False Motives and Materialism

Does it surprise you to know that materialism is just as alive and well here in the jungle as it is back in America’s suburbs? The heart of man does not get better the farther you get from civilization. While our priority is to learn the language and teach the Word of God—because only the Word of God can truly transform and better people’s lives—our presence is often welcomed or tolerated only because of the material benefits that people hope to get out of us, such as technology. We do want to help out in physical ways as well as spiritual, but we are not here to make anybody rich. We need wisdom from the Lord to know how to walk this delicate path into the lives of people, saying yes when we can but never forfeiting the opportunity to offer the best treasure of all by getting too tied up in too many other things. We also need discernment from the Lord to know when we are just being manipulated and when somebody is sincerely wanting spiritual help from us. It isn’t easy.