Archives by: Gary Hoag

For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. Matthew 23:13

“Despite what many believe, the teaching that “God helps those who help themselves” is not found in the Bible. In fact, this sentiment couldn’t be further from the narrative of Scripture. It’s a cliché misused to justify our fear and insecurity, which stems from a mindset based on scarcity and that prioritizes the individual over the community.

Help yourself first has never been God’s message. Put yourself first has never been the gospel narrative. Jesus was the embodiment of the opposite teaching: that sacrificial love means putting others first. He made it clear that those who constantly put themselves first will be last; that those who consistently exalt themselves will be made humble.”

Joseph Yoo in Saving Grace: Hope-Filled Devotions Along the Way to Financial Well-Being (Nashville: Abingdon, 2020) 79.

The new header photo features Reverend Elswith Clare preaching from Luke’s Gospel at St. Luke Methodist Church in Belize City last Sunday on the importance of being disciples of Jesus who appear as activists. Do you actively live out your faith?

Yoo rightly notes that this way of living emerges as the opposite of the worldly mindset that puts yourself first. I hear too often people talk about self-care and forget about others. I think we must intentially as God to care for us so that we can care for others.

Reflect today on the sacrificial love of Jesus as a model for our humble and generous living, giving, serving, and loving. Let us humble ourselves and follow in His footsteps. He opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. May He lavish His grace on each of us in abundance.

Their land is full of silver and gold; there is no end to their treasures. Their land is full of horses; there is no end to their chariots. Their land is full of idols; they bow down to the work of their hands, to what their fingers have made. Isaiah 2:7-8

“Whenever I see hesitance to trust God surface in someone’s spiritual life, I ask questions. And the first that I ask is whether there is some unacknowledged idol that is inhibiting trust. Money can easily become such an idol. We are accustomed to thinking that it’s our money, and therefore we spend our money in the way that we see fit. We assume that the God who created the known and the unknown subatomic particles that comprise creation is somehow uninterested in the details of our spending.”

Justin Coleman in Saving Grace: Hope-Filled Devotions Along the Way to Financial Well-Being (Nashville: Abingdon, 2020) 77-78.

Is there is an unacknowledged idol in your life called money?

Ask God to reveal this to you. Don’t think for a minute that God does not see the balance of your bank accounts or that He is somehow uninterested in your fixation with the deceitful level of security that wealth promises.

I arrived safely back in Denver late last night. Hear two things related to this today.

I am shouting these ideas in my service around the world because few are willing to proclaim truth about unacknowledged realities. Most want to continue to act like God is uninterested in their stewardship.

Firstly, whatever we hold on to demonstrates where our trust is placed. Where is your trust? If you have a hesitance to trust God, your hands are likely gripping something else, the wrong something else. Let it go.

Secondly, if you know someone in this quandary, with Coleman, ask them questions. Get them thinking about ideas such as: Whose money is it? What does He desire for you to do with it? Where will it be in 100 or 100 million years?

Followers of Jesus are not labeled in Scripture for what they believe but for what they do. Even the demons acknowledge Jesus for who He is. It’s what we do that counts.

What we do it with all God supplies shows where we place our trust.

Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need. Ephesians 4:28

“Once John Wesley, founder of Methodism, realized that his expenditures limited his ability to help, he decided to live a simple lifestyle in the hope that he might one day hear Jesus say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Wesley’s heart and mind were converted first. His purse was converted on a bitterly cold winter day when he reached into his pocket to give a shivering woman money to buy a coat. To his dismay, he realized that the did not have enough money to help her. He had bought pictures to put up on his walls earlier in the day, and the small amount of change he had left would not be enough to protect her from the cold. From that day forward, he limited his expenses so that he would not find himself again without the means to bless someone else.”

Harriet Bryan in Saving Grace: Hope-Filled Devotions Along the Way to Financial Well-Being (Nashville: Abingdon, 2020) 75-76.

Bryan goes on to offer these helpful thoughts for personal application.

“While I have not yet achieved the same level of frugality as John Wesley, I know the joy of helping others that comes from choosing to live on less than I earn. One of the questions I routinely ask myself (before purchasing an item or making a decision) is, “When I look back over my life, am I more likely to regret this decision or to be grateful for this decision>? The more often I ask myself this, the easier I find it to remember that God allows me to choose whether I will accept God’s offer of partnership and see and respond to the needs of others or whether I will rob myself of the joy by spending my money for what does not satisfy.”

Consider the example of Wesley today, and the inspiration of Bryan.

What limits can you set in order to create margin for greater generosity? How will you limit your spending, so that when you have an opportunity to serve as a Good Samaritan, you have the resources to release?

Heading home from Belize this afternoon. Appreciate your prayers for safe travel for me to USA, for Paula to Guatemala, for Ereny to Egypt, and for John to Jamaica. Thanks. Again, reply here if you want a copy of the trip report.

Therefore show these men the proof of your love and the reason for our pride in you, so that the churches can see it. 2 Corinthians 8:24

“Proper planning of financial appeals is important, and safeguards should be set before the event… To introduce higher standards of accountability, we must lead by example. Accountability is something that we as leadership should choose to have, for our own good and the protection of the Lord’s name, not something that is forced upon us.”

Christopher J. H. Wright in The Gift of Accountability (Carlisle, UK: Langham Global Library, 2013) 56, 61.

Thanks for your prayers.

The Belize City onsite teaching event on the topic of “Strengthening Churches and Ministries for Sustainability” went great. Pastors and ministry workers said they were inspired and empowered to make a difference. They appreciated the biblical teaching, interactive discussion, and practical tools.

While on this trip, GTP just launched another fundraising initiative.

It’s called the GTP Trust Fund. The board voted unanimously to set it up as a tool for receiving complex contributions and planned gifts. Its not an endowment but a fund that will be used to resource major projects outside the limits of our operating budget.It’s an exciting step for GTP. To learn more about the GTP Trust Fund, click here.

And this GTP Trust Fund campaign seeking a total of $10,000 USD (to launch the fund) by 15 March 2022 will use a tool called Classy that has safeguards. It accepts gifts in over 100 currencies and provides detailed reports to account for all the giving. While some services have a small cost, it is worth it to get the international collection right.

And reply if you want a copy of the GTP trip report for Belize when it is available.

Shortly we go back on radio this morning to share about why JOE is a great tool for making disciples across the whole nation. This is so exciting. Then we will worship in a local church and wrap things today and start heading back home to our respective countries tomorrow.

We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this liberal gift. For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of man. 2 Corinthians 8:20-21

“Handling a gift offered by God’s people is a sacred trust. Administering it is a stewardship of the grace of God and of the obedience of God’s people to the gospel. Paul’s concern for accountability, integrity, and transparency was not just to satisfy the Roman governors or other officials. It arose because he was dealing with something coming from God: the grace of God and the obedience to the gospel.”

Christopher J. H. Wright in The Gift of Accountability (Carlisle, UK: Langham Global Library, 2013) 45.

We had a great JOE (Journey of Empowerment) in Belize with 20 influential people. It was fantastic. They felt enriched and equipped to replicate it to multiply stewards. Thanks for praying.

Today’s seminar is called “Strengthening Churches and Ministries for Sustainability” and it has huge potential. This one aims to help ministries follow standards to position them for flourishing.

Why do this? At the end of the day, gift administration is a sacred trust that enables ongoing gospel proclamation. It’s bigger than obeying laws. It’s following a higher standard.

Pray with me that by the God’s grace, a community of stewards will set up standards for Belize to preserve the sacred trust of faithful gift administration.

Now about the collection for the Lord’s people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made. Then, when I arrive, I will give letters of introduction to the men you approve and send them with your gift to Jerusalem. If it seems advisable for me to go also, they will accompany me. 1 Corinthians 16:1-4

“Paul saw generous financial support for the poor and careful administration of that gift as integral to biblical mission, gospel mission. It was part of what he was called to do, as well as the more obviously evangelistic tasks of preaching and planting churches.”

Christopher J. H. Wright in The Gift of Accountability (Carlisle, UK: Langham Global Library, 2013) 45.

Today we will start the day with a one-hour radio interview with a leading Christian radio station in Belize. It’s pretty amazing considering we started yesterday on the leading morning television show for the whole country.

There’s so much interest and curiosity in the country related to our visit. It’s remarkable! People are excited to hear that someone cares about ministry administration as much as gospel proclamation and is taking action.

At GTP, we see it as following Paul’s example, who demonstrated taht faithful administration is integral to gospel proclamation. You can’t have one with any measure of sustainability without the other.

Pray for JOE (Journey of Empowerment) to wrap up great today. We plan to finish guiding 20 influential pastors and ministry workers through JOE and train them to replicate it before our big onsite teaching event on Saturday.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:43-48

“Do not be too quick to assume your enemy is a savage just because he is your enemy. Perhaps he is your enemy because he thinks you are a savage. Or perhaps he is afraid of you because he feels that you are afraid of him. And perhaps if he believed you were capable of loving him he would no longer be your enemy. Do not be too quick to assume that your enemy is an enemy of God just because he is your enemy. Perhaps he is your enemy precisely because he can find nothing in you that gives glory to God. Perhaps he fears you be­ cause he can find nothing in you of God’s love and God’s kindness and God’s patience and mercy and understanding of the weaknesses of men. Do not be too quick to condemn the man who no longer believes in God, for it is perhaps your own cold­ness and avarice, your mediocrity and materialism, your sensuality and selfishness that have killed his faith.”

Thomas Merton in New Seeds of Contemplation (Abbey of Gethsemani, 1961) 177. Special thanks to my dear brother Bill Crowe for sharing this reading with me. It sent me back to this classic book I have in digital form on my laptop.

As we engage in program work today, we have paused to pray texts like Psalm 2 and Psalm 67. In a world where nations are rising up against one another with military might, we are asking God for Belize. We wish not to take it by force, but by calling God’s stewards to live in light of His love, faithfulness, and generosity.

Remarkably, God has granted us great favor, on this, our first visit to this small country. John Roomes, Ereny Monir, and I will be guests on public television, on the show, Good Morning Belize. Our visit made big news. We also have meetings with many pastors and minisry workers.

Then later today and tomorrow, we will lead a group of influencers through the onsite JOE (Journey of Empowerment) experience. For today’s part, we will remind everyone of two lessons: “You matter!” and “You are part of something bigger.” The bigger story unfolding around us is God can work through each of us so our faith impacts others.

Merton touches on this. Especially the negative side of it. The people who are not like us may be the way they are because we have not incarnated the message of love and kindness that the world needs. We have not imitated the generosity and service that draws people to faith. No wonder Jesus said to love our enemies.

God’s desire with this command is our maturity or perfection. Father, cause your love, kindness, patience, and mercy to flow through us and engage a broken world, transform us and others by your Spirit in the process so that a movement of faithfulness spreads and turns enemies into friends. Hear this prayer we ask in the name of Jesus. Amen.

The Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? Luke 12:42

“Jesus asks us the same, disturbing question He asked his first disciples: “Who then is the faithful and wise manager?” In Jesus’ parables, the final judgment is not based on whether people are good or bad but whether they are wise or foolish. The question is not when the master will return but what the servants will be doing when he arrives. The ongoing question is whether we are becoming more faithful or more foolish along the way.”

Jim Harnish in Saving Grace: Hope-Filled Devotions Along the Way to Financial Well-Being (Nashville: Abingdon, 2020) 61.

Notice the role of faithful managers in today’s Scripture. It’s to share. In this text the manager shares a food allowance. Linked to this idea in the Scriptures, so that one does not have too much and the other too little, each was given an allowance.

Imagine if God’s people lived this way. Imagine if everyone shared.

If you have more than enough, don’t be foolish. Share it. I don’t mean give a handout that creates dependency. I mean give a hand up to help build a disciple. That’s why GTP is doing in Belize this week.

Our discernment retreat is done. We’ve charted a course for the Caribbean for 2022. Today we head into Belize City to meet with our country representative. Tomorrow we get interviewed on television and start program work.

Belize has only 400,000 people in the whole country. Our visit has gotten attention at the national level. Pray for God to help us serve them spiritual food faithfully, in Jesus name. Thanks.

And [Jesus] told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’ But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.” Luke 12:16-21

“My family takes pride in our farm, our patch of paradise. We love it; we own it; it’s ours. Well, sort of. Several years ago, I was walking through a field when suddenly I felt this prompting, what I would call a nudge from the Holy Spirit, to stop and look around.

That’s when I heard it, this voice within saying “Rachel, your family didn’t own this property 200 years ago, and your family will not own this property 200 years from now. You don’t own it, you are just the stewards of this property.”

That nudge of the Holy Spirit shook me to the core. No longer can I hold on to my family farm with a tight fist declaring, “It’s mine.” The nudge changed my perspective and helped me recognize I needed to be a bit more openhanded with what God has placed in my care.

We humans are but the temporary stewards of “our stuff.” When we deploy an open hand, we recognize that no matter how big the tower we build, the wealth we gain, or the stuff we hoard, it’s ours for such a brief moment in time…

We must continually calculate the cost to determine whether we “need” that stuff, which we can never own but only hold for a time. Do you need to build or buy a bigger tower — or house, car, boat, mower, latest smartphone? If we live with an open hand, we recogize bigger isn’t better; debt isn’t helpful; and what’s “ours” isn’t “ours” for long. We are temporary tower builders.”

Rachel Billups in Saving Grace: Hope-Filled Devotions Along the Way to Financial Well-Being (Nashville: Abingdon, 2020) 57-58.

I grew up in Sheffield Village, west of Cleveland, Ohio. The land my family owned there has long been sold. A remnant of our time there is a street named Hoag Drive. But that’s it. We were temporary stewards of that property. That’s a powerful, but impactful adjective. The truth is that we are temporary stewards of all property.

How does this idea that your stewardship is “temporary” impact you? Do you feel convicted to convert earthly resources to heavenly treasures? Does it inspire you to teach your children and/or grandchildren with intentionality? Sit with the Holy Spirit and obey whatever nudge you feel related to openhanded living.

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19

“There is no scarcity. There is no shortage. No lack of love, of compassion, of joy in the world. There is enough. There is more than enough. Only fear and greed make us think otherwise. No one need starve. There is enough land and enough food. No one need die of thirst. There is enough water. No one need live without mercy. There is no end to grace. And we are all instruments of grace. The more we give it, the more we share it, the more we use it, the more God makes. There is no scarcity of love. There is plenty. And always more.”

Rosemarie Freeney Harding (1930–2004) in Remnants: A Memoir of Spirit, Activism, and Mothering by Rosemarie Freeney Harding with Rachel Elizabeth Harding (Duke University Press, 2015) ix.

Many in the world live under the cloud of scarcity. Fear and greed hold them captive. So how to we help them break free? We do it by living how God made us to live, as instruments of grace.

As Harding rightly says, “The more we give it, the more we share it, the more we use it, the more God makes.” That’s His abundant economy works.

Today we are doing two things at GTP. We have a cohort of 140 people going through On Demand JOE from 34 countries and are zooming with them this morning. Pray for rich interaction.

Then, as we retreat together prior to ministering in Belize, pray with us that God will make us instruments of grace starting here and spreading throug the Caribbean.

Make it so Lord, for the GTP team, and all who are reading this.