Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Paradoxical Possession

What I mean, brothers and sisters, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they do not; those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away. 1 Corinthians 7:29-31

“When Jesus calls the young man to enter into the situation where faith is possible, he does it only with the aim of making the man have faith in Him, that is to say, He calls Him into fellowship with himself. In the last resort what matters is not what the man does, but only his faith in Jesus as the Son of God and Mediator.

At all events poverty or riches, marriage or celibacy, a profession or the lack of it, have in the last resort nothing to do with it-everything depends on faith alone. So far then we are quite right; it is possible to have wealth and the possession of this world’s goods and to believe in Christ-so that a man may have these goods as one who has them not.

But this is an ultimate possibility of the Christian life, only within our capacity in so far as we await with earnest expectation the immediate return of Christ. It is by no means the first and the simplest possibility. The paradoxical understanding of the commandments has its Christian justification, but it must never lead to the abandoning of the single-minded understanding of the commandments.

This is only possible and right for somebody who has already at some point or other in his life put into action his single-minded understanding, somebody who thus lives with Christ as his disciple and in anticipation of the end. This is the infinitely more difficult, and humanly speaking “impossible possibility,” to interpret the call of Jesus in this paradoxical way. And it is just this paradoxical element which exposes his call to the constant danger of being transformed into its very opposite, and used as an excuse for shirking the necessity of concrete obedience.

Anybody who does not feel that he would be much happier were he only permitted to understand and obey the commandments of Jesus in a straightforward literal way, and e.g. surrender all his possessions at his bidding rather than cling to them, has no right to this paradoxical interpretation of Jesus’ words. We have to hold the two together in mind all the time.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945) in The Cost of Discipleship (New York: Macmillan, 1979) 90-91. Click here to download this classic work.

Today’s Scripture teaches us to live differently from the world, to have marriages that are missional, and to have possessions but not be controlled by them.

Bonhoeffer reminds us to hold both sides of these topics in mind all the time. This is wise. Let me explain.

If we don’t hold both in mind all the time, here’s what can happen. We obey the simple command of God to enjoy and share his material blessings. Then He blesses us again. At that moment, we can forget the Giver and just celebrate the gift.

So, in plain terms, and everyone can do this. Give thanks for God’s blessings but always use them obediently. I call it paradoxical possession because you possess them and you don’t simultaneously as a conduit.

Think of a pipe in your home. It simultaneous has water in it and does not have water in it. When it does its job, water flows. Life is good. And more will flow.

When you live like a conduit? God sees your faithfulness and supply more. You need not try to make yourself wealth through disobedient keeping like the rich fool. Hopefully this is making sense.

As you think about your own life, try to keep the possible and the impossible in view always. That will keep you living by faith. You can do this. God’s got you.

And today, I thank God for Jenni. It’s her birthday. And I am thankful we have a missional marriage. I praise God she finds life by enjoying and sharing God’s blessings with me.

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

“The gracious call of Jesus now becomes a stern command: Do this! Give up that! Leave the ship and come to me! When a man says he cannot obey the call of Jesus because he believes, or because he does not believe, Jesus says: “First obey, perform the external work, renounce your attachments, give up the obstacles which separate you from the will of God. Do not say you have not got faith. You will not have it so long as you persist in disobedience and refuse to take the first step. Neither must you say that you have faith, and therefore there is no need for you to take the first step. You have not got faith so long as and because you will not take the first step but become hardened in your unbelief under the guise of humble faith.”

Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945) in The Cost of Discipleship (New York: Macmillan, 1979) 73. Click here to download this classic work.

Yesterday we heard the gracious call of Jesus. He said, “Come.”

Today that call has become a command. I did an interesting exercise while writing this post. I searched online for lists of the commands of Christ. I scanned multiple lists.

Interestingly, the lists conspicuously omitted commands related to money, such as this one.

Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. Luke 12:33

What’s the point? If we ignore the uncomfortable aspects of the faith, we fail to grasp life altogether.

Jesus, Dietrich, and I want you to renounce your attachments not because of what we want from you, but because of what we want for you.

Obeying the command to enjoying and share riches is the pathway for taking hold of life that is truly life.

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. 1 Timothy 6:17-19

Do this and you will not end up poor but replenished for greater generosity.

“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” Matthew 14:28-33

“If a drunkard signs the pledge, or a rich man gives all his money away, they are both of them freeing themselves from their slavery to alcohol or riches, but not from their bondage to themselves. They are still moving in their own little orbit, perhaps even more than they were before. They are still subject to the commandment of works, still as submerged in the death of the old life as they were before. Of course, the work has to be done, but of itself it can never deliver them from death, disobedience, and ungodliness…

Nevertheless the external work must be done, for we still have to find our way into the situation where faith is possible. We must take a definite step. What does this mean? It means that we can only take this step aright if we fix our eyes not on the work we do, but on the word with which Jesus calls us to do it. Peter knows he dare not climb out of the ship in his own strength-his very first step would be his undoing.

And so he cries, “Lord, bid me come to thee upon the waters,” and Jesus answers: “Come.” Christ must first call him, for the step can only be taken at his word. This call is his grace, which calls him out of death into the new life of obedience. But when once Christ has called him, Peter has no alternative-he must leave the ship and come to him. In the end, the first step of obedience proves to be an act of faith in the word of Christ.

But we should completely misunderstand the nature of grace if we were to suppose that there was no need to take the first step, because faith was already there. Against that we must boldly assert that the step of obedience must be taken before faith can be possible. Unless he obeys, a man cannot believe.”

Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945) in The Cost of Discipleship (New York: Macmillan, 1979) 71-72. Click here to download this classic work.

We turn this week to see what is needful for growing in Christian generosity from Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

Today we learn that a giving away great riches does not save us from our death, disobedience, and ungodliness, only obedience to Jesus does. Without obedience a person cannot believe.

Jesus cares not what you say you think or believe. Your actions show what you believe.

Regarding generosity, we either live like we believe God supplies all good things to enjoy and share or we don’t. Our bank accounts and giving statements show whether or not we believe.

I hope this rocks your world today, in good kind of way. You will thank me in the eternal kingdom.

Is it time for you to step out of the boat. If Jesus is calling you to put your trust in him instead of money, don’t you think he will make sure you won’t sink. You will never know or believe until you obey.

He’s good. He’s faithful. And He’s calling you. “Come.”

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 2 Corinthians 3:17

“And although such a Soul may seem to have some affection for exterior things, do not believe it. It is impossible that any love should enter into hearts like these, except the love of God, unless God himself permits it by reason of some necessity either of the soul or the body. And should this occur, all love and care, coming from such a source, would be no impediment, and would not touch the depths of the heart; but would only be ordered of God for some necessity, because it is needful that pure love should be free from every exterior and interior concern; for, where the Spirit of God is, there is liberty.”

Catherine of Genoa (1447-1510) in Spiritual Dialogues (Grand Rapids: CCEL) Part Third, Chapter 8. Click here to download this classic work.

Today marks the final post in this work for now. Do download it for future reading or sharing with others.

The journey this week has brought us to a place where we are surrounded by the pure love of God. We have been challenged this week to grow in grace and today we see a good reason to do this. We enjoy liberty.

As we grow in our living, giving, serving, and loving, God increases our capacity, allows grace to abound toward us, and frees us from earthly attachments giving us freedom to live life as He designed it to be lived.

Take time today to give thanks for His abundant grace and the many gifts and benefits of His providence. And to stay on this trajectory of growth, keep yourself in the love of God.

Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all His benefits. Psalm 103:1-2

“God shows the soul also, that all the benefits bestowed on her by creatures (whether spiritual or temporal) are given because God moves them to it; and hence she learns to take no heed of creatures, what service soever they may have rendered her, for she perceives clearly that it is God who has done it by the action of His providence. By this vision the soul is more and more inflamed, and finally abandons herself to love, casting aside all creatures, and finding in God such fulness that she can regard nothing else but Him.”

Catherine of Genoa (1447-1510) in Spiritual Dialogues (Grand Rapids: CCEL) Part Third, Chapter 8. Click here to download this classic work.

Today marks the second to last post from Catherine of Genoa and our rich and edifying exploration of what is needful for living, giving, serving, and loving generously from her Life and Doctrine and Spiritual Dialogues.

As we mature in our journey, we can worship the gifts of God and forget about God. Let me explain.

The reason we must recall His benefits is to remind ourselves where they came from. Sadly, most Christians take steps, God blesses them, and then they get comfortable, fat, and happy.

The forget that the benefits came from His providence. Instead they as if they produced the good themselves.

Don’t let this be you. Pause today to worship God. Acknowledge nothing else but Him as the Giver of all good gifts. And resolve not just to enjoy them but to take steps to grow in your sharing.

His grace will about to you in the measure you move toward maturity. You’ve got this. God’s got you.

Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6

“Know then, in the first place, that I am God, with whom there is no change; and know too that I loved man before I created him. I loved him with a love which is infinite, pure, simple, and sincere, and without any cause; it is impossible that I should not love those whom I have created and designed for my glory, each in his own degree. I have also provided him amply with all needful means of attaining his end, both with natural gifts and supernatural graces, and on my part these never fail him. I am ever surrounding him with my infinite love, now in one way and now in another, that I may bring him under my care. I find in him nothing which is contrary to me but the freewill which I have given him, and this I am always combating through love, until he yields it to me, and when I have accepted it I reform it little by little by my secret operations and loving care, and never abandon him until I have conducted him to his appointed end.”

Catherine of Genoa (1447-1510) in Spiritual Dialogues (Grand Rapids: CCEL) Part Third, Chapter 1. Click here to download this classic work.

It was a short night with little sleep. Jenni got home safely from her service in Rwanda. After flight cancellations and delays, we got home about 2:15am. But the ministry went great so we rejoice.

Catherine has challenged us this week to cooperate with the grace of God and take steps to grow toward maturity.

Today we get God’s perspective of each of us. He loves you and me. He made us and he has give us the needful means – natural gifts and supernatural graces – to mature in every aspect of the faith, including generosity.

And notice that He intervenes in our lives with “secret operations and loving care” to aid our growth.

Take time to praise God today. And resolve to take the steps He may be leading you to take this week for your growth and His glory, knowing that His grace will abound to you in proportion to your surrender and service.

And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:8

“Grace increases in proportion as man makes use of it. Hence it is evident that God gives man from day to day all that he needs, no more and no less, and to each according to his condition and capacity. All this he does for the love and benefit of man; but because we are so cold and negligent in our endeavors, and because the instinct of the spirit is to arrive quickly at perfection, it seems as if grace were insufficient. Yet it is not so, and the fault is wholly ours, in not cooperating with the grace already received, which therefore ceases to increase.”

Catherine of Genoa (1447-1510) in Spiritual Dialogues (Grand Rapids: CCEL) Part Second, Chapter 5. Click here to download this classic work.

If you want grace to increase toward to, don’t be “cold and negligent” in you endeavors or you will get the measure of grace that matches you effort, or lack thereof.

If you want God to bless you abundantly, quit holding back. Get out there and empty yourself. Do it and you will find yourself enriched for greater generosity. This is a paradox of generosity for sure.

What is your condition and capacity today? To the measure you live, give, serve, and love generously, God has abundant grace ready to abound toward you.

Catherine has given us all a gift with this post. Only one who has lived this out can share this profound truth with us. I am thankful I located and even more happy to share it.

Don’t let it stop with you. Soon the new Generosity Monk website and email system will start. When it does, tell all your friends to subscribe. It’s free and maps the path to maturity.

In the meantime, cooperate with the grace you have been given and get out there and abound in every good work knowing that God will match your wholehearted effort with an abundant proportion of grace.

But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9

“O admirable work of love, which gives God to man that he may do all that is needful to attain that perfection for which he is designed! God gives him, too, all needful light and grace, increasing them gradually in such a manner and to such a degree that they never fail and never exceed; for if they fell short, man might excuse himself from doing his part because grace was wanting to him, and if they exceeded, the work he might have done through their means but failed to do, would be his punishment.”

Catherine of Genoa (1447-1510) in Spiritual Dialogues (Grand Rapids: CCEL) Part Second, Chapter 5. Click here to download this classic work.

God gives sufficient grace or “all needful light and grace” to help us attain perfection or maturity.

Catherine makes a great point that if God did not do this, we as humans would make excuses instead of get to work doing the good that God has prepared for us to do.

This explains why growth in generosity is often incremental. We take a step of growth, then another.

What next step is God wanting you to take. The good news is that He provides needful light for our path and grace will abound to us as we take it. Seek the Lord today. Do what He says.

Don’t put it off as we never know if we have tomorrow. Make the most of today.

What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all—how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things? Romans 8:31-32

“All things are necessary which God ordains, who is only waiting to consume interiorly and exteriorly all our corrupt affections, and that all wrongs, injuries, contempt, sickness, poverty, abandonment of relatives and friends, the temptations of the devil, mortifications, and all else contrary to humanity, are especially needful to us, that we may combat with them, till at length gaining through them the victory, our corrupt affections may be extinguished, until adversity appears to us no longer bitter, but sweet.

Whoever believes that anything good or bad can befall him, which can separate him from God, shows that he is not yet strong in divine charity; for man should fear nothing but to offend God, and all beside should be to him as if it were not.

For herself, she said, that she seemed to see in her heart a ray of love proceeding from God, binding them together with a golden thread, and had no fear that it would ever be loosed; and this had been the case ever since her conversion. Her sweet Lord gave her such confidence that when she was moved to pray for anything, something within seemed to say: “Command, for love can do it.” Indeed she had every thing she asked, with all possible certainty.”

Catherine of Genoa (1447-1510) in Life and Doctrine of Saint Catherine of Genoa (Grand Rapids: CCEL) Chapter 27. Click here to download this classic work.

Recently there was a small brush fire in our neighborhood. Thankfully, the workers worked fast to contain and extinguish it. Imagine that’s how God works to stomp out our corrupt affections.

Corrupt affections are the heart issues that hinder generous giving, living, serving, and loving. We are attached to the wrong things. Or notice as the reading unfolds from Catherine that fear also grips us.

We worry about bad things befalling us. This shows we are not strong in divine charity, which is akin to generosity. She is saying that we are weak because we fear the wrong things. We need only fear God.

Catherine shows us where to ind peace and confidence. Bind ourselves to God. And if we need something to excel in divine charity or generosity, we need only say the word for Love can do it.

This mirrors the posture of the Apostle Paul in Romans. If you want to go deeper today, meditate on the context from which I pulled today’s Scripture, Romans 8:31-39. God wants you to be more than a conqueror.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:8-10

“Vain-glory could never enter her mind, for she had seen the truth, and distrusting herself, placed her whole confidence in God, saying always: “Oh Lord! do with me what thou wilt.” She had so little esteem of herself that it was pleasing to her to be reproved for any inclination she might have, nor did she ever excuse herself. So clear was the interior vision of that illuminated mind, and such deep things did she say concerning perfection that she could hardly be understood except by the most profound intellects.

Among other things she said: “I would not wish to see one meritorious act attributed to myself, even if it were the means of insuring my salvation; for I should be worse than a demon, to wish to rob God of his own. Yet it is needful that we ourselves act, for the divine grace neither vivifies nor aids that which does not work itself, and grace will not save us without our cooperation.

I repeat it; all works, without the help of grace are dead, being produced by the creature only; but grace aids all works performed by those who are not in mortal sin, and makes them worthy of heaven; not those which are ours solely, but those in which grace cooperates.” So jealous was she for the glory of God, that she was wont to say: “If I could find any good in any creature, (which, however, is impossible) I would tear it from her, and restore it all to God.”

Catherine of Genoa (1447-1510) in Life and Doctrine of Saint Catherine of Genoa (Grand Rapids: CCEL) Chapter 10. Click here to download this classic work.

This week I decided to read the biography of a 15th century mystic. I am moved by how others describe her depth: “she could hardly be understood except by the most profound intellects.”

If today’s post went over your head. Read it again and ponder what people will say about you, or rather, what do you want people to say about you.

This post is about our needful cooperation with God. Let me explain. Catherine grasped what we all need to understand: the interplay between surrender and service and between grace and works.

She surrendered her will to God. People observed this as having little esteem for herself. Also, she wanted nothing meritorious attached to her. She only wanted God to receive glory through her service.

And related to works, she sounds so much like a mix of the apostle Paul and James.

She rightly articulates the role of grace with works. We must act, and yet, the works we do are empowered by grace, and for Catherine (as it should be for all of us), only God gets the glory.

Hang with me this week as the readings will be deep.

Let me conclude with a comment on the last line of today’s post. “If I could find any good in any creature, (which, however, is impossible) I would tear it from her, and restore it all to God.”

It reminds me of my mom, Patsy Hoag. I love you mom!

She has said repeatedly, “If you see any good in me, it’s Jesus.” I have heard her say this so many times, it echos Catherine. Any good in any creature is thanks to Jesus. All glory to God.

Brace yourself. God wants you to grow this week.

For now, surrender your will to God and to do good works because of the grace at work in you thanks to cooperation with Christ Jesus who is at work in you.