The source that I have chosen for this phase is the book The Hole in our Gospel. The author is Richard Stearns, President of World Vision U.S. The chapter of focus for this phase was chapter 25, pages 257-273.
The reasons for this source’s credibility is:
- He references in this chapter and throughout the book that support his evidence, his findings, and his biblical claims on the issue of our responsibility concerning the poor and needy.
- Richard Stearns, as President of World Vision, is a trustworthy author, who is, yes, very much human, but provides the book and its message with credibility because of his face to face experiences with the plight of the poor and needy on many different occasions.
- Much biblical truth is used in this chapter, along with the whole book, but is used specifically used as he explores the area of our responsibility and ways to get involved in the situations of the poor and needy.
- This is a credible organization helping many around the world who are hungry, in need, and in vulnerable situations.
- This book was published in 2009 and 2010, making the information recent and useful for the area of research.
- While this book and chapter is focusing mainly one sided, I feel that it is so for a specific purpose- to invite and ignite believers to become passionate about getting involved and being broken over what breaks God’s heart.
- This chapter has covers the ideas that I had hoped to look at and will be appropriate for the information that is needed, concerning now our responsibility as believers and how we can get involved.
This source is good for the research paper and helpful for the audience because part of this research was designed to focus in on how we as believers can get involved and offers ways we can invest. It specifically narrows in on three focused areas that encourages the audience and me to personally evaluate how we are being as stewards of the things he mentions, and offers accounts from others’ lives that act to challenge and motivate us to act.
Summary:
In pages 257-273 of The Hole in our Gospel, Richard Stearns discusses ways in which believers can take action and invest into the poor and needy. He states that although one may not feel that what they have to offer is useful, there are three specific areas one may evaluate in his/her life and find much that can be invested. These categories he uses are time, talents and treasure.
He shares with his readers that time indeed is of great value and suggested how valuable our time would truly be as it is made available for ministry.
As he discusses the issue of talents, he shares that the talents we may offer to invest is not merely restricted to abilities, rather talents can be identified as things uniquely given to us by God for a specific purpose. These other areas he mentions under the umbrella of ‘talents’ are character qualities, personality traits, relationships and networks we have, passions, interests, experiences, our positions and spiritual gifts.
In conclusion of the chapter, he explores the area of our treasures. He stated that , as Americans, we are considered wealthy compared to much of the world. He used this to state that we can make a difference, even while many look at their own financial state and doubt the value of their wealth.
In summary, this chapter discusses and urges believers to evaluate these three categories with the purpose of igniting ideas for specific investment.
Response:
In response to this chapter I have been significantly challenged to go and do! As Richard Stearns pointed out and discussed the three significant areas that we have been given a stewardship position over, I have been motivated to evaluate my life again. As he states that “Each of us has resources in all three of these categories, and we often have far more to offer than we think.”(258), I would have to agree and add that as I have been reminded, there are things in my life that I forget and overlook- neglecting to be a steward of the things I have.
“Time has value” (260). I was reminded the invaluable lesson that our time is valuable, and I find that as I leave his conversation about time, I am left questioning if I am wasting one of the most valuable assets that has been given to me to be a steward of. I now leave challenged and want to challenge others, to evaluate our time and seek to invest in some way into the lives of those who are needy, hurting or lonely.
As he continued, he described our talents as being a broader picture of things we have been given, from abilities and relationships to interests and character qualities (263-264). I am motivated to now be creative with such things and start to see how God may want me to invest specifically in others’ lives.
He then expounded on the topic of our ‘treasures’- which are the things we have and our wealth. After reading this section I am reminded that God desires that I surrender my material possessions to Him for His kingdom. I cannot hoard or cling to material gifts, but rather, I have been challenged now to give, and not be so concerned with my gain- but my treasure should be found in helping those in need.
One important thing that I will take away from this chapter is the need to step out in faith and start to ‘do’! No matter the level of vulnerability and need, I must now take action live this out in everyday life, not only viewing it as a 'cross cultural mission'. As he quotes from Earl Palmer, “God can’t steer a parked car.” (273), I agree and am now sensitive again to the truth that if I desire to be used by God and thus reach out to those near to His heart, I must start and be obedient to the things I know now, and He will direct me.
I believe that the author’s purpose in writing this specific chapter was to challenge believers to take inventory on their lives and see what God has given them to tangibly meet the needs of others. I agree with and support his goal. I must say that my mind and my heart has be reopened to my self-centeredness, and the reminder that as a steward, and as I am His possession, I now have much responsibility!
This book is now on my reading wish list; I love that Stearns donates all royalties from the book to World Vision. I agree with your credibility observations and statement of usefulness. You are 100% on track in those categories of the assignment.
ReplyDeleteYour summary did a great job of capturing the main points of the chapter. This was a tough chapter with many illustrations (engaging, convicting ones at that), which could have distracted you from the task of summarizing the main points. However, you stayed on task and gave an accurate overview of what readers can expect to encounter if they access this source.
Finally, I like the final point of your response. It truly is good to remember that God will often steer us once we are in motion. I, too, can sometimes forget that and spend time sitting in park and stewing about where EXACTLY God wants me to go next. Sometimes his intention is to not provide a full road map at the beginning of the journey, and your post was a great reminder of that truth.