Archives by: Gary Hoag

Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. Hebrews 13:5

“A missionary tells of a young man who joined the missionary team in a foreign land and appeared concerned because there was a lack of the usual conveniences he was used to. The older missionary, sensing his discomfort, said, ‘Make a list of all the things you are used to and I will show you how to do without them’. Discontent destroys our ability to enjoy the things God has given us since our focus is on the things we think he should give us rather than on what we have.”

Selwyn Hughes in Divine Mathematics: A Biblical Perspective on Investing in God’s Kingdom (Surrey, UK: CWR, 2004) 72-73.

Today’s Scripture reads in the King James Version. Someone asked me recently what I think about the King James Version. I said, “While the language is antiquated,  and can be hard to understand at times, I miss one thing about it. I miss the use of you and ye. Ye being ‘you’ plural.”

That said, notice the message for all of ye today. Be content with what ye have. Related to generosity, ye will be discontent, if ye focus on what ye cannot do because of what ye do not have. And furthermore, ye will do nothing. Instead, God wants ye to put to work what ye have.

Enough of the ‘ye’ language but you get the point. I appreciate how the veteran missionary said, ‘Make a list of all the things you are used to and I will show you how to do without them’. Why? He wanted the young missionary to realize God had provided sufficiently for their needs.

The same is true for every person reading this. Sure, that’s a bold statement, but it’s true. Each of us has what we need today for what God has set before us. We may not think we do because we lack certain provisions or conveniences. Or God has not supplied as we had hoped or anticipated.

Take inventory. What do you have? What if after recounting God’s blessings, rather than focus on what you do not have, pause to give thanks for what God supplied to you. Now what if you put to work what you have today instead of focusing on what you do not have?

What might happen? The outcomes are different for all of us, and yet, the result is the same for everyone. We all discover contentment, find peace, and realize our focus has been on the wrong thing. It happens to everyone. The key is to live in the reality of today’s Scripture. Read it again to close.

Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” Luke 12:15

“It is essential for parents to instill in their children a basic understand of finances as well as teaching them basic life skills. Another thing parents need to do in a family is develops sales resistance to the powerful influence of alluring advertising. Alluring advertising has been defined as ‘the carefully planned appeals to our human weaknesses designed to make us discontent with what we have so that we can rationalize buying things that we know we do not need and should not have’.”

Selwyn Hughes in Divine Mathematics: A Biblical Perspective on Investing in God’s Kingdom (Surrey, UK: CWR, 2004) 71.

Jesus warned us and we need to warn our children, and grandchildren if you have them. Life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.

Watch out for alluring advertising! How can we avoid falling into this trap? I suggest a counter intuitive approach. Rather than try to block the messages, because they are everywhere, try this.

Cultivate contentment. Every day with your children or whenever you see your grandchildren, have gratitude and thankfulness drip from your tongue.

When we cultivate contentment we see alluring advertising for what it is. Lies. Don’t believe them. Don’t buy what they sell. Warn your family, children, and grandchildren too.

Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. Romans 8:5-6

“The difference between a natural mind and a spiritual mind is this: a person with a ‘natural’ mind uses human reasoning before deciding to obey God’s Word. A person with a ‘spiritual’ mind begins by obeying a scriptural command and then afterwards understands the hidden wisdom and purpose behind the command.”

Selwyn Hughes in Divine Mathematics: A Biblical Perspective on Investing in God’s Kingdom (Surrey, UK: CWR, 2004) 64.

You can’t overthink biblical teaching on money or it will lead you to miss the purpose behind Christ’s commands, natural thinking, and death.

It reminds me of a reading in my devotional book, Steward, entitled, “Stupid, A Socialist, or Savior.” Therein I wrote the following.

“On a famous BBC radio broadcast C.S. Lewis said that Jesus is either a ‘Lunatic, Liar, or Lord’. Related to money, a similar line fits Jesus.

On money, Jesus is either ‘Stupid, a Socialist, or Savior’. He’s either dumb as His teachings on money sound fiscally loose and irresponsible. Or, He’s a socialist that seems to demand forced sharing. Or, He’s trying to save us from serving an alternate God, money.

Only when we obey Him as Savior do we realize that He’s not trying to rob us but help us. In instructing us to store up treasures in heaven rather than on earth, He’s shaping our hearts to care about the things He cares about. And He’s helping us prepare for life eternal.

Only in obedience to our Savior do we as stewards find freedom from service to money. We don’t figure it out until we live it out. The freedom is not for self-indulgence but for serving our Savior.

Savior Jesus, I don’t think you are stupid or a socialist. Help me obey Your teachings on money as a faithful steward. Amen.”

Does the way you handle money reveal that you see Jesus as stupid? Do you ignore His commands? Or do you see him as a socialist, forcing you to obey? Or as Savior? You obey and, in so doing, have grasped real life.

If you want to download Steward freely and break away from the thinking of the natural mind, click here. We all can overthink things, but when we do, we miss the kingdom.

Put money where God says to put it. Obey and afterwords understand.

“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! Matthew 6:22-23

“What happens to your money, happens to you. Your money is an extended or contracted you. If you pile up money with no purpose behind it, you clutter up yourself, and it becomes a purposeless self, hence and unhappy self.”

Selwyn Hughes in Divine Mathematics: A Biblical Perspective on Investing in God’s Kingdom (Surrey, UK: CWR, 2004) 60.

After Jesus tells us not to store up treasure on earth, he tells us to store it up in heaven. Then He makes this statement about the eye or our focus.

If our eye or focus is wrong, everything will be wrong, unhealthy, and full of darkness. Hughes would say that we would render ourselves purposeless.

What happens to your money, happens to you. Put it in play toward things that match the purposes of God instead of letting it sit purposeless.

Don’t focus on what you think you need for the next 30 years. Focus on what decisions you will be happy you made 30 million years from now.

Use your money purposefully to live purposefully.

Let all things be done decently [meaning “with standards”] and in order. 1 Corinthians 14:40

“When giving to Christian organizations, ask yourself the following questions:

• Is the ministry one which honors Christ and the Word of God?
• Does it teach and maintain godly standards?
• Is their evidence of God’s blessing on the work?
• Is it based on sound doctrine (doctrinal error will eventually destroy a ministry)?
• Do its leaders demonstrate a simple basic lifestyle and are not given to lavish living?
• Does the organization show evidence of careful and prudent financial management?

Selwyn Hughes in Divine Mathematics: A Biblical Perspective on Investing in God’s Kingdom (Surrey, UK: CWR, 2004) 53.

I am writing a book right now about this topic. It will be my fourth ECFA Press book published with GTP Press. I will make you wait for more information.

From a biblical perspective, the book aims to train church and ministry workers worldwide to follow biblically faithful, globally consistent, and locally contextualized standards.

I want the church and ministries you serve and support to be prepared to answer all these questions. Their faithfulness will position them for fruitfulness and sustainability. Thanks for your prayers for me as I write.

And use this list of questions as a guide as you think about what ministries you will support. Share it with others. Mentor others to ask these questions too as they give to ministries.

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

“A question might arise in your mind: where do I give… God often burdens Christians to pray for and give to certain causes. Not everyone will have the same burden. God has given me a great burden for children who have been orphaned, abused, or are in desperate circumstances and that is where most of my giving is directed. With you it might be in other directions: evangelism and the propagation of the gospel, relief for the poor, helping Christians in the developing world to have access to spiritual resources, and so on. Pray and ask God to show you not just how much you should give but also where you should give.”

Selwyn Hughes in Divine Mathematics: A Biblical Perspective on Investing in God’s Kingdom (Surrey, UK: CWR, 2004) 52.

I want to pause and thank many of you who have helped carry my burdens. You have supported me to take the gospel of Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth. We have put structure in place to help ministries flourish in hard places.

And I want encourage you as you stretch your giving this year to continue to help carry the burdens of workers like me. It starts with your local church and spreads to your community, your country, and the whole world.

When you give, see yourself as helping that worker carry their burdens, and don’t be surprised if that worker helps you. Let me give you an example. A friend of mine, named Steven, needed some help with the ministry he serves as board chair.

For the past few years, Steven has helped me carry my burdens through his giving. Recently, I was able to help him in priceless ways with his service. I gave my time to help him carry his burdens. He’s grateful. I am grateful. Everyone wins.

When we carry each other’s burdens, we advance the gospel and God makes sure someone gets tapped to help carry ours. He’s the good Master who makes sure everyone’s needs get sorted. Play your part. Stretch this year. Help and be helped.

I pray that out of His glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being. Ephesians 3:16

“I invite you to make a faith promise to God now. Start by asking God to help you work out the right amount…that will stretch your faith a little.

Some months before writing this booklet, I sat down and made my faith promise for the year ahead. I asked the Lord how much I should give. The amount that came into my mind in answer to that prayer seemed astonishing. My reaction was to say, ‘Lord, are you sure?’ I went ahead and made my commitment. Within a few weeks of making that commitment, I was offered a writing contract that gave me much more than I had planned to give.

Many of my friends and colleagues tell similar stories following their commitment in the making of a faith promise. It seems God delights to enter into partnership with us in relation to giving by faith, as we work God works. So make a start. Give God an opportunity to multiply your ability to give and increase your faith by first committing yourself to give a certain amount to Him.”

Selwyn Hughes in Divine Mathematics: A Biblical Perspective on Investing in God’s Kingdom (Surrey, UK: CWR, 2004) 51.

I have needed to do more stretching than normal. I am home writing and sitting too much. Despite walking 10,000 steps per day (on average) with Grace (our German Shorthair Pointer dog), I have had stiff muscles and back pain.

Stretching is good. It brings relief. It helps our muscles and our body function in a more healthy way. The same is true for our spirit when we stretch ourselves with our giving. The immaterial part of us grows stronger.

The apostle Paul calls this our “inner being” in today’s Scripture. Read it in the context of Ephesians 3:14-21. As Hughes writes, “God delights to enter into partnership with us in relation to giving by faith, as we work God works.”

He desires to strengthen us with heavenly riches. Though everyone around us may appear weary from life, we can find new strength in partnering with God. What would it look like for you to stretch your giving this year?

As Jesus looked up, He saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.” Luke 21:1-4

“A faith promise provides you with a purpose to give and a purpose to pray and stimulates your faith towards bigger and greater things and opens the blocked channels of your life that fear and unbelief may have clogged.

Many years ago when I was a pastor in London church, I invited every church member at the beginning of the year to make a faith promise to God. Everyone took some time to pray over the matter and then put the figure they thought God wanted them to give on the faith promise card.

Later when recording the cards in the church faith promise register, I noticed the name of an old widow whose circumstances I was very familiar with. I was somewhat surprised at the comparatively large amount she had put on her card and later I went to see her to find out if she had made a mistake.

When I raised the matter that I considered her faith promise too large and that she ought to consider reducing it, she burst into tears. At first I thought they were tears of relief but eventually she turned to me and said, ‘Pastor, that is the figure the Lord told me to give – are you trying to stop me proving the Lord? This is the amount I promised to give and this is the amount I believe the Lord will enable me to give.’

I felt rebuked and didn’t quite know what to do. I apologized for my remarks and left the matter as it was. I watched the progress of her giving very carefully in the months that followed, and to my surprise and astonishment she fulfilled her promise on a monthly basis until every penny had been paid.

This woman had only meager savings and where the money came from I have no idea. On one occasion a friend of hers told me that members of her family who previously had given her very little financial help, began to send her regular financial gifts.

I think of this old widow often. She has gone to be with the Lord now and just days prior to her death she withdrew her small savings and sent it to the organization I serve – Crusade for World Revival – with this note saying: ‘I don’t have long in this world now – this might be the last time I can give to God in this way. Use it for His work and His service.’

As I look back I tremble to think that I came closer to hindering a woman from entering a dimension of giving that the Lord had been leading her into. Her Savior had been drawing her into a place where He would prove Himself to be no man’s debtor. I’ll never thank God enough for the lesson that widow showed me by her faith and confidence in God.”

Selwyn Hughes in Divine Mathematics: A Biblical Perspective on Investing in God’s Kingdom (Surrey, UK: CWR, 2004) 49-50.

God led the widow to pursue bigger and greater things with money as she got close to heaven. We see this in the biblical text and the story today. How does it touch you?

Let’s review the first statement from Hughes today.

“A faith promise provides you with a purpose to give and a purpose to pray and stimulates your faith towards bigger and greater things and opens the blocked channels of your life that fear and unbelief may have clogged.”

A faith promise is praying and committing to stretch and sacrifice in your giving. It will cause you to face your fears and unbelief. And it challenges you to chose the path of faith and belief.

Imagine life as a widow. Such women have learned the faithfulness of God. They can trust Him with everything because they know experience that He will look after them. What about you?

Have you experienced the faithfulness of God. Is it time to show it through pursuing bigger and greater things with your generosity in 2026? God just might surprise you when you do it.

Like He surprised me with seeing a coyote on my morning walk with my son’s dogs. See it crossing the path in the photo above.

Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” Luke 11:11-13

“A faith promise is when you sit down and work out by faith just what you will give to God in the next year or six months. Once you have committed yourself carefully and prayerfully then you set in motion the law of faith. Every month you have to trust God to help you meet the challenge of your own faith and as you pursue this there comes a widening of vision, an enlargement of faith, a capacity to believe beyond human understanding and an awareness of God in personal dealings that has to be experienced before it can be believed. People who give this way claim that this exercise flexes the muscles of faith so much that they can believe not only for the fulfillment of their faith promise but for many other things in other areas of their lives.”

Selwyn Hughes in Divine Mathematics: A Biblical Perspective on Investing in God’s Kingdom (Surrey, UK: CWR, 2004) 47-48.

Scott Bailey, a faithful friend, pastor, and reader of Daily Meditations, told me he’s preaching on this text this weekend so I was studying it. Our largehearted Father gives good gifts to those who ask Him.

That’s what faith promise is all about. It’s making a decision as you look at your budget that says, “I am going to live simply and give sacrificially and help my church or missionaries know they can count on my giving.”

On what can we base such a faith promise? We have a good Father in heaven who wants to give us good gifts. Are we asking Him? Does our giving depend on earthly math, or as Selwyn Hughes puts it, divine mathematics.

This was my favorite line from today. When we give this way it creates “a capacity to believe beyond human understanding and an awareness of God in personal dealings that has to be experienced before it can be believed.”

Or as I like to say, “You don’t figure it out until you live it out.” So what will you do? You have an unimaginably good Father in heaven. He wants to give you good gifts to enjoy and share. Will you ask Him?

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

“When you give to God you are placing your life in the flow of His eternal power, and His promise is that you will always have sufficiency.”

Selwyn Hughes in Divine Mathematics: A Biblical Perspective on Investing in God’s Kingdom (Surrey, UK: CWR, 2004) 46.

Flow is the operative word here.

When we place our lives in God’s care through sacrificial and generous giving, we make Him and His eternal power our safety net. That’s way more than any power we have.

And when we rely on His supply rather than our own, our giving grows and flows perpetually. He promises this. But how many people live like it is true.

As I do the “needful” this year, which right now is writing, resting, and walking with Grace, I want to ask God ways my generosity can grow this year.

Join me. Go with His flow.