Only God
The speaker challenges Western Christians to reevaluate their priorities and sacrificially give to meet the needs of the Two-Thirds World.
K.P. Yohannan emphasizes the profound contentment and joy found in serving the Lord, as illustrated by Brother Paulose, who endures hardship without complaint, valuing his faith over worldly concerns. He challenges the disparity between the wealth of developed nations and the needs of the Two-Thirds World, highlighting that the resources to alleviate suffering exist but are often misallocated. Yohannan calls for a reevaluation of priorities among Christians in affluent countries, urging them to consider how their financial choices impact global missions and the spread of the Gospel.
Text
"I am ashamed to tell the teacher or our neighbors," he told me. "Only God, our children, and my wife and I know the real story. We have no complaints or even unhappiness. We're joyfully and totally content in our service of the Lord. It is a privilege to be counted worthy to suffer for His sake. . . ."
Even when the teacher punished his children for lack of attention in class, Paulose would not tell his secret suffering and bring shame on the name of Christ. Fortunately, in this case, we were able to send immediate support to him, thanks to the help of generous American Christians. But for too many others, the story does not end as happily.
Is it God's fault that men like Brother Paulose are going hungry? I do not think so. God has provided more than enough money to meet Paulose's needs and all the needs of the Two-Thirds World. The needed money is in the highly developed nations of the West. North American Christians alone, without much sacrifice, can meet all the needs of the churches in the Two-Thirds World.
A friend in Dallas recently pointed out a new church building that cost $74 million. While this thought was still exploding in my mind, he pointed out another $7 million church building going up less than a minute away.
These extravagant buildings are insanity from a Two-Thirds World perspective. The $74 million spent on one new building in the United States could build nearly 7,000 average-sized churches in India. The same $74 million would be enough to guarantee that the Good News of Jesus Christ could be proclaimed to a whole Indian state--or even some of the smaller countries of Asia.
Sermon Outline
- The Privilege of Suffering for Christ
- The Problem of Poverty in the Two-Thirds World
- The Call to Action
- Sacrificial Giving
- Prioritizing the Gospel
- Building the Kingdom
Key Quotes
“It is a privilege to be counted worthy to suffer for His sake.” — K.P. Yohannan
“The needed money is in the highly developed nations of the West.” — K.P. Yohannan
“The $74 million spent on one new building in the United States could build nearly 7,000 average-sized churches in India.” — K.P. Yohannan
Application Points
- As a Christian, I should prioritize the spread of the Gospel over personal comforts and luxuries.
- I can make a significant impact in the Two-Thirds World by giving sacrificially and praying for those in need.
- The Western church has a responsibility to use its resources effectively to meet the needs of the global church.