended, some of it is steam after a day full of requested, some completely legit and valid expectations, others more desires than needs.
Do I have a right to be upset? Isn’t this what I signed up for? Yesterday a lady was angry because she wanted us to buy her a house…that is incorrect, she wanted two houses while she already lived in one. I told her I’m sorry but I don’t have that kind of money she said” I thought you came here to help people?” Bad apples perhaps? Like anywhere else there are people who know how to evoke emotion to get what they need, salespeople maybe. I think there are con men, pimps and people who play the game to get what they need. But as I write this I know there are also mothers who want the best for their kids, there are children afraid of a future that may hold nothing for them, and parents who lack knowledge, training or education about raising kids. These are people, and had I been born in Haiti I might be in the same spot they are, who knows how desperate you might get if your children couldn’t eat, and I mean have no food but what falls from the tree. Who know what a desperate man might do. It is easy to be frustrated when your door is knocked on and the first question is always “konbyen” or how much. I pray for clarity through these times where I instantly get angry, and I need God’s illogical love to shine through, to allow me to give everything I am to these people.
These people just see a person who they believe has possibilities, a person who could solve an issue that they cannot, build a house with a bonus check, drill a well instead of a family vacation, send 4 kids to school instead of going out to eat. Sounds easy. We as Americans and as missionaries carry the burdon of not just saying yes but in finding constructive solutions when saying no. Like a parent your not doing your job if all you say is yes, your kids need to hate you at least some of the time. When the time comes to be judged by God, I want my motives to be pure. If anyone took advantage of my generousity in deception or malicious intent that will be for them to answer.

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