Ten Bibles and Seeking His Kingdom

Earlier this year, an email came into my inbox...

Greetings in Jesus name,

May this letter find you blessed in Christ. I am writing from West Africa and it is a blessing getting to you in the other part of the world. It is my prayer that you become a friend of me and the local church here.  I got your email when I surfed into the web site and I know that it is God’s arrangement......

It came from a pastor in Nigeria asking for Bibles.   To be honest, I am more skeptical than willing to help at the beginning.  I am busy. I have to settle down in Singapore. I am calling to do this role in OMF.  I have other ministries I am part of.  Plus, I am living off nothing.  Where do I find money to ship Bibles to Nigeria?  Isn't that expensive to ship there?

So a few weeks go by.  I put this email in the back burner.  Got to do this. Got to do that.....

And a few more weeks go by.  I check my Gmail and the email is always there. Sitting.  Waiting.

If you search 'Nigeria bible' in Google, you will find the following:

Scams.  What? What if he is trying to scam me?   I need to protect myself.

After some contemplation, I decided to try and see a way to send Bibles over.  I figure even if this is a scam, it is just Bibles.  Someone can put into a good use and others can be saved.  

And money,  it might be expensive to ship over.  Money can be saved for wedding or other use.  But here we are talking about investing in His Kingdom. 

Isn't that what Jesus said in Matthew 6:33?  First seek His Kingdom.  Don't worry about food, clothing, the daily living.  Don't even worry about money.  

I tried ChristianBook.com.  They have the Bibles but they don't ship to Nigeria.  Then I tried Amazon.  They have the Bibles and they do ship to Nigeria!  Great.

So with much enthusiasm and joy, I ordered ten KJV Giant Print Bibles.

Yesterday, I received a shipping confirmation from Amazon.

It costs about $6/Bible for shipping.

It comes out to about $200.  

Perhaps it is from Francis Chan recent sermons (this one and this one) on how we should be living out what the Bible says, I don't think what I done as anything great. I am merely just doing what the Bible teaches.  When someone asks for help, you give.  Those who have give to those who needs.

This post is a more sober reflection of my own heart, I should have just sent it much earlier.  

As I was reflecting my lack of response this morning, I sent a SMS to my girlfriend.

Remember the two hundred dollars for the Bible.....that cost me something....a faith without cost is no faith at all.  I hope that I learn to have more faith. ...the way to have more faith is to give more (or cost more)...money, things and ultimately life.    

Those who follow me will have to die n take up their cross.
For those who want to keep their lives will die...those who give up their lives for His sake shall live. (ala Matthew 16:25)

I am praying for my brother in Nigeria for the Bibles to get to him so he can share it with his church. 

Also need to learn to let go more.  Freely receive and freely give.

  27 “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you. 

   32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. 35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

Luke 6:27-36