If we are going to accomplish the global purpose of God, it will not be primarily through giving our money, as important as that is. It will happen primarily through giving ourselvs. This is what the gospel represents and this is what the gospel requires.

This is the curse of superficial religion: the constant attempt to do outward things apart from inward transformation.

God's ultimate concern is not to get you or me from point A to point B along the quickest, easiest, smoothest, clearest route possible. Instead, his ultimate concern is that you and I would know him deeply as we trust him more completely.

On popular issues like poverty and slavery, where Christians are likely to be applauded for our social action, we are quick to stand up and speak out. Yet on controversial issues like homosexuality and abortion, where Christians are likely to be criticized for our involvement, we are content to sit down and stay quiet.

I could not help but think that somewhere along the way we had missed what was radical about our faith and replaced it with what is comfortable.

It is a constant battle to resist the temptation to have more luxuries, to acquire more stuff, and to live more comfortably.

We don't have stomachs for the things of this world because we have feasted on the goodness of our God.