Archives by: Gary Hoag

Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7

“To him, engaged in this distressful toil, the poor man presents himself, asking for some of the endangered grain, but he does not give it; or, if he gives it, he bestows it parsimoniously, and half-heartedly, parting with it with extreme reluctance. Therefore, I beseech you, if you are such a man, do not undergo these infinite hardships. For the covetous man who lives in luxury is deserving of pity, since he bounds his existence with the belly’s enjoyment and other pleasures, regarding this as the goal of humanity.

But in the case of the mean and penurious, his wretchedness has no limit, since he receives the goods of many, and does not give even to himself, and so has nothing for his pains. For who does not know that nothing, except the virtues, exists for its own sake, but we do one thing in order that we may accomplish another? No sailor traverses the sea simply for the sake of sailing, and no farmer passes his life in toil simply for the sake of farming; but it is manifest that both persevere amid their hardships that they may secure, the one the increase of the earth, and the other the wealth of maritime trade.

But tell me now, O covetous man, what is your goal? To accumulate? And what kind of an object in life is this, to heap up and gloat over unused substance? The very sight, he replies, delights me. Then attack your disorder in another way. For you can allay this longing with what belongs to others. If the glitter of silver delights you, sit beside the silversmiths and gaze steadfastly upon the strong and glittering sheen; or haunt the markets, and enjoy the richly wrought vessels, platters: and pitchers.

For the sight of them is free and unhindered. Watch the moneychangers also who are continually reckoning and counting the coin at their tables; but, better yet, yield to good advice and give up this inclination. For amendment is easy, since covetousness is not a necessity of nature, but a direction of choice, and to change it is not difficult for those who consider their own advantage.”

Asterius of Amasea (350-410) in his sermon, “Against Coveteousness.”

I’ve been on the shores of Lake Erie this weekend so the sailor word picture fits. My late uncle and his wife were greenhouse farmers so working the land for the increase from the earth also seems relevant, and at the end of the day, what Asterius brings into view is the choice we all must make.

Choose covetousness, which is a pitiful existence that results in reluctant giving at best, or cheerful giving, which God loves and which shows God’s love. It’s one or the other. What I can’t get over is how vivid Asterius writes and his words are more than 1,600 years old. Had he attended yesterday’s memorial service, he would have said this: “yield to good advice.”

He’d say get out there and do business: sail, farm, or toil diligently at any productive occupation. But then he’d add that we should make the choice not to accumulate but to distribute. Not to aim at luxury but at serving the poor. Death gives us perspective on how to live life. Thanks God (and Asterius) for the lesson as I return to Denver today.

If you lend money to one of my people among you who is needy, do not treat it like a business deal; charge no interest. Exodus 22:25

“Now let some one who has been seized with this disease of covetousness tell me what is the object of this toil for gain? For I know that many with whom I am acquainted, love money more when they are sick than when they are in health. If the doctor prescribes for their recovery softie inexpensive medicine, such as parsley or thyme or anise, which can be procured without expense, they readily heed his directions.

But if he mentions some drug, the ingredients of which are rich and complex, and they are sent to the apothecary or the perfumer to purchase it, they give up their lives rather than open their purses. For being earthly-minded they think the possession of earthly things to be life itself. These men are profoundly depressed by general prosperity and delighted by general distress.

They pray that intolerable burdens of taxation may be imposed by public proclamation that they may increase their money by usury. They want to see their neighbors throttled by money-lenders, in order that they may secure for themselves their farms, their chattels, or live stock, when through necessity they are thrown on the market at a low price.

And they keep continually looking up at the sky, like those philosophers whose work it is to investigate astronomical phenomena, not studying the movement of a star, nor trying to observe what house is occupied by one of the planets, but curious about the state of the atmosphere, whether the signs that present themselves promise a downfall of rain or a drought. And if they see any portent of any calamity threatening to fall on the community at large, they rejoice over it.

They gather everything into their warehouses, which they closely seal and secure with double bars, while they continually measure and reckon up their stores. And while the covetous man cherishes such expectation and in his mind’s eye sees himself rich, if a thick cloud arise, he is frightened as though danger were imminent. If showers besprinkle the earth he begins to weep.”

Asterius of Amasea (350-410) in his sermon, “Against Coveteousness.”

There’s a lot in this sermon. As I head to a memorial service with family today in Cleveland, I ponder what is important in light of eternity after visiting the graveside of my aunt and uncle today (pictured above).

We must focus on hard work to earn an income rather than practice usury (gain at the expense of others). We must care about the Master’s desires more than markets. We must store up resources in heavenly warehouses rather than on earth.

These are key lessons to grasp life. At the end of the day, I am learning that the one who cares about preserving riches, comfort, and earthly holdings, without realizing it, has become a captive to coveteousness. It’s a dark and deceptive master!

Those who value possessions over people will come to realize that “gathering everything” will only leave them empty. God help us value people over possessions so we end up generous givers for your glory. Amen.

But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. Matthew 6:3

“The covetous man is odious to the members of his household, severe to his domestics, useless to his friends, ungracious to strangers, troublesome to his neighbors, a sorry companion to his wife, a penurious rearer of children, a bad master of himself; at night full of anxiety, by day absorbed, talking to himself like one demented; abounding in wealth, yet groaning as though in need; not enjoying what he has, and yet seeking what he has not; not using his own, yet casting avaricious eyes upon the property of others.

Such a man has a great flock of sheep that fills the folds in which it is penned, and covers the plains on which it pastures. And if a single sheep belonging to his neighbor appear in good flesh, taking no notice of his own vast flock he lays greedy siege to that one sheep of his neighbor. The same is true in the case of his kine and of his horses; nor is it otherwise in the matter of his land. The house is crowded with everything, but nothing is made any use of.

For it is impossible for a greedy person to have any enjoyment, but his house is almost like a grave. For see, graves are often full of silver and gold, but no one uses the riches. The body is not sustained by them; the soul finds no satisfaction in them; for alms are not scattered by the right hand of the dead.”

Asterius of Amasea (350-410) in his sermon, “Against Coveteousness.”

Coveteousness destroys people. It causes us not to play our God-designed role in our homes and communities. When afflicted with it, we never have enough, and we constantly desire the possessions, long to experience the pleasures, and seek the power that others have.

And coveteousness also hinders generosity. Note the cryptic statement that ends today’s post from this powerful sermon from antiquity: “Alms are not scattered by the right hand of the dead.”

I am attending a memorial service tomorrow for my aunt and uncle. It has me thinking about what we must do during our lives. And almsgiving is on my mind as we are in the heart of the Lenten season, so this post is rightly timed.

In biblical times, the reason Jesus would say not to let your left hand know what your right hand is doing related to giving is because the left hand was associated with coveteousness and the right hand with generosity.

So Asterius is saying in plain terms that coveteousness will destroy you and me and our generosity. God, show us the areas of my life riddled with coveteousness and root it out in your mercy, we ask in the name of Jesus. Amen.

And [Jesus] said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” Luke 12:15

“But now, leaving ancient history, let us interrogate the experience of daily life, and learn what sort of a creature it recognizes in covetousness, and how hard it is to get rid of; for whomsoever it seizes, ever waxing but never waning, it grows old with its victims and abides with them to the end.

The lustful and the lover of his body, even if he be for a long time mad in his desires, when he becomes old, or sees the object of his affection, his body, now aged and the bloom departed, finds that there is a limit to his disorder. The glutton himself withdraws from his indulgence when surfeited, or when his digestive organs become weak, and their intense desire for food is gone. The ambitious man after having attained great notoriety ceases to desire to show himself off.

But the disease of covetousness is an evil hard to rid one’s self of. And just as this ivy, the plant flourishing and ever green, creeping up the trees that grow near, coils tight about the trunks wherever it touches and even if they suffer harm or wither, it does not die, unless some one with an axe severs its serpent-like coils so it is not easy to free the soul from covetousness, whether the body be youthful or beginning to grow old, unless some sober consideration enter in and like a knife cut off the disease.”

Asterius of Amasea (350-410) in his sermon, “Against Coveteousness.”

Coveteousness rears it’s ugly head in many ways. This post gives me much to ponder as I fly to Cleveland, Ohio, today to see family and honor the memory of my aunt and uncle who passed away back in December 2021.

Similar to the lustful, the gluttonous, and the ambitious persons in this sermon by Asterius, we say at GTP in Journey of Empowerment that people pursue possessions (lustful), pleasures (glutton), and power (ambitious).

So whilst times have changed, the traps remain the same that the evil one uses to enslave us and limit our generosity. We must identify and avoid them. But how?

Whatever possessions we are drawn to reveals our idols. Whatever pleasures we pursue reveal our heart’s desires. And whatever power we seek reveals our fears. We must do away with idols, make Christ our sole desire, and not allow fears to guide our decision making.

It’s getting on Spring in USA. Might it be time to weed out the ivy of coveteousness in any of these three areas? Sit with Jesus, follow the leading of the Spirit, trust the Father to care for you.

Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said to himself, “My master was too easy on Naaman, this Aramean, by not accepting from him what he brought. As surely as the Lord lives, I will run after him and get something from him.” So Gehazi hurried after Naaman. When Naaman saw him running toward him, he got down from the chariot to meet him. “Is everything all right?” he asked. “Everything is all right,” Gehazi answered. “My master sent me to say, ‘Two young men from the company of the prophets have just come to me from the hill country of Ephraim. Please give them a talent of silver and two sets of clothing.’” “By all means, take two talents,” said Naaman. He urged Gehazi to accept them, and then tied up the two talents of silver in two bags, with two sets of clothing. He gave them to two of his servants, and they carried them ahead of Gehazi. When Gehazi came to the hill, he took the things from the servants and put them away in the house. He sent the men away and they left. When he went in and stood before his master, Elisha asked him, “Where have you been, Gehazi?” “Your servant didn’t go anywhere,” Gehazi answered. But Elisha said to him, “Was not my spirit with you when the man got down from his chariot to meet you? Is this the time to take money or to accept clothes—or olive groves and vineyards, or flocks and herds, or male and female slaves? Naaman’s leprosy will cling to you and to your descendants forever.” Then Gehazi went from Elisha’s presence and his skin was leprous—it had become as white as snow. 2 Kings 5:20-27

“The first man was beguiled into the love of pleasure, and by eating the forbidden fruit lost immortality, as Esau afterward lost his birthright for a dish of pottage. And love of more introduced into our life these languages of ours, the many tongues of men. For men who through plenty had become wanton, thinking that the heavens were accessible to them, foolishly made a preposterous tower for mounting up to the sky, and so caused mankind, which had been of one language, to speak with different tongues; in seeking more than they had, they themselves were not only confounded but left to mankind the weariness of hearing unintelligible tongues, and of searching for their interpretation.

And what of Pharaoh? How came he to fall into difficulties and to be afflicted with plagues? Was it not through covetousness, through the desire of being lord over a strange people which by no means belonged to his kingdom? And, since he did not let those go who belonged to another, he lost those who were his own; some in the smiting of the first-born and others in the pursuit through the sea. For I do not mention the rivers flowing blood, and the infinite generation of frogs, and the destruction wrought by locusts, and the eruption of boils, and the death of four-footed beasts, and all the evil to which Egypt was condemned on account of her ruler’s covetousness.

Again, somewhere else I have learned the outcome of this sin, how leprosy in a moment spread over the body of the covetous. Recall with me, if you are historically inclined, and fond of hearing of Elisha’s deeds, how Naaman the Syrian bathed in the Jordan, and was healed of his leprosy, and how his malady passed over upon Gehazi, the prophet’s servant, a covetous and foolish young man, who received raiment and silver for his master’s free act of healing. How did Absalom, that fiery and impetuous young man, son of an indulgent father, become a parricide?

Was it not by prematurely seeking the inheritance of the kingdom and leaping like a robber upon what was another’s? And Judas, also, what drove him out from the company of the apostles, and made him a traitor instead of an apostle? Was it not the treasury at first dishonestly administered, and then the getting of the shameful price? Why does the Acts of the Apostles tell in tragic vein of Ananias and Sapphira? Is it not because they were thieves of what was their own, and violators of their own offerings? The day will soon fail me if I try to enumerate the servants of covetousness.”

Asterius of Amasea (350-410) in his sermon, “Against Coveteousness.”

With thanksgiving to God, I report that I have arrived safely home. Again, if you want a copy of our Palmful of Maize trip report, please reply to this email to request it. Now I want to continue citing from this powerful sermon.

Asterius brilliantly sketches a few of the servants of coveteousness in the biblical record. Notice each one played a part in the ongoing story and was wiped out by coveteousness. If it can happen to Gehazi, I can happen to any of us.

The key here is that those close to God’s people like Judas, Esau, Ananias and Sapphira, can miss out on all God desires for us, when we become consumed by pursuing our own desires. So, what is the lesson for those of us today?

As God blesses us, we must attach to the gifts of God, but to God who is the Giver of all good gifts. To avoid becoming servants of coveteousnss, let us practices disciplines to know God and steward resources in keeping with His will.

Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain. Psalm 119:36

“There are many kindred Scriptures full of profit for us, into all of which I wished to go that I might show you the abundance of the spiritual feast. But I must fulfil the promise that I made yesterday. For after we had brought many accusations against covetousness, but had scarcely laid bare its vanity, we deferred until today the proof of the charges. Listen, therefore, and show yourselves wise judges of the truth; for your decision affects your own salvation, not that of others; and each of you casts his vote of condemnation against his own soul, as though driving it out of house or town.

Covetousness, then, is not simply being mad for money, and other possessions, wishing to add to what you have that to which you have no right, but, to speak more broadly, it is the desire to have in every transaction more than is due or belongs to you. And you know that the devil was the first to have this fault; for he was an archangel, and appointed to the most honorable life and station; but the arrogant creature conceived of absolute rule, and rebellion against God, and was thereafter cast down from heaven, and, falling into this atmosphere of earth, he became your malicious neighbor. So he did not attain the divinity to which he aspired, and he lost the rank which he had enjoyed of being archangel; an unfaithful servant, changed by gradually increasing audacity into a robber.”

Asterius of Amasea (350-410) in his sermon, “Against Coveteousness.”

As our team members travel back to Australia, Egypt, and USA, I will continue citing from this sermon. In short, Asterius reveals that coveteousness is desiring more than is due or more than belongs to you. It’s the sin of the devil and many after him. But what is our portion?

Throughout Scripture the provision of manna or daily bread comes into view. Perhaps the best way to address this issue is not to point fingers but to hold up a mirror. We must each ask ourselves whether or not we desire more that what is due and what that says about our hearts. Does coveteousness have a grip on you?

As I ponder this on my way home, along with all I have experienced in Malawi, it strikes me that at the core, selfishness is trusting myself to care for my needs rather than God. I can be controlled by a scarcity mindset and become a robber like the devil, or choose obedience and generosity which reply on God’s love and abundance.

We aim to break the power of coveteousness in Malawi through Palmful of Maize, inspired by Handful of Rice in India. If you want to read our trip report, please reply to this email. As this was a massive effort in which GTP invested much of our available resources, please click here make a gift to GTP today to support our ongoing work.

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5

“Christians and sharers of a heavenly calling, you country folk, and all who come from the towns, you who in concord have gathered at the present feast, for by a general address I embrace you all, has each one of you thoughtfully considered and realized why we are assembled? And why are martyrs honored by the construction of notable buildings and by these annual assemblies, and what end did our fathers have in view when they ordained the things we see, and left the established custom to their descendants?

Is it not evident to one who concentrates his thought on this subject even for a short time, that these things have been given permanent form to rouse us to pious emulation, and that the feasts constitute public schools for our souls, in order that while we honor the martyrs, we may learn to imitate their sturdy piety; that lending the ear to the gathered teachers, we may learn some useful thing which we did not know before, either the certainty of some doctrine, or the explanation of some difficult Scripture, or may hear some discourse that will improve our morals?

But you seem to me to have abandoned your care for virtue, to have forgotten your zeal on behalf of your souls, and to have devoted all your thought to the rubbish of mammon and the business of the markets; some bargaining yourselves; some greedily haggling with competing dealers in order to reduce their prices. But transfer your love to the church. Abandon the love of money, that mad passion of the market.”

Asterius of Amasea (350-410) in his sermon, Against Coveteousness.

The next few posts will come from this powerful sermon delivered long ago but sounding as relevant as ever. Many Christians today have abandoned God for money. They devote all thought to mammon and the markets.

This posture stands in contrast to the effort we just rolled out in Malawi which is sweeping far and wide: “Give to God what you have.” Giving releases the power over those who possess it when they give it.

This abandonment is shocking because we are sharers of a heavenly calling. We get to show that care of virtue and not coveteousness is the force that drives us, and that God and not money is the one who sustains us.

Our work on this trip in Malawi is done. Soon we depart for Ethiopia, and then to Australia, Egypt, and USA from there. The Palmful of Maize vision has been unleashed. Thanks for your prayers for safe travel.

Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet. Acts 5:1-2

“They did not deposit the whole price of their land, but kept back a little for their own necessary use… The preaching of the Gospel and its wonders uplifted the first Christians to heaven, and men came from all directions to drink of the fountain of grace.

They gave up individual possessions and joined all together, so that personal wealth ceased to exist in this spiritual society. Among others, Ananias and his wife offered their property to the common stock. When once given to Christ, it was no longer their own. It was therefore wrong to keep some back, though merely in itself such a deed does not appear so.

Peter at once cut out this evil, in order that the disease might not spread to the whole body of believers. The deed was not a wrong done to Peter, and therefore it did not receive his forgiveness; but it was done to the Deity, and was an outrage on the faith.

Besides, if no notice had been taken, they would have thought their hidden deed escaped Christ’s notice, and so would have proceeded unrebuked to worse sins, and have infected others, like a pestilence, with the same ideas. To prevent this, Peter checks the disease, and drags up the weeds before they can spread over the field.”

The Apocriticus of Macarius Magnes, translated and compiled by T.W. Crafer (London, SPCK, 1919) excerpt from chapters XXII-XXIII

In this fourth century apology, Macarius unpacks the demise of Ananias and Sapphira as keeping back what belongs to God. Interesting the Greek word used for holding back is actually the word, embezzle, or stealing that which belongs to another. Everything belongs to God.

Today Matthew, Ray, and I are preaching in three different churches in Malawi. My message from Acts 4:32-5:11 is entitled, “Give to God what you have.” Our human tendency is sinful rationalization. “I earned what I have, so it’s mine.” We forget that God gives us the ability to produce wealth (cf. Deuteronomy 8:17-18).

The reason there remained no needy persons among them in the early church was because they were united in treating everything as belonging to God. When one acted otherwise, God rooted out the greedy person among them. Flourishing in commnity was rooted in the gospel and their generosity flowed from God’s grace.

Each of us can be tempted to play the rich fool as God blesses us. Remember, we are not a container, but a conduit of spiritual and material blessings. Ask the Spirit today if there is any cancer in your thinking that needs to be cut out. Do it lest it destroy you like it did Ananias and Sapphira.

God desires not to worry us but uses stories like this to wake us to depend on Him. He also does not want us to hold back anything for ourselves. This is a hard idea for many. It becomes easy when you soak in the gospel. God’s care for us went to the extent of not sparing His own son for us. We can do this. God’s got us.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:30-31

“He who shares our nature should share our love, itself the fruit of nature. Wherefore if a man find it a burden, I will not say only to relieve his brother’s needs, but to minister to his brother’s pleasures, let him mortify those same affections in himself, lest he become a transgressor. He may cherish himself as tenderly as he chooses, if only he remembers to show the same indulgence to his neighbor. This is the curb of temperance imposed on thee, O man, by the law of life and conscience, lest thou shouldest follow thine own lusts to destruction, or become enslaved by those passions which are the enemies of thy true welfare. Far better divide thine enjoyments with thy neighbor.”

Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153), excerpt from Chapter Eight in his classic work: On Loving God.

Today is the big launch event for Dzanja Lodzaza Chimanga, which in English is, Palmful of Maize. 56 people, two from 28 districts have converged on Malawi. They have come to hear about the curriculum and the program which has 12 lessons, one of which is linked to being generous to your neighbor.

I miss my neighbor, Ken Sharp, back home. Whenever I travel I don’t get to see him, but we always fellowship when I get home. What I love about our friendship is that we share the simple pleasures of life together. That’s how God designed it. We get more joy when we divide enjoyments with each other.

People often ask me what’s a good measure for enjoyment of blessings from God. How would Jesus answer? They say, “Is it okay if I enjoy this meal or this amazing experience?” I think Jesus would say today’s Scripture in reply to love God with what you have first, and then enjoy it with your neighbor.

I am learning that sharing is the pathway to life. Think of someone with whom you can share today. And if you feel inspired to help GTP for the investment we are making in Malawi to teach every child in every Sunday school class to share, give generously here. I am asking God to supply $50,000 for the cost of this trip and project expenses for the year.

For this trip we brought in four workers from three countries. We covered lodging and food for the week. We created a generosity curriculum and mapped the plan for nationwide rollout including printing and getting maize sacks. And we enjoyed lots of chambo and sima (fish and maize flour porridge) together.

Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not drive it out?” And He *said to them, “Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you. But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.” Matthew 17:19-21

“For the pious, my beloved, it is always good to occupy themselves with the holy doctrines, teaching the fear of God and leading us in the right ways which are pleasing unto God. And especially with the stories of the memory of the works of the Saints, who lived well with God and were perfect in the holy service. For there is nothing of such profit to the pious soul as such meditations which show forth the excellent life and holy works and humble habit of monasticism.

For it is well known that there is no small consolation to be gathered from [an examination] as to how they lived and pleased God in humbleness; how they persisted in patience and in that love, which is a perfect sign of being a disciple of Christ, and in great works; how they persevered in steady and long fasting, how they humbled themselves in performing abundant services beloved by God. Not only blessed men have been seen doing this, but there have also been found women in all generations shining like stars in the whole world.”

In the “The Story of the Holy Hilaria, the daughter of king Zeno” translated from the Syriac.

In today’s Scripture, we find the disciples struggling against the spiritual forces of evil. Jesus teaches them that their difficulty linked to the littleness of their faith. Ho can it grow? It grows with prayer and fasting.

The story of Hilaria is about a girl who practiced “steady and long fasting” and did many wonderful services for God’s people, including heal her sister. She was daughter of Roman Emperor, Zeno.

She disquised herself as a man to become a monk. Why? She was pious and her story is recounted to inspire future pious people. In plain terms, she was deeply committed to God and wanted to join a community serving Him.

What about you? Are you around people who are deeply committed to God and willing to sacrifice everything for Him? Do you face adversity that can only be conquered by prayer and fasting?

Any generosity that flows from us must be rooted in deep faith and strengthened by prayer and fasting, so that what we request is a proclamation of what we see in the heart of God and in accordance with His will.

Yesterday we hoped to train 70 trainers with the contextualized generosity curriculum. God brought 118 people to Salima, Malawi (see above). They loved the 3 sample lessons the national trainers shared and the Palmful of Maize vision.

Tomorrow is the Palmful of Maize launch event. Fast and pray with us that 2 workers from 28 districts across Malawi can make it along with influential workers from across the capital city of Lilongwe.

We had torrential rains last night and had difficulty getting into the city. But we made it by God’s grace. Though the rains are continuing to come down and may cause flooding. God help us.