Anthony in Disney Dilemma

"If a brother or a sister is in a naked state and lacking the food sufficient for the day, yet a certain one of you says to them: “Go in peace, keep warm and well fed,” but you do not give them the necessities for [their] body, of what benefit is it?" - James 2:15,16 NWT

If you know us then you know that we are Disney World nuts. A highlight of our last four years has been our annual one week trip to "the World". About a month ago we began planning a 2007 Disney vacation. Everything seemed favourable for us going. Usually we are struggling to pay our property taxes well down to the deadline which leaves little time for saving for a February trip. But this year we were a little more fiscally reponsible and payed our property taxes on time and had gotten an early start on tucking aside some dollars in savings for vacation.

Rebekah takes care of our finances and she mapped out our budget for the next few months. She wrote down how much we could spend each week on groceries, fuel, utilities, etc. and how much we would be setting aside each week for the trip. And like every year I'm amazed at just how much we are able to save when we buckle down and watch our spending.

The other night Rebekah asked me something about the trip. I can't really remember what - probably because I had my nose in a computer screen or a book. I said something like "I don't know if we'll be going - something just seems off about it." But I brushed it away and said that we should continue to save and see what happens.

Now when I say that something was "off" about it I was referring to my conscience that has been giving me some grief about going. However, for me when I really, really want something I will sometimes not listen to what the spirit is telling me. So I do what I can to ignore the voice; yet at times the sound grows too loud and you just want some relief. ("here, here! -- it is the beating of his hideous heart!")

Well here is the problem that we are facing. As Christians, our eyes are being opened to the obligation that we have within our community and neighborhoods to provide for the needs of others. Yes, this is primarily their spiritual needs but just as Jesus taught AND fed, healed and had a money box for the poor, we have a duty as well to take care of the physical needs of others -- "especially toward those related to us in the faith." (Galatians 6:10)

There have been time recently when I have felt compelled to provide some aid to others or perhaps just give them some small token as brother or neighbor. That is the good impulse of the Spirit. However then the Flesh comes in and says well we need to be saving that money for the vacation. After all, we have a budget!

And quite recently I ran across a situation where someone I know is falling upon a difficult financial situation and out of work. We have been making sure to include them in our prayers. In speaking with the individual I mentioned that we were praying for them and their difficult circumstances. A short time thereafter I was doing some thinking about this person's situation and what I had said to them. God then put in my head the scripture from James that I started this blog entry with.

In reflecting on that scipture I believe that it was exactly what I was doing. I was basically wishing somebody well and not offering some measure of practical help that I could easily provide. What good is it to offer prayer and ask for God's help when you are unwilling to give the assistance that is within your power?

Now don't get me wrong - I'm not saying that praying is powerless or useless. To the contrary James later writes, "A righteous man’s supplication, when it is at work, has much force." (James 5:16) I guess the question is how are prayers answered? Well God certainly uses us to answer some prayers. When the unexpected check comes in the mail it is sent by someone. And not just anyone - someone who was moved to do something good and did not allow fleshly desires (greed) to smother the pure spiritual impulse.

So this is where we sit right now. I've talked it over with Rebekah and she has been feeling the same way. I really think that we need to make the sacrifice this time round and give up the vacation. There are just so many places where we could be using our unrighteous riches per Luke 16:11.

"So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?"

(Even Mina last night mentioned that we should be sending money to China to the people that make her toys and don't get paid very much.)

We haven't come to a conclusion yet but are in the middle of the thought process. As I find that writing helps me to clarify things in my mind I'm sharing this with you.