America is a nation of people of many religious beliefs. Many Americans claim to be Christians; And yet, your individual lifestyle choices do not always reflect the teachings of Jesus Christ. Jesus left us with two commandments to follow. We are commanded to love God with all our hearts, minds, and strength; and love our neighbor as we love ourselves. According to Jesus, if we love God we show it by obeying him. Loving our neighbor means showing compassion for those around us who are suffering. How can we claim to love God or our neighbor and walk past a homeless or hungry person and do nothing? Jesus said that whatever we do for the least among us, let us also do for him. Would we deny Jesus food if we saw him hungry or poor? Most of us would answer “No,” but in reality we often neglect family, friends, and strangers who are in dire need, because we care more about ourselves than others.

Some Christians ignore suffering people in the world because their minds are only in heaven. They are waiting for Jesus to come and take his church off this earth, and yet they do not understand that Jesus cannot return unless we prepare a way for him. When John the Baptist came to preach, he told the people that regret and prepare a way for Jesus to come. He told them to do works of love with each other as proof that they had changed their minds and ways to please God. When the people asked what they should do; John gave them very basic instructions (Luke chapter 3). Juan said to them: 1) The one who has two tunics, give it to the one who does not have; and do the same with his food; 2) Don’t cheat on taxes; 3) Do not violate anyone; 4) Do not falsely accuse another; and 5) content with his salary. In short, John let them know that how they treated each other and money would determine whether they would please God. Note that the first thing John commanded was that they take care of the poor.

Again, the Bible speaks of a wealthy young ruler; or in our days we would call it political. He asked Jesus what he needed to do to obtain eternal life. He claimed to have followed all the written commandments, but Jesus let him know that he had missed something important. Jesus told him to sell everything he had and give it to the poor. The man was sad because he was very rich. Jesus told his disciples that it is difficult for a man who loves money to enter the Kingdom of God. This man’s treasure was in his money; but Jesus wanted him to treasure what God treasured; for where a man’s treasure (money) is, there his heart will be also. Now consider the average American who covets money. Those who claim to be Christians cannot love God and money. In reality, our nation’s financial crisis reflects the values ​​of the people. We love money and things and neglect the poor. If there is any poor among us, let the government take care of them.

What we do with money is the greatest indicator of our love for God and our neighbor. It is proof that we are like our father who gave everything he had for us. There is no greater love than when one man gives his life (his time, money and possessions) for another. For us, Jesus gave up his heavenly riches and became poor; so that we in his poverty may become rich; not only for our benefit, but so that we can abundantly care for the needs of others. How difficult is it to do without a coat or food to show our love for others? The Bible says that if anyone does not provide for his own poor, he has denied the faith and is worse than an infidel or unbeliever. God forbid the day when American Christianity is labeled as a religion of infidels! If by our own works we have no proof that we are saved, how can we lead the rest of the nation to the Kingdom of God? How can we complain that our nation’s values ​​are against God; that their values ​​have led us into a financial crisis if we, who have the mind of Christ, refuse to obey Christ? The solution is simple, when Christians repent and obey God, there will be a spiritual change in our nation where more Americans will begin to care about the welfare of their neighbors. Where there is love and compassion for one another, there will also be an endless stream of supernatural blessings and prosperity from God. When we return to love; our families and our nation will return to abundance and God will cause us to prosper like never before.

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