Ha.
I am not the model of a perfect Christian. Not at all, not by a long shot.
I am on the far side of 30, not married, no kids, no car, house, or white picket fence. I don’t have a permanent job, nor do I have a university degree. I don’t conform to gender norms; I don’t have long hair, makeup, and I haven’t worn a skirt in several months. I shaved my head, once, and not for charity or because I had cancer. Oh, and I’m a rebellious ingrate who shoots her mouth off at any given opportunity.
By all accounts, I am a perfect loser. Because, you see, the key to success is being a good contributor to the world, right?
The world. The world says: you must have your material things, your fancy purses, your spoiled, barking dogs, and your loud music. I prefer to live simply.
What happens when you don’t have those things? Well, then you’re nothing, right?
Here’s what God says:
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 1:5
I am not an evangelist. No one (that I know of) has come to Christ because of me. But that doesn’t mean that I can’t be effective as someone set apart for God. Nor can you, if you choose to follow and worship God and believe that he is who he says he is.
We don’t need stuff to make it in this world. It helps; there are certain things we need, like food, water, shelter, and transport. But the rest of it? We can live without it. The fact of the matter is, all we need is the resources that God gave us – ourselves, and our talents – and when that isn’t sufficient, each other.
After all, if you’re nothing without your stuff, “it’s only when you’ve lost everything that you’re free to do anything.” (Fight Club).
emmanuelensis 