This week I have chosen to read Journals by John Wesley. He was the son of a Rector in the Church of England. He studied at Oxford University. While there many people flocked to him and some of his ideas about religion and its practice. They called themselves "Methodists". This name was derived from how they approached religion in a very practical detailed way. Through their actions they became disliked by many in the Church of England because of their high piety and the way in which they viewed the faith. This lasted for Wesley for many years. He went to a missionary trip to Georgia but it was a failure. However during this trip he experienced what we would call a touching by God. After this event he began to preach however many pastors would not let him do this. Because of this he turned toward lower classes and had much success because the Church of England had not targeted this area of society. By the time of his death the Methodist movement was well on its way.
The first thing that John Wesley says we are not forbidden in Matt 6:19-21 is that we are to "provide things honest in the sight of all men". This means that whatever people demand of us justly we are to provide. At the same time we must not owe any man anything. So in accordance with these two scriptures we are not forbidden to do. Secondly it is not forbidden for us to provide for our bodily needs. Things such as food and drink are possessions that we may lay upon the earth and have a ownership in here on earth. Also we are not forbidden to provide for our children and those in our household. In fact we are called to do such an act. Children are gifts from God and we must provide for them not only in bodily needs but In their spiritual ones as well. Lastly we are not forbidden to use what we have to carry on our business or career. In this way you can provide for the first three areas and they are interconnected.
The work I am doing with Networks is the most rewarding I have ever done. This is in full part to that fact that I am not being paid. I am devoting time to this organization out of my free time which I could be using for working and earning more money. However such an endeavor would only benefit me in one way, income. Working with Networks I have found a new understanding of my faith and built relationships that will last a lifetime. Also I get to see younger people experience a similar thing in their faith and come to know God much better and grow in their faith.
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