Archive for August, 2009

“But what are you to do if when you share with your neighbor you yourself are left without something you need? What but ask in full faith (Acts 4:29; 28:31) from him who gives generously to everyone and does not grudge (Jas 1:5), who opens his hand and pours blessing on every creature (Ps 144:16), there is no doubt that he will come to your aid generously when you are in need, since he is so generous in time of plenty. Scripture says, “First seek the Kingdom of God and his justice and all these things will be added to you” (Mt 6:33; Lk 12:31). He promises without being asked to give what is needed to him who is not greedy for himself and loves his neighbor.”

St. Bernard and G.R. Evans trans. Selected Works of Bernard of Clairvaux, 192-193.

“The organized churches must become schools of spiritual discipline where Christians are taught how to own without treasuring (Matt. 6:21); how to possess without, like the “rich young ruler”, being possessed (Mark 10:22); how to live simply, even frugally, though controlling great wealth and power.

We continue to be misled by the world’s view of well-being, which holds riches to be well-being, and that is why we react by thinking of possessions as inherently and essentially evil, instead of as a domain of spiritual work of the purest sort. So, obviously, we fail to develop adequate teaching and examples for those who do prosper. We can only lamely suggest that maybe they ought not to prosper when we should be those who do, whose to whom much has been given, how to serve God and humankind through their prospering.”

Dallas Willard in The Spirit of the Disciplines (San Francisco: Harper, 1988) 214-215.

Then the old man crossed himself and spoke. “Thank God, my dear brother, for having revealed to you this unappeasable desire for unceasing interior prayer. Recognize in it the call of God, and calm yourself. Rest assured that what has hitherto been accomplished in you in the testing of the harmony of your own will with the voice of God. It has been granted to you to understand that the heavenly light of unceasing interior prayer is attained neither by the wisdom of this world, nor by the mere outward desire for knowledge, but that on the contrary it is found in poverty of spirit and in active experience in simplicity of heart”…Reject all other thoughts (you can do this if you will)…and repeat only the following words constantly, “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me.” Compel yourself to do it always. If you succeed for a time, then without a doubt your heart also will open to prayer. We know it from experience…”

R.M. French trans. The Way of the Pilgrim and the Pilgrim continues His Way (San Francisco: Harper Collins, 1973) 7, 12-13.

“A riddle put forth by old Honest.

A man there was, though some did count him mad, the more he cast away, the more he had.

Then they all gave good heed, wondering what good Gaius would say; so he sat still a while, and then thus replied—

He that bestows his goods upon the poor, shall have as much again, and ten times more.

Then said Joseph, I dare say, Sir, I did not think you could have found it out. Oh, said Gaius, I have been trained up in this way a great while; nothing teaches like experience. I have learned of my Lord to be kind, and have found by experience that I have gained thereby.

“There is that scattereth, yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.” Prov. xi. 24.

“There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing; there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches.” Prov. xiii. 7.”

John Bunyan in The Pilgrim’s Progress from this world to that which is to come (Charles Scribner’s Sons: New York, 1918) 275-276.

“Saving is making provision for tomorrow, while debt is presumption upon tomorrow…

Saving means to forego an expenditure today so you will have something to spend in the future. Perhaps this is why most people never save; it requires the denial of something that you want today, and our culture is not a culture of denial. When we want something, we want it now…

The fundamental principle you need to practice to become a successful investor is to spend less than you earn. Then save and invest the difference over a long period of time…

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Luke 12:34

If we concentrate solely on saving and investing, our focus and affection gravitate there. We will be drawn inexorably to those possessions. But if we balance our saving and investing by giving generously to the Lord, we can still love Christ first with all our heart.”

Howard Dayton in Your Money Counts (Wheaton: Tyndale House, 1996) 100, 101, 106.

“Do not be miserly with others for the sake of wealth; your soul is of more value to you than riches.

You shall share these treasures with strangers, whether they are powerful or not. You shall share them with the poor from who you can expect to receive no reward.

You shall share them with the elderly and widows. I am telling you no lie, but do not give them to sinners who have already sufficient wealth.

You shall give to each in turn, and with the greatest secrecy, but without pomp and without boasting, for in this lies it’s virtue.”

A Reading from The Rule of Carthage, a Celtic monastic rule dating from the seventh century, concerning the duties of a spiritual director.

Robert Atwell in Celebrating the Saints: Daily Spiritual Readings to accompany the calendars of the Church of England, the Church of Ireland, the Scottish Episcopal Church, and the Church in Wales (Norwich: SCM, 2004) 127.