“Mi Vida Humilde” is Spanish for “My Humble Life.” My favorite scripture at Hebrews 13:5 says: “Let your manner of life be free of the love of money, while you are content with the present things. For he has said: ‘I will by no means leave you nor by any means forsake you’.”
I finally understood the wisdom of Paul’s words during our visit to Chiapas. Most of these people are coffee farmers. The sale of coffee provides them a year’s supply of corn, beans, sugar, oil, and soap. The leftover money is for some basic essentials. For some, the money will last all year, while others are not that fortunate. Basic essentials may include the occasional fruit or vegetable purchased at the “abarroteria” or small store. And then of course, money is saved for a medical emergency or a trip to town, which is very rare. Most children do not enjoy the luxury of a lollipop or a new toy. New clothes and shoes are rare.
Our Chiapaneco brothers and sisters are content because they have not known many things that we take for granted. They have not experienced the pressure of buying a new cell phone, an iPod, or a laptop. In fact, most have never seen an iPod, much less a laptop. Would they ever imagine owning 30 pairs of shoes? Yet, they are content knowing they will not lack the basic necessities supplied one day at a time. This is the lesson I have learned. As Jesus said in Matthew 6:33, 34: “Keep on then seeking first the kingdom and his righteousness, and all these other things will be added to you. So, never be anxious about the next day, for the next day will have its own anxieties. Sufficient for each day is its own badness.”
Durante nuestra visita a Chiapas, Mexico, pude entender la sabiduría de las palabras del Apóstol Pablo en Hebreos 13:5. La mayoría de la gente que vive en la Unión Buena Vista son dueños de cafetales. La venta del café les provee maíz, frijoles, azúcar, aceite y jabón para el año. El dinero restante es para necesidades básicas como frutas o verduras que consiguen en la abarrotería. Para algunos el dinero les rinde el año entero, otros no son tan afortunados. Muchos niños no disfrutan de una paleta ni de un juguete nuevo.
Nuestros hermanos chiapanecos son conformes porque no se han sentido presionados a comprar un teléfono celular, un iPod, o un “laptop”. Muchos ni siquiera han visto un iPod, mucho menos un “laptop”. Mas viven conformes sabiendo que Jehová les proveerá sus necesidades básicas cada día. (Mateo 6:33, 34)
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