There a centurion’s servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die. The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to Him, asking Him to come and heal his servant. When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with Him, “This man deserves to have you do this, because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue.” So Jesus went with them. He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to Him: “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard this, He was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following Him, he said, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.” Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well. Luke 7:2-10
“As we turn to the New Testament, we find not only examples of friendship relations (e.g. Paul and Philemon, Paul and the Philippian Christians, Herod and Pilate after the trial of Jesus), patron-client relationships (like, most probably, Theophilus and Luke) and public beneficence (like the centurion who showed uncommon generosity toward the local Jewish population in Luke 7:2–10) among people, for which the foregoing discussion is immediately relevant. We also find New Testament authors — like Jewish and Greco-Roman authors — using the language of patronage and reciprocity to give expression to supernatural or unseen realities, especially our relationship with God and God’s Messiah. Even their use of family imagery (e.g., calling God “father” and speaking of the “household of God”) connects with the image of the patron who brings a host of clients into the “household”, although now with the special status of adopted daughters and sons.”
David DeSilva in An Introduction to the New Testament: Contexts, Methods, and Ministry Formation (Downers Grove: IVP Academic, 2004) 293.
DeSilva shifts in his narrative from generosity in the ancient world to examples in the New Testament. Again, I am exploring his writings as he’s from the part of the world where I am serving the next two weeks.
He speaks of these cultural realities linked to generosity that appear in the New Testament: Friendship, Patron-Client Relations, and Public Beneficence. Let’s ponder their relevance to us today.
We give for all three reason. Think about your friendship giving. Last night, I enjoyed dinner in the home of GTP board vice chair, Sanjay Patra. It was priceless time. And he gave me some “South Indian coffee” as a gift.
Each time I drink it I will think of him and his dear family. That’s friendship giving. I can imagine the biblical friendship between Paul and Philemon for example. He would stay with him on their visits.
Then you have Patron-Client relationship giving. It reminds me of major foundation grants GTP has received. They give the gifts because they share the vision of the work of GTP but they have expectations linked to reporting or other things.
When I think of this in NT terms, I think of the comprehensive work that Luke undertook with Theophilus. Imagine getting a grant to write a comprehensive account of Jesus. Not a small project. It was likely a multi-year grant.
And then you have public beneficence. This represents generosity that touches everyone. Today I will lead a seminar for IndiaDonates. I am doing this in Dehli, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad. Why do this?
There are nonprofit organizations that serve humanitarian causes in areas of great need, like putting toilets in towns with no toilets or setting up medical centers. And so in addition to GTP work, I do seminars for these groups to strengthen their service.
It provides public benefit and the nonprofit workers really appreciate it, as does the Indian government, who welcomes me into their country. Pray for this strategic work to bless many in the name of Jesus. Thanks.
And ponder your generosity today. Will you bless someone through friendship? Might God call you to make a major gift like the patron-client gifts do over a span of years. Or is God moving you to make a contribution for public beneficence?
If you have not made a gift to GTP this year, or want to help support our current efforts, please give here. Pray with us that God supplies at least $14,000 and rallies about 30 more gives to help us reach targets set for us by foundations. Thanks.