Sunday, March 05, 2023

“Dhanam m ≈´lam ida ·πÉ jagath” is an ancient Indian treatise on economic policy and statecraft, written in Sanskrit by Chanakya, recorded in Arthashastra. It means “this world is rooted in money.” As an expatriate in Saudi Arabia, this verse is relevant to me and my ministry. Other than God Himself, the most frequently mentioned people in the Bible are the poor and needy — they are mentioned around 3,000 times. Possessions and wealth are mentioned around 800 times. Eleven of Jesus’ 39 parables are related to these themes. This shows how important it is to reject the materialistic principles of modern societies. In today’s verse, a rich young man asks Jesus what he must do to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus identifies his (and our) lack — our attachment to money and possessions. We need to detach ourselves from them and realize we need them for living, but they are not our life.

I think of my ministry as before and after the Haggai Leader Experience. It impacted the way I share the Gospel with people around me. The Gospel has become the center of my life, my activities, and my conversations with people.