The American Dream - How Do We Use Ir

   Tonight as I sat up after everyone else in our house had gone to bed, I read a blog posted by someone I don't even know. I will not criticize what she believes or writes about. It just struck me odd the way she lead into her writing.
   Seemingly she had just returned from a country whose people live in poverty. That is not, in and of itself hard to believe or an assumed state of affairs. What bothered me about this blog, was the fact that the writer seemed to believe that as Americans all we have to do is look at a large portion of the world and realize we are different and somehow less people of God because we are not poverty stricken, at least not most of us. That waking from the "American Dream" is somehow our ticket to becoming more Godly. I think the Dream differs greatly from person to person.
   She had a lady in the car with her (which is part of the American Dream, having a car) was shocked that their family had one of an item for each member of the family (5 items) and thought they owned a store to sell them. I might add that as a child I too would have been a little taken aback, while living the American Dream, that one family had five of something my family only had one of. We were a family of 5-7  and had one item we all used for play and my brothers used it to go several miles to work at times. If I remember correctly, my dad worked three jobs to provide one very old one, for us all to share. Again part of the "American Dream".
   The tone of the blog led me to think she thought we are less God's people because we have taken the blessings he has given us and either through hard work or leadership, formed a nation where teaching ourselves to fish, gave us an opportunity that just receiving a fish would not, again for the most part. I believe God created man in his image. I do not believe he created some smarter,or wealthier, but maybe some under less nobble authority.
  This blog sounds very righteous and very biblical, but the first thing that pops out to me, is the writer still lives in America, and even at her lowest level, lives the American Dream. I'm not saying it's a bad idea to have, to wake yourself from the Dream, it is just not a true account of what God has asked us to do. He has not called the whole world to be poverty ridden and stricken with need. 
   He has, instead called us to be the light and salt of the world, not the light under the bushel, but his love that shines through us, not hiding in hiding. 
   He calls us to help whom we can help, he tells us, to those he has given much, he expects much in return and yes, that much can be shared with those who have little, or nothing. 
   He made a perfect world and populated it with people, or his children to whom he gave free will. I'm sure he wanted us to use it to his Glory, not everyone did.
   He told the sluggard, he who will not work, neither shall he eat.       He gave us the example of the ant who lays up in store for the winter when he will have no food. 
  He doesn't say we can't have more than one of something.
  He instead tells us to feed the hungry, give water to the thirsty, visit the sick, and those in prison, those, his brothers. 
   Saving the whole world is not our job, it is his. 
   Showing the world his love living in us, is our job. 
   If you are materially blessed, by all means use your materials to help those who have need, 
   If all you have is mercy, show mercy to those who do not know it.    If all you have is kindness, or gentleness, be kind and gentle, and love those who do not know the Love of God.
MARK 12.30 

Love ¹ the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’² 

^{LUKE 10:27}

Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all you  soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as your self.

   Friends, God did call a few to sell all and follow him, the rich young ruler for one, but he knew his heart and knew he could/would not do that, to his loss.

   He also knows our hearts. He knows what we have in abundance and what we don't in our need. I do not think he intends his people to throw back at him the blessings he has provided to us, but for us to be willing to share and use those blessings, what ever they might be.

   When we, his sheep know his voice the way he, the Sheppard knows each one of us his sheep, we can trust he will lead us to do his perfect will. If you ask him, and truly listen, he will tell you, show you the plan he has for you.

   We need to stop trying to make helping the world in need a one size fits all help. Seek to know your part and do it. Leave others to their own.

In His Love,

A.