Archives by: Gary Hoag

Now there was no water for the community, and the people gathered in opposition to Moses and Aaron. They quarreled with Moses and said, “If only we had died when our brothers fell dead before the Lord! Why did you bring the Lord’s community into this wilderness, that we and our livestock should die here? Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to this terrible place? It has no grain or figs, grapevines or pomegranates. And there is no water to drink!”

Moses and Aaron went from the assembly to the entrance to the tent of meeting and fell facedown, and the glory of the Lord appeared to them. The Lord said to Moses, “Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink.”

So Moses took the staff from the Lord’s presence, just as he commanded him. He and Aaron gathered the assembly together in front of the rock and Moses said to them, “Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?” Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank.

But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.” These were the waters of Meribah, where the Israelites quarreled with the Lord and where he was proved holy among them. Numbers 20:2-13

“Moses and Aaron took the complaint to God and God ordered Moses to take his rod, gather the congregation and tell the rock to give water. Moses followed the first part of the directions: he took his staff, and he and Aaron gathered the people together. Then he disobeyed God.

First, he spoke to the congregation, Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock? and then instead of speaking to the rock he raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Despite his disobedience, water came out of the rock and the people and their livestock drank…

The ‘we’ here refers to Moses and Aaron, who were putting themselves in the place of God who performs miracles. By doing this, they were encouraging the people to look up to them and give them glory instead of giving glory to God… The place where this happened was called Meribah, which means ‘contention’ or ‘quarreling’, because of what took place there.”

Anastasia Bonface-Malle in “Numbers” in Africa Bible Commentary (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006) 193.

God desires to supply for His people in community. His servants need only to follow His instructions. In this powerful text we find at least three lessons about generosity.

Firstly, when God’s people have needs, we see our responsive and generous God eager to work miracles to supply. The lesson for us is to make our requests known unto God.

Secondly, when God’s servants take credit for supplying provision, it displeases God. This happens often today. God begins a work at a church or ministry and then people take it from there.

They act as though it is their job to supply for the needs of the ministry when God is the Provider. As a result, His servants miss out on the blessing of experiencing God’s ongoing favor, like like Moses and Aaron.

Thirdly, God’s ways foster community when followed. When his servants fail to obey God’s instructions it leads to contention. What environment do you see at the ministry where you serve?

Practically, with prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let us be workers who ask God to supply while simultaneously inviting people to join us in participating in God’s work with what they have.

Tonight, at the Iowa Christian Generosity Council dinner, Travis Shelton and I release a new book, entitled, COMMUNITY. To download your free copy, stay tuned for a link tomorrow.

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

“Material affluence is associated with materialism. Yet the fact that the majority of Africans are materially poor does not mean that we are free from materialism. Many of us long for the material comforts we see depicted in glossy magazines.

One of Africa’s problems is the encouragement of Western patterns of consumption without the economic discipline required to achieve them. This longing for material riches fuels the preaching of a prosperity gospel in many parts of Africa.

Jesus warns of the great spiritual danger along this path: You cannot serve both God and money or, literally, ‘Mammon’, the Cathaginian god of wealth. A focus on material things can wrest our devotion form God to the god of wealth.”

Joe Kapolyo in “Matthew” in Africa Bible Commentary (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006) 1149.

Kapolyo keenly notes that many servants of God have learned to practice ‘economic discipline’, or in plain terms, they have made money their slave. In so doing, God has caused their stewardship to grow.

He humbly admits that this is lacking in parts of Africa and alerts us to the fact that Western patterns can point people toward materialism and prosperity gospel.

So what should we do if we want to live and give generously? If our giving or our example crosses international borders, we must be sure we are doing at least two things.

For our giving, we should not give handouts that create dependency but rather hand ups that build disciples. By this way, our international giving will foster greater economic discipline.

Additionally, our example must reflect that we have made God our master and money our slave. If we don’t, we too will promote either prosperity gospel or ungodly materialism.

I am flying to Iowa today to speak on Tuesday at that annual dinner of Iowa Christian Generosity Council and to release a new devotional book with my co-author, Travis Shelton. I appreciate your prayers for safe travel.

Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. 2 Corinthians 9:10-11

“God gives to us so that we can share what He gives with others, and the harvest of righteousness for those who give generously is an increasing closeness to God that expresses itself in prayer and fasting, which remind us that He alone is the source of the blessings we enjoy.”

Issiaka Coulibaly in “2 Corinthians” in Africa Bible Commentary (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006) 1433.

Coulibaly brings up two key ideas related to this familiar verse about sharing.

Firstly, that the reward of generosity is an “increasing closeness” to God. When we give cheerfully and generously, we grow in our relationship with the God who enriches us.

Secondly, He brings out the function of prayer and fasting, which do not appear in the text, but surface in the life of the generous person. Think about it. The one who grows in increasing closeness to God lives by prayer and sets aside his or her desires in fasting even as Christ set aside His own and sacrificed so much for us.

May we, by God’s grace, each grow in increasing closeness to God and by prayer and fasting, experience daily enrichment for cheerful and joyful generosity. Amen.

Send the people away so that they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” But he answered, “You give them something to eat.” They said to him, “That would take more than half a year’s wages! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?” “How many loaves do you have?” he asked. “Go and see.” When they found out, they said, “Five—and two fish.” Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish. The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand. Mark 6:36-44

“How many loaves do you have? Jesus would use whatever was available, while looking up to heaven and giving thanks. While the disciples focused on the problem, our Lord taught them to focus on the heavenly Father. A vital lesson here is to learn to look up to heaven not only when one is without resources, but even when one has them. We should learn to give thanks, whether for little or for much. The result was that all ate and were satisfied. The lesson in faith continued for the disciples as they collected the scraps that remained. They had come to find rest in a solitary place, not knowing that the Good Shepherd was going to be preparing a table on the green grass for a crowd of no less than five thousand who were like sheep without a shepherd.”

Victor Babajide Cole in “Mark” in Africa Bible Commentary (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006) 1208.

Jesus demonstrates compassion for the needs of the people and gives a commission to the disciples to give the hungry people something to eat. Notice Jesus sees what is “available” and offers it up to God.

We must go and do likewise to address the needs around us. We must not see them as problems to be solved, but people to be shepherded with what God has made available.

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? James 2:14-20

“James addresses his readers as if they were standing before him and sets out to question and persuade them. He uses a concrete example to make his point: What should one do when faced with a brother or sister in need, lacking even the most basic necessities such as clothing or food? There were certainly many poor people in the churches to which James was writing. Fine-sounding words would not feed them, nor would good wishes. Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead… To drive this point home, James stops using the plural pronoun and changes to the singular, as if he were talking to only one person… The author contrasts faith characterized by nice words with the faith that produces works that can be observed. He emphasizes that such works are the result of faith. Faith that is not demonstrated by works is dead in that it is simply nominal belief, like that of the demons, who also believe in God but do not obey him. The author has good reason to say that the person who advocates such dead faith is a poor man! He is worth very little in spiritual terms.”

Solomon Andria in “James” in Africa Bible Commentary (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006) 1538.

Andria makes a two points about faith and works from a familiar text to sober and stimulate hearers.

Firstly, the lack of sharing reflects nominal belief. It’s uselessness is rooted in it fruitlessness. The ironic result of nominal belief is poverty. The person lack of works shows that their faithlessness has made them poor.

Secondly, Andria highlights how James shifts from plural to singular language. This means that no one can escape the situation. Every person must demonstrate faith with deeds.

You notice a new header photo. It’s harvest season for the wineries in Grand Valley of Western Colorado. Those who have labored diligently can anticipate a fruitful crop. They have exerted work and will experience gain.

But those who give nominal effort will end up poor. How will you fare? What fruit will come from you faith? Will its nominal nature leave you poor or will your generosity actually demonstrate the richness of your faith?

Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. Isaiah 58:6-8

“The prophet informs them that fasting is useless if it is not accompanied by abstaining from evil… The people were hypocritically fasting once a year to obtain pardon for their sins while continuing to behave badly on that very day. Humbling oneself is useless if it is merely a matter of appearing humble…

The good behavior the Lord wants to see in place of vain religious practices is still appropriate for Africa today: opposing slavery and misery. The exhortation to welcome the hungry, the homeless, and the destitute should again encourage the church to emphasize the strong African traditions of hospitality…

We should give ourselves on behalf of the needy… We should not give the poor only those things that we do not want ourselves. Jesus emphasizes, we should treat others as we ourselves would like to be treated. Those who are involved in such activities and who also seek the Lord sincerely will be blessed by God and will contribute to the reconstruction of their country.”

Edouard Kitoko Nsiku in “Isaiah” in Africa Bible Commentary (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006) 873-874.

Nsiku inspires us today, in the spirit of Isaiah, to avoid useless practices and to instead apply ourselves to useful service like sharing with others in need. He also reminds us that in so doing we can contribute to the transformation of our context or country.

May God shape our settings through our generous sharing for His glory. Amen.

Those who are taught the word must share in all good things with their teacher. Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for you reap whatever you sow. If you sow to your own flesh, you will reap corruption from the flesh, but if you sow to the Spirit, you will reap eternal life from the Spirit. So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up. So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all and especially for those of the family of faith. Galatians 6:6-10

“Paul turns to the needs of those who are teaching the Word of God. Anyone who receives instruction in the Word must share all good things with his instructor. Instructors must not suffer because of the time they spend teaching. Students must share what goods they have with their instructors to help provide for their needs.

Paul underlines the general principle: A man reaps what he sows with the warming that God cannot be mocked meaning that God cannot be fooled, no matter how clever we think we are. It is no use pretending to be very spiritual while living a sinful life. God will judge deliberate disobedience whether now or later.

By contrast, a person who lives a life that pleases the Spirit will receive the reward of eternal life. What we sow will determine what we will reap. Paul realizes that crops grow slowly, and so he adds the exhortation: let us not grow weary in doing good, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up.”

Samuel Ngewa in “Galatians” in Africa Bible Commentary (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006) 1450.

God sees our sharing and finds us either pretending or pleasing Him.

We pretend when we sow sparingly and fail to share at every opportunity. We please God when we share with those who teach us and those in need around us.

What does He see when He looks at your sharing?

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. 1 John 3:16-18

“Since we have benefited so much from Christ’s act, we are expected to show the same kind of love for each other. John makes three points about this love.

1. It derives from Jesus Christ – Everyone can show some kind of love, but no one can exercise the love called for here without learning it from Christ. Normally we love others because of something good they have done for us or for good we see in them. Jesus’ love enables us to love others in spite of evil done to us and the unpleasantness of the one loved, even when the evil is not a single act but a way of life. Such love is only possible if one takes Christ as one’s model and asks Him for spiritual strength. Outside Christ it cannot exist.

2. It is practical – Jesus’ love led him to take on a physical body. We need to express love by sharing our material possessions. Our willingness to share indicates whether or not we have the love of God – which may mean either ‘God’s kind of love’ or ‘love for God’. If we have the ability to share with the needy but do not do so, we are lacking in both ways.

3. It is genuine – We are not to love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. Words and actions are instruments that can be used to express love. But words on their own are not enough. The call to love ‘in truth’ indicates that our actions and our words must not simply be formalities or attempts to appear in a good light, but must reflect sincerely concern for the one loved.”

Samuel Ngewa in “1 John” in Africa Bible Commentary (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006) 1559-1560.

Ngewa makes three good points today. Pause and reflect if any of them moved you to conviction.

His use of the word ‘instruments’ stood out to me. In other words, if we demonstrate a willingness to share with love and in truth, our lives literally become instruments. We make beautiful music.

Alternatively, when our words and actions don’t match, we are like a “clanging cymbal” (1 Corinthians 13:1), that is, an instrument that makes a crash instead of offering a soothing sound.

God, help our lives, in both word and actions, reflect Your with love and in truth. By your Spirit, make us instruments that make great music alone and in harmony with others. Do this we ask in the name of Jesus. Amen.

With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need. Acts 4:33-35

“So generous were the believers that there were no needy persons among among them. The use of the word ‘needy’ instead of ‘poor’ is interesting. Some of these believers may have been rich in their own right at home but they were needy now because they were separated from their property. There were no banks to transfer funds, and thus even if they had assets abroad, they were still in need of food once their own supplies had run out.”

Paul Mumo Kisau in “Acts of the Apostles” in Africa Bible Commentary (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006) 1334.

Though this text on sharing is quite familiar to most Christians, Kisau brings up two fresh and interesting points.

Firstly, the use of the word ‘needy’ in contrast to ‘poor’ tells us that regardless of the socioeconomic status of the early church Christians, if one had resources and another had need, each one shared so that everyone had enough. This removed the distinction of rich and poor. Everyone had something to give.

Secondly, when the Spirit came upon the early church in Jerusalem, it comprised people from around the ancient world. They may have had resources to get there, but at some point, those would likely have been depleted. Not to worry. Their fellow believers locally cared for them.

This teaches us that when we attune to the needs of those around us and share, we reflect afresh the early church generosity.

Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Romans 12:13

“The exhortations to share with the Lord’s people who are in need and to practice hospitality refer to material help. Those who ‘have’ must share with the ‘have nots’. Christian hospitality focuses on taking care of strangers and guests. Our homes, hearts, and pockets must be open to serve them.”

David M. Kasali in “Romans” in Africa Bible Commentary (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006) 1396.

Three thoughts surface in Kasali’s comments today.

Firstly, our sharing must take material forms. People often like to limit their generosity to sharing time and talent but are less quick to part with treasure. The Lord wants us to share the material resources we have.

Secondly, He wants our sharing to flow from open homes, hearts, and pockets. Notice the distinctly Christian witness that comes into view. When we share materially from open homes, hearts, and pockets, people see Christian love in action.

Thirdly, lest you think the ‘have’ and ‘have not’ language sounds like socialism. If you struggle with it at all, remember this. Jesus voluntarily became poor so you could become rich. Do do likewise will cause your witness to reflect His sacrifice.