This past week, my husband and I sat down to watch the Legacy Journey by Dave Ramsey. We were watching the 3rd topic and Dave Ramsey spoke about Ratios and the size of our own chalice.
If you didnt know Dave Ramsey, he's a financial guy from Nashville TN, on a syndicated radio talk show called The Dave Ramsey Show. He's the author of the Total Money Makeover. He talks about very simple methods of financial management, getting and staying out of debt and ultimately, get to a point where you are completely debt-free, give, invest and do lots of good things with wealth for the Kingdom/ world by becoming generous (which is alot of what the Legacy Journey is).
My biggest take-away from that hour was, "How Big Is Your Chalice?"
This world can be a very judgmental place, including through the eyes of very nice, Jesus-loving people. Somehow, somewhere along the way, the society, wealth and prosperity became a very twisted enemy and evil phenomenon.
In Dave Ramsey's example from the video, he talked about this name whom shall remain nameless is probably worth $2 Billion dollars. It's $2,000 million. That's ALOT of ZEROS on the end. He later caved and bought a very nice Mercedes and paid $120K for it. When he drove Dave to where they needed to go, he felt a little guilty for spending so much money.
$120K in a world of $2B net worth is like a couple of pennies to most people. That's the perspective!
But the society often judge great people for the choices they make financially.
Oh, if he didn't live in that McMansion, how much more poor people he could help! Oh, if he didn't drive that expensive car, how much more good things he can do for this world.
I guess, if someone makes such comments, there's no end to it. There will always be one more hungry child to feed. One more widow to house. One more good thing to do. Does that mean we should all live in a small 500 square foot hut, save and give everything we have?
Dave Ramsey in his video later explained, Everything in life is about RATIOS. When your wealth is beyond what most people can phantom, your lifestyle could continue to be great, at the same time, you are probably doing alot of good things for the Kingdom. In the $2B man's world, he gave away $500 Million that year. Yet, he felt guilty for spending too much on the $120K car!
Dave Ramsey talked about the size of your SHOVEL. Some people's shovels are smaller, even $1,000 change their world. Some people's shovels are huge. Those people who earn a large income. It's all about perspective, and now, RATIOS.
The most important perspective is in YOUR HEAD. You determine the size of your CHALICE. In the video, Dave showed him pouring into the chalice and as it overflows, it flows into the saucer below. The overflow is when you've helped yourself/ your family, it's now time to do awesome things for the KINGDOM.
How big or small your CHALICE depends on your income (shovel size), your debt (hole) and how much contentment you have with your current life. What size is your CHALICE before you begin overflowing.
Someone who's faily important to me, Joel Osteen - the pastor of a mega church in Houston TX is often criticized for the nice coats he wear, the beautiful wife he so apparingly love and the big house he lives in. People often judge him for the things he owned.
Ahhhhh.... Well, oh well. If someone constantly just judges another, while forgets to improve oneself, there's nothing more to say.
I've always believe in the Parable of the Talents. When you can show the Lord, you can take great care of the little things He's given you, He will continue to give you more to stewart.
It isn't different from the way we, the earthly parents train our children. We don't just start off giving all chores and responsibilities of a home to our children. We first let them learn to make their bed, pick up their own toys, before graduating to more challenging responsibilities like doing dishes and mowing the lawn.
The Lord just isnt any different.
As you think about the size of your chalice, think about all the abundance He rewards you with and more there is to come.
Scripture of the Week:
Matthew 25:14-30
New International Version (NIV)
The Parable of the Bags of Gold
14 “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. 15 To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag,[a] each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. 17 So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. 18 But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
19 “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’
21 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
22 “The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’
23 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
24 “Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed.25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’
26 “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.
28 “‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. 29 For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
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Content & Photography Copyright © 2013 by Loreena Yeo (3:16 team REALTY)
How big is your Chalice?
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