Rich Kao

Great post by Pastor Steve Murrell, as follows:

Picked up an old book the other day. It was buried deep in the back on my bookshelf. Read it about 30 yrs ago, when i was a new believer.

Radical quotes from DeVern Fromke's classic, "No Other Foundation" about generosity and planned poverty:

- "William Carey went to the mission field with a salary of $250 a year. While in India he was hired by the government to teach in a university for $7500 a year. Carey continued to live on $250, giving the rest to the work of the Lord. That was planned poverty."

- "John Wesley began working for $150 a year. He gave $10 to the Lord. His salary was doubled the second year, but Wesley continued to live on $140, giving $160 to Christian work. During his third year, Wesley received $600. He kept $140, while $460 were given to the Lord. That was planned poverty."

- "William Bordon died before his 26th birthday. He had given his entire fortune of $25,000,000 to the work of the Lord before going out as a missionary. That was purposeful poverty."

- "What about Moses who rejected the name, the fame, the power and the wealth of Egypt, only to suffer affliction with the children of Israel? His choice was premeditated. He esteemed the reproach of Christ greater than the treasures in Egypt."

Fromke goes on the write about the "deliberate and dedicated frugality" of the Macedonian church, the "sacrificial spirit" of Paul, and the "planned poverty" of Jesus.

None of these people were "poor" because they were lazy or lacked the intelligence to become financially successful - rather, they choose to give rather than horde.

Modern believers in our materialistic culture seem to have lost the passion for extravagant generosity.