Jonathan Edwards: United and Subserve

Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2

“How unsuitable is it for us, who live only by kindness, to be unkind! What would have become of us if Christ had been so saving of His blood and unwilling to bestow it as many men are of their money or goods? Or if He had been as ready to excuse Himself from dying for us, as men commonly are to excuse themselves from charity to their neighbor? If Christ would have made objections of such things, as men commonly object to performing deeds of charity to their neighbor, He would have found enough of them.

Besides, Christ, by His redemption, has brought us into a more near relation one to another, has made us children of God, children in the same family. We are all brethren, having God for our common Father, which is much more than to be brethren in any other family. He has made us all one body; therefore, we ought to be united and subserve one another’s good and bear one another’s burdens, as is the case with the members of the same natural body…Apply these things to yourselves and inquire whether you do not lie under guilt on account of the neglect of this duty, in withholding that charity which God requires of you towards the needy?”

Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) in Christian Charity or The Duty of Charity to the Poor, Explained and Enforced (Pensacola: Chapel Library, 2022) 9-10. Download the PDF copy here.

The commands of God are not only for our good but also for God’s glory.

They aim to put us in a place where we are united with others as brothers and sisters by the kindness of God. And they propel us to subserve one another’s good and share each other’s burdens.

Think of a time when someone else shared your burdens.

That person helped you with something you could not sort yourself. They paid your bill. They lifted your burden. They fed you when you were hungry. They lodged you when you visited. You get the point. They assisted you.

Now think of how you might do that for others.

We who live by the kindness of God do well when we show the kindness of God toward others. This form of generosity honors God as it unites us and teaches us to serve others like Christ served us.

Who might you serve today?

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Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. Philippians 2:4

“We should love our neighbor as ourselves; for men are made in the image of our God, and on this account are worthy of our love. Besides, we are all closely allied one to another by nature. We have all the same nature, like faculties, like dispositions, like desires of good, like needs, like aversion to misery, and are made of one blood; and we are made to subsist by society and union one with another.

God hath made us with such a nature that we cannot subsist without the help of one another. Mankind in this respect are as the members of the natural body. One cannot subsist alone without a union with, and the help of, the rest. Now, this state of mankind shows how reasonable and suitable it is that men should love their neighbors, and that we should not look everyone at “his own things, but every man also on the things of others.”

A selfish spirit is very unsuitable to the nature and state of mankind. He who is all for himself and none for his neighbors deserves to be cut off from the benefit of human society and to be turned out among wild beasts to subsist by himself as well as he can. A withdrawn covetous spirit is more suitable for wolves and other beasts of prey than for human beings.”

Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) in Christian Charity or The Duty of Charity to the Poor, Explained and Enforced (Pensacola: Chapel Library, 2022) 8. Download the PDF copy here.

Is your posture toward others suitable or unsuitable to God?

I am serious in asking this question. Why? Many people follow the narrative that says to live according to the teachings of this world. At the core of that mindset is selfishness.

Though such teachings are the opposite of what Jesus wants us to do, we must not listen to them. There’s another way, a better way to live.

The suitable way to life looks like this.

It starts with humility. Acknowledge that you cannot make the journey of life on your own. Say that you appreciate all the help you can get.

Don’t overcomplicate this. God wants you to take hold of life. Grasp it by walking in unselfishness and obedience.

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Be careful not to harbor this wicked thought: “The seventh year, the year for canceling debts, is near,” so that you do not show ill will toward the needy among your fellow Israelites and give them nothing. They may then appeal to the LORD against you, and you will be found guilty of sin. Deuteronomy 15:9

”God warns the children of Israel against making of this an objection to helping their poor neighbors, that the year of release was near at hand and it was not likely that they would be able to refund it again before that time, and then they should lose it wholly, because then they would be obliged to release it. God foresaw that the wickedness of their hearts would be very ready to make such an objection, but very strictly warns them against it, that they should not be the more backward to supply the wants of the needy for that, but should be willing to give him. “Do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again” (Luke 6:35).

[People] are exceedingly apt to make objections against such duties, which God speaks of here as a manifestation of the wickedness of their hearts: “Beware that there be not a thought in thy wicked heart,” etc. The warning is very strict. God doth not only say, Beware that thou do not actually refuse to give him, but, Beware that thou have not one objecting thought against it, arising from a backwardness to liberality. God warns against the beginnings of uncharitableness in the heart, and against whatever tends to a forbearance to give. “And thou givest him nought; and he cry unto the LORD against thee, and it be sin unto thee.” God warns them from the guilt which they would be liable to bring upon themselves hereby…

Another enforcement of this duty is the promise of God, that for this thing He will bless us in all our works, and in all that we put our hands unto, a promise that we shall not lose but gain by it…this is to cut off an excuse that uncharitable persons would be ready to make for not giving, that they could find nobody to give to, that they saw none who needed. God cuts off such an excuse by telling us that He would so order it in His providence that His people everywhere and in all ages shall have occasion for the exercise of that virtue.”

Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) in Christian Charity or The Duty of Charity to the Poor, Explained and Enforced (Pensacola: Chapel Library, 2022) 4-5. Download the PDF copy here.

We either act with willing hearts or wicked hearts. Ponder that.

Our human tendency is to not act in obedience and not to give. We must understand that the opposite of obedience is wickedness in the eyes of God. We either obey or we don’t.

In love, God spurs us to obedience by making his great and precious promises.

He promises to bless us in all our works. He promises that we will not lose but gain. He does this to cut off excuses. What about you? Is there anything holding you back from your generosity?

The right way is willing and the wrong way is wicked. Choose the path of willing generosity.

And put your trust in the promises of God to bless and resource you for greater generosity. He wants you to be charitable. He sees and will supply your needs.

I’ve returned home. Right away, I am hosting a guest from Costa Rica. When he leaves later today, I will take time for reflection and enrichment.

I am thankful that when we empty ourselves, when we share and bless others, God refills us. He restores us. And He enriches us for continued generosity. That’s where I am am at. Join me.

You only figure this out as you live it out. I want this for you. Please take hold of it.

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Now concerning the collection for the saints: you should follow the directions I gave to the churches of Galatia. On the first day of every week, each of you is to put aside and save whatever extra you earn, so that collections need not be taken when I come. 1 Corinthians 16:1-2

”God gives us directions on how we are to give…bountifully and willingly. We should give bountifully and sufficiently for the supply of the poor’s need: “Thou shalt not…shut thine hand from thy poor brother: But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and…lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth” (Deuteronomy 15:7-8). And again, in verse 11: “Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.” Again, we should give willingly and without grudging: “Thou shalt not harden thine heart…from thy poor brother…And thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him” (vv. 7, 10). We may also observe how peremptorily this duty is here enjoined and how much it is insisted on. It is repeated over and over again and enjoined in the strongest terms.”

Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) in Christian Charity or The Duty of Charity to the Poor, Explained and Enforced (Pensacola: Chapel Library, 2022) 4. Download the PDF copy here.

I am safely back home to Denver. Today marks the second day exploring what is needful to live generously in this classic work. Thankfully Edwards provides clear and biblical giving directions in three parts.

First, give bountifully. This points to the measure of our giving. It implies great volume. So, the first point relates to supplying more than enough to meet a need. Think about it.

Things always seem to cost more than we expect. I am praying right now for resources to host events in Ghana. Already I anticipate a stretched budget. Bountiful giving bridges the gap!

Second, give willingly. This relates to the motivation of our giving. It teaches us that God cares more about the posture of our heart than the level of our giving.

To grow in this area, make a gift today or this week to something that God cares about that you can support with your whole heart. You might rediscover the joy of generosity in the process.

Third, give peremptorily. This is an uncommon word for giving out of obedience. In plain terms, God uses the strongest terms because it’s the right thing for you to do.

This matches the instructions from the apostle Paul. He gives directions to the Galatians, the Corinthians, and us to share our surplus to meet the needs of others.

This brings us full circle to Deuteronomy. When we live this way, we don’t end up with hard or grieved hearts but happy hearts. And needs get met from the resources that God has supplied.

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Now if your countryman becomes destitute and cannot support himself among you, then you are to help him as you would a foreigner or stranger, so that he can continue to live among you. Leviticus 25:35

“The duty here enjoined is giving to the poor: “If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren…thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother… Thou shalt surely give him.” Here by “thy poor brother” is to be understood the same as in other places is meant by “neighbor.” It is explained in Leviticus 25:35 to mean not only those of their own nation, but even strangers and sojourners: “And if thy brother be waxen poor, and fallen in decay with thee; then thou shalt relieve him: yea, though he be a stranger, or a sojourner.”

The Pharisees indeed interpreted it to signify only one of their own nation; but Christ condemns this interpretation (Luke 10:29) and teaches, in contradiction to their opinion, that the rules of charity in the Law of Moses are to be extended to the Samaritans, who were not of their nation, and between whom and the Jews there was the most bitter enmity, and who were a people very troublesome to the Jews.”

Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) in Christian Charity or The Duty of Charity to the Poor, Explained and Enforced (Pensacola: Chapel Library, 2022) 3-4.

I’ve had a fantastic and fruitful trip to Australia. Reply if you’d like a copy of my trip report.

This week we turn our attention to learn what is needful from Jonathan Edwards. Download the ebook of this classic work here.

Today we get a good reminder to aid those around us who are in need coupled with the biblical definition of neighbor. It’s not just people who are like us. It includes strangers and sojourners.

And maybe more important is to determine who the Pharisees are in the day in which we live. And akin to that is what the rules of charity are in our cultural settings. Let me explain.

Society pressures us to do certain things or support certain groups. For example, society might say, “Strangers are bad. Don’t talk to them.” Or, “watch out for foreigners. They are sketchy. Avoid them.”

The Old Testament Law of Moses and the New Testament example of Jesus call us to think and act differently.

We do well to open our minds and hearts to strangers. And we may actually receive blessing from extending hospitality to sojourners. Today I exhort you to show to others the care you would want shown to you.

This could be an immigrant, a refugee, a visitor to your country, or a person who’s just not from the place where you live. They often need a helping hand, a bit of advice, or some other form of assistance.

Pray about what it looks like to help them. While Jenni departs today for ten days of ministry in Rwanda, Jesus says to host a bloke from Costa Rica for a night and to buy a meal for a family visiting from Pakistan.

As I think about it, it represents the care I received from Aussies in both Adelaide and Melbourne. Generosity is a two-way street. Sometimes we receive care and other times we extend it.

For the sake of application, let’s all care for our neighbors, shall we? That includes strangers and sojourners. And simultaneously, let’s trust Jesus to care for us according to His riches in glory.

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The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor. They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations. Strangers will shepherd your flocks; foreigners will work your fields and vineyards. And you will be called priests of the Lord, you will be named ministers of our God. You will feed on the wealth of nations, and in their riches you will boast. Isaiah 61:1-6

“Holy Father, Thy wisdom excites our admiration, Thy power fills us with fear, Thy omnipresence turns every spot of earth into holy ground; but how shall we thank Thee enough for Thy mercy which comes down to the lowest part of our need to give us beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and for the spirit of heaviness a garment of praise? We bless and magnify Thy mercy, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”

A. W. Tozer (1897-1963) in Knowledge of the Holy, 65. Click here to download it freely.

Today marks the last post from A. W. Tozer for now. I have enjoyed sweet fellowship with friends down under. I fly home tomorrow. I pray you have gained wisdom this week.

Lest we think more highly of ourselves than we should, we must remember that God does not need us.

He chooses to work in and through us. He is not only our Savior. He offers us infinite power. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead. But are you tapping it?

And today, we see him go to the lowest part of our need to transform it. He gets His proverbial hands dirty. If you feel like life is filled with ashes, mourning, and a spirit of heaviness, He wants more for you.

He offers beauty, the oil of joy, and a garment of praise.

God generously meets us in our lowest parts and transforms everything. And the best part, after that, we get to help others experience it. He makes us rebuilders, priests, and ministers.

He meets us in the lowest part of our need so we can meet others there.

Think right now of someone who has needs. How can you serve as a rebuilder if they are broken, as a priest to connect them to God, or as a minister to help meet their needs?

Ask the Holy Spirit whom to serve and do it generously.

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No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. Matthew 6:24

“God will not compromise and He need not be coaxed. He cannot be persuaded to alter His Word nor talked into answering selfish prayer. In all our efforts to find God, to please Him, to commune with Him, we should remember that all change must be on our part. ”I am the Lord, I change not” [Malachi 3:6]. We have but to meet His clearly stated terms, bring our lives into accord with His revealed will, and His infinite power will become instantly operative toward us in the manner set forth through the gospel in the Scriptures of truth.”

A. W. Tozer (1897-1963) in Knowledge of the Holy, 39. Click here to download it freely.

Tozer teaches us that God wants one thing from us: change.

We have leaned into the idea of obedience this week. Think of “what” is needful for you. But the term ‘change’ explains “how” you get there.

Now I want you to consider into the clearly stated terms. You cannot serve God and money.

I cannot get over how many followers of Christ say they serve God but their actions show they serve money. Hang with me to make a really important point.

If you think having money is the answer to navigate life, you serve money. Let me explain this in power terms. It’s like running your life on car battery. God lets you do it.

You are like an old pick up truck that backfires. You sputter along. You limited your power by choice. You miss out on infinite power that can become instantly operative toward you.

Now imagine running your life by the power of the glory of God.

“The city does not need the sun or moon to shine on it. God’s glory gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.” Revelation 21:23

In the heavenly city, it powers everything. In car terms, you are a Formula One race car. The choice is yours. Old pick up truck or F1 race car.

Take a step in the right direction. Ask God what change looks like for you. And do it.

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I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 1 Timothy 2:1-4

“When viewed from the perspective of eternity, the most critical need of this hour may well be that the Church should be brought back from her long Babylonian captivity and the name of God be glorified in her again as of old. Yet we must not think of the Church as an anonymous body, a mystical religious abstraction. We Christians are the Church and whatever we do is what the Church is doing. The matter, therefore, is for each of us a personal one. Any forward step in the Church must begin with the individual.

What can we plain Christians do to bring back the departed glory? Is there some secret we may learn? Is there a formula for personal revival we can apply to the present situation, to our own situation? The answer to these questions is yes. Yet the answer may easily disappoint some persons, for it is anything but profound. I bring no esoteric cryptogram, no mystic code to be painfully deciphered. I appeal to no hidden law of the unconscious, no occult knowledge meant only for the few.

The secret is an open one which the wayfaring man may read. It is simply the old and ever new counsel: Acquaint thyself with God. To regain her lost power the Church must see heaven opened and have a transforming vision of God. But the God we must see is not the utilitarian God who is having such a run of popularity today, whose chief claim to men’s attention is His ability to bring them success in their various undertakings and who for that reason is being cajoled and flattered by everyone who wants a favor. The God we must learn to know is the Majesty in the heavens, God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, the only wise God, our Savior.”

A. W. Tozer (1897-1963) in Knowledge of the Holy, 84. Click here to download it freely.

What is needful if you want to have a generous impact in this world? Tozer alerts you to acquaint yourself with the only wise God, our Savior.

Let’s lean into this in two ways.

One, your faith in the only wise God, our Savior will only be as strong as the object of your faith. Study the word of God.

Two, to learn more about term ‘Savior’ associated with God, and click here to download and read my International Society of Biblical Literature paper “The Honorific Title ‘Savior’ in Ancient Coins, the Inscriptions of Ephesus, and 1 Timothy.” I deliver it today in Adelaide, Australia.

You discover who was called ‘savior’ in Ephesus in the days of the New Testament and what Timothy and those with whom he served would have heard when the author of 1 Timothy employs the word.

And soon, when the new Generosity Monk website launches soon, you can get access to similar papers to help you more deeply acquaint yourself with the only wise God, our Savior.

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Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed — not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence — continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose. Philippians 2:12-13

“The various elements of truth stand in perpetual antithesis, sometimes requiring us to believe apparent opposites while we wait for the moment when we shall know as we are known. Then truth which now appears to be in conflict with itself will arise in shining unity and it will be seen that the conflict has not been in the truth but in our sin-damaged minds. In the meanwhile our inner fulfillment lies in loving obedience to the commandments of Christ and the inspired admonitions of His apostles. “It is God which worketh in you.” He needs no one, but when faith is present He works through anyone. Two statements are in this sentence and a healthy spiritual life requires that we accept both. For a full generation the first has been in almost total eclipse, and that to our deep spiritual injury.”

A. W. Tozer (1897-1963) in Knowledge of the Holy, 28. Click here to download it freely.

Tozer helps us understand that it is needful for us to choose the path of loving obedience while holding elements of truth that appear to stand in perpetual antithesis.

This points to the faith and the work parts of the spiritual journey. Both are vital. And soak in this paradox. “He needs no one, but when faith is present He works through anyone.”

He does His best work through those society would least expect. We see this through the various characters of the Bible. Through the ordinary, He does the extraordinary.

I am at a conference with biblical scholars. They could appear in biblical stories as proud Pharisees, or as humble teachers. Today the Spirit reminds me that the purpose of biblical knowledge is loving obedience.

The same is true for you. As you grow, it is for a purpose. To renew your sin-damaged mind and walk in obedience. We figure it out as we live it out.

To think anything less is to remain in deep spiritual injury. So what is the application today? Work out your salvation, or in plain terms, aim at obedience and God trust God to take care of the rest.

It will cost you everything but the gain will be unfathomable. Jesus, I surrender myself to you, take care of everything.

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Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. Matthew 16:24

“Christians today appear to know Christ only after the flesh. They try to achieve communion with Him by divesting Him of His burning holiness and unapproachable majesty, the very attributes He veiled while on earth but assumed in fullness of glory upon His ascension to the Father’s right hand. The Christ of popular Christianity has a weak smile and a halo. He has become Someone-up-There who likes people, at least some people, and these are grateful but not too impressed. If they need Him, He also needs them.

Let us not imagine that the truth of the divine self-sufficiency will paralyze Christian activity. Rather it will stimulate all holy endeavor. This truth, while a needed rebuke to human self-confidence, will when viewed in its biblical perspective lift from our minds the exhausting load of mortality and encourage us to take the easy yoke of Christ and spend ourselves in Spirit-inspired toil for the honor of God and the good of humankind. For the blessed news is that the God who needs no one has in sovereign condescension set Himself to work by and in and through His obedient children.”

A. W. Tozer (1897-1963) in Knowledge of the Holy, 26-27. Click here to download it freely.

Over the last two days, we learned that it is needful for us to understand that God needs no helpers or defenders. Today we discover some really blessed news.

“The God who needs no one has in sovereign condescension set Himself to work by and in and through His obedient children.” That’s you and me, but only if we choose the path of obedience.

The obedient appear with the easy yoke of Christ. The obedient spend themselves “in Spirit-inspired toil for the honor of God and the good of mankind.”

Is the Spirit convicting you of human self-confidence that needs rebuke? For God to work by and in you for His honor and the good of humankind, the only pathway is obedience.

As a practical application today, read one of the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John), in your personal study this week. Read it and write down time Jesus tells the disciples to do something.

Ask the Spirit to help you obey the list, to help you in your unbelief, and to give you courage to deny yourself, take up your cross and follow Jesus.

The International Society of Biblical Literature conference is going well in Adelaide. I am learning a lot, having rich discussions with scholars, and will share my paper at the conference and with you on 9 July 2026.

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