Archives by: Gary Hoag

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. John 3:16-18

“Behold, most beloved reader, thus true faith or true knowledge begets love, and love begets obedience to the commandments of God…

For true evangelical faith is of such a nature that it cannot lay dormant; but manifests itself in all righteousness and works of love; it does unto flesh and blood; destroys all forbidden lusts and desires; cordially seeks, serves and fears God; clothes the naked; feeds the hungry; consoles the afflicted; shelters the miserable; aids and consoles all the oppressed; returns good for evil; serves those that injure it; prays for those that persecute it; teaches, admonishes, and reproves with the Word of the Lord; seeks that which is lost; binds up that which is wounded; heals that which is diseased and saves that which is sound. The persecution, suffering, and anxiety which befalls it for the sake of the truth of the Lord, is to it a glorious joy and consolation.

All those who have a faith as is here mentioned, namely, a faith that makes desirous to walk in the commandments of the Lord, and which shows itself in all righteousness, love, and obedience, also acknowledge that the word and will of our beloved Lord Jesus Christ is true wisdom, truth, and life.”

Menno Simons (1496-1561) in “Menno’s Reasons for Teaching and Writing” in The Complete Works of Menno Simons (Elkhart: John Funk and Brother, 1871) 246

The speaking went well serving Black Rock Retreat on Thursday, and then yesterday Jenni and I enjoyed special time with dear friends, Peter and Bethany Fiorello, in the Lancaster, Pennsylvania, area. The old chocolate factory in Lititz is pictured above. What an amazing region!

The influence of Menno Simons persists to this day in the lives of the Amish and Mennonite groups. While I cannot speak to their traditions as compared to biblical truth, what I can say is that their faith is rooted in obedience to Jesus Christ which manifests itself through works of love.

What about your faith? Is it dormant? Do people know you are a follower of Jesus because of the acts of love they see? Father in heaven, empower us by your Holy Spirit so people see your love through our living, giving, and serving. Hear my prayer in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Now concerning the collection for the saints: you should follow the directions I gave to the churches of Galatia. On the first day of every week, each of you is to put aside and save whatever extra you earn, so that collections need not be taken when I come. 1 Corinthians 16:1-2

“Only fix even the smallest amount you purpose to give of your income, and give this regularly; and as God is pleased to increase your light and grace, and is pleased to prosper you more, so give more. If you neglect an habitual giving, a regular giving, a giving from principle and upon scriptural ground, and leave it only to feeling and impulse, or particular arousing circumstances, you will certainly be a loser.

A merchant in the United States said in answer to inquiries relative to his mode of giving, “In consecrating my life anew to God, aware of the ensnaring influence of riches and the necessity of deciding on a plan of charity, before wealth should bias my judgment, I adopted the following system:

I decided to balance my accounts as nearly as I could every month, reserving such portion of profits as might appear adequate to cover probable losses, and to lay aside, by entry on a benevolent account, one tenth of the remaining profits, great or small, as a fund for benevolent expenditure, supporting myself and family on the remaining nine tenths. I further determined, that, if at any time my net profits, that is profits from which clerk-hire and store expenses had been deducted, should exceed five hundred dollars in a month, I would give 124 percent; if over seven hundred dollars, 15 percent; if over nine hundred dollars, 174 percent; if over thirteen hundred dollars, 221 percent—thus increasing the proportion of the whole as God should prosper me, until at fifteen hundred dollars I should give 25 per cent or 375 dollars.

As capital was of the utmost importance to my success in business, I decided not to increase the foregoing scale until I had acquired a certain capital, after which I would give one quarter of all net profits, great or small, and, on the acquisition of another certain amount of capital, I decided to give half, and, on acquiring what I determined would be a full sufficiency of capital, then to give the whole of my net profits.

It is now several years since I adopted this plan, and under it I have acquired a handsome capital, and have been prospered beyond my most sanguine expectations. Although constantly giving, I have never yet touched the bottom of my fund, and have repeatedly been sur prised to find what large drafts it would bear. True, during some months, I have encountered a salutary trial of faith, when this rule has led me to lay by the tenth while the remainder proved inadequate to my support; but the tide has soon turned, and with gratitude I have recognized a heavenly hand more than making good all past deficiencies.”

George Muller in George Muller and His Witness to a Prayer Hearing God, compiled by Arthur T. Pierson (New York: Baker and Taylor, 1899) 443-445.

Don’t miss the tone of Muller’s teaching for us before he shares the story of an American merchant. He wants us to set up habitual and proportionate giving so that we don’t lose out on the opportunity to grow in generosity.

When we don’t grow our giving as God supplies, we are the ones who miss out.

Then, don’t let the math of the American merchant throw you off. He kept the Master’s resources working in the business and as God increased his revenues, he increased his giving on a system. Do you have such a system?

This is a scale or pattern that guides you as a steward to give proportionately.

Do this not because Muller or some merchant says you are a loser if you don’t do it. Do it because you realize with eagerness that you are blessed to be a blessing. And because Paul’s directions for the Corinthians in today’s Scripture relate also to us.

God wants us to give habitually and proportionately as his heavenly hand supplies.

The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it. Psalm 24:1

“It is the Lord’s order, that, in whatever way He is pleased to make us His stewards, whether as to temporal or spiritual things, if we are indeed acting as stewards and not as owners, He will make us stewards over more. Even in this life, and as to temporal things, the Lord is pleased to repay those, who act for Him as stewards, and who contribute to His work or to the poor, as He may be pleased to prosper them? But how much greater is the spiritual blessing we receive, both in this life and in the world to come, if constrained by the love of Christ, we act as God’s stewards, respecting that, with which He is pleased to entrust us!”

George Muller in George Muller and His Witness to a Prayer Hearing God, compiled by Arthur T. Pierson (New York: Baker and Taylor, 1899) 442-443.

Jenni and I flew to Baltimore to speak at an event today at Black Rock Retreat on the ripple effect of generosity. So excited to meet up with dear friends, Peter and Bethany Fiorello.

When stewards follow the Lord’s orders, He is pleased to prosper them and resource their generosity. Our role is not to act as owners but to put God’s resources to work as stewards.

Why follow the Lord’s orders? We discover that it maps the way to life and unfathomable spiritual blessings in this life and in the world to come.

And it creates a ripple effect of exponential impact, whether we are serving the poor and lifting them up or making known the love of God to those who have never experienced it.

One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. Proverbs 11:24

“I have every reason to believe, that, had I begun to lay up, the Lord would have stopped the supplies, and thus, the ability of doing so was only apparent. Let no one profess to trust in God, and yet lay up for future wants, otherwise the Lord will first send him to the hoard he has amassed, before He can answer the prayer for more.”

George Muller in George Muller and His Witness to a Prayer Hearing God, compiled by Arthur T. Pierson (New York: Baker and Taylor, 1899) 442-443.

In my own journey I have found it to be true. I was guilty for years of storing up treasures on earth clearly ignoring the command of Jesus not to so. I acted like I knew better.

Proverbs reveals what happens when we profess to trust but don’t do it in actuality. It leads to poverty rather than generosity. Few express this as clearly and concisely as Muller.

Thus, the key to avoiding poverty and unleashing generosity is to help rather than hoard. This is no prosperity gospel, but rather pure gospel. Obedience to the commands of Jesus.

How does the Spirit within you stir when you read this? For some, it convicts them to put to work what God has supplied. For others, it inspires them to keep helping others.

Sit with the LORD and follow His leading in your response. And say a prayer for Jenni and me. We fly to the East Coast to sow this truth in hearts at Black Rock Retreat tomorrow.

Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. Proverbs 4:26

“At the end of the last century a very godly and liberal merchant in London was one day called on by a gentleman, to ask him for some money for a charitable object. The gentleman expected very little, having just heard that the merchant had sustained heavy loss from the wreck of some of his ships. Contrary, however, to expectation, he received about ten times as much as he had expected for his object. He was unable to refrain from expressing his surprise to the merchant, told him what he had heard, how he feared he should scarcely have received anything, and asked whether after all there was not a mistake about the shipwreck of the vessels. The merchant replied, “It is quite true, I have sustained heavy loss, by these vessels being wrecked, but that is the very reason, why I give you so much; for I must make better use than ever of my stewardship, lest it should be entirely taken from me.”

How have we to act if prosperity in our business, our trade, our profession, etc., should suddenly cease, notwithstanding our having given a considerable proportion of our means for the Lord’s work? My reply is this : In the day of adversity consider. It is the will of God that we should ponder our ways; that we should see whether there is any particular reason, why God has allowed this to befall us. In doing so, we may find, that we have too much looked on our prosperity as a matter of course, and have not sufficiently owned and recognized practically the hand of God in our success. Or it may be, while the Lord has been pleased to prosper us, we have spent too much on ourselves, and may have thus, though unintentionally, abused the blessing of God. I do not mean by this remark to bring any children of God into bondage, so that, with a scrupulous conscience, they should look at every penny, which they spend on themselves; this is not the will of God concerning us; and yet, on the other hand, there is verily such a thing as propriety or impropriety in our dress, our furniture, our table, our house, our establishment, and in the yearly amount we spend on ourselves and family.”

George Muller in George Muller and His Witness to a Prayer Hearing God, compiled by Arthur T. Pierson (New York: Baker and Taylor, 1899) 441-442.

I am enjoying exploring this book about Muller which was new to me. Pierson has collected some amazing comments from Muller which are relevant for us in modern times.

For example, as we engage people to participate in God’s work, we must encourage them to grow in the grace of sacrificial giving. Sharing posts like this urges them to ponder their ways.

How often do we abuse the blessing of God or fail to honor Him practically with the fruits of our work? If this is you, then perhaps it is time to join the merchant and get caught up.

This is not about serving a God that keeps score. It’s about awakening people to exercise good and generous stewardship especially in times of adversity (like we find ourselves right now).

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

“It is not enough to obtain means for the work of God, but that these means should be obtained in God’s way. Το ask unbelievers for means is not God’s way; to press even believers to give, is not God’s way; but the duty and the privilege of being allowed to contribute to the work of God should be pointed out, and this should be followed up with earnest prayer, believing prayer, and will result in the desired end.”

George Muller in George Muller and His Witness to a Prayer Hearing God, compiled by Arthur T. Pierson (New York: Baker and Taylor, 1899) 440.

Most people eschew Muller’s perspective on obtaining means to run a ministry such as his orphanage work that centered in Bristol, England. The ignore him because they they he only prayed for God to supply. That he sat in a corner and did not invite people to participate with him in God’s work.

To the contrary, Muller offers a powerful nuance to anyone who is interested in how he engaged people to grow as cheerful givers. In his words, he reminded them of the “duty and the privilege of being allowed to contribute to the work of God.” And he coupled this strategic work with prayer.

If we combine this with today’s Scripture, rather than use compulsion, which is to “press” people to give (and what many fundraisers and pastors do), we should help people see the duty and privilege of sharing money. All the while praying God supplies for our ministry or church and for others in need.

God, teach us not to use our positions of authority to communicate needs with compulsion, but to call people as a duty and privilege to give in response to the grace they received. And supply our needs according to your riches in glory. Hear my prayer in your mercy in the name of Jesus. Amen.

And [Jesus] said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:3

“Three qualities or characteristics stand out very conspicuous in him: truth, faith, and love. Our Lord frequently taught His disciples that childlike spirit is the soul of discipleship , and in the ideal child these three traits are central. Truth is one centre, about which revolve childlike frankness and sincerity, genuineness and simplicity. Faith is another, about which revolve confidence and trust, docility and humility. Love is another centre, around which gather unselfishness and generosity, gentleness and restfulness of spirit. In the typical or perfect child, therefore all these beautiful qualities would coexist, and in proportion as they are found in a disciple, is he [or she] worthy to be called a child of God.”

George Muller in George Muller and His Witness to a Prayer Hearing God, compiled by Arthur T. Pierson (New York: Baker and Taylor, 1899) 360-361.

When we went to the World Series, Gregg Capin and I were talking and we said, that the gift of tickets from God made us feel like little kids. We were so excited.

God wants us all to have childlike faith and trust in Him. That is a posture that is confident in God alone to provide, sustain, and care for all our needs.

When we exhibit such faith, we show we are His children. Would people say that you have childlike faith? Do you appear as one who trusts God for everything?

Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let your hands not be idle, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well. Ecclesiastes 11:6

“My business is, with all my might to serve my own generation; in doing so I shall best serve the next generation, should the Lord Jesus tarry… The longer I live, the more I am enabled to realize that I have but one life to live on earth, and that this one life is but a brief life, for sowing, in comparison with eternity, for reaping.”

George Muller in George Muller and His Witness to a Prayer Hearing God, compiled by Arthur T. Pierson (New York: Baker and Taylor, 1899) 431.

God blessed me with an awesome night at the World Series with five dear brothers in Christ: Gregg Capin, Ken Tan, Paul Bolte, Greg Mauldin, and Calvin Edwards. We enjoyed sweet fellowship.

We talked about many things: family, baseball, work, life, and roles we are playing for Christ in His kingdom. And of course we watched a great fantastic game on a misty Atlanta night.

When I got back to my room at the airport hotel I was wide awake so I did some reading and found this quote. It seemed fitted as we talked about the importance of sowing generously in God’s work.

For Muller, it was his business sow and serve with all his might. That means, he sowed and served with all the resources He could muster. What if you sowed and served with all your might?

Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. 2 Peter 1:4

“We are made “partakers of the divine nature,” receiving and sharing God’s own nature through His promises. Then we have to work that divine nature into our human nature by developing godly habits. The first habit to develop is the habit of recognizing God’s provision for us.

We say, however, “Oh, I can’t afford it.” One of the worst lies is wrapped up in that statement. We talk as if our heavenly Father has cut us off without a penny! We think it is a sign of true humility to say at the end of the day, “Well, I just barely got by today, but it was a severe struggle.”

And yet all of Almighty God is ours in the Lord Jesus! And He will reach to the last grain of sand and the remotest star to bless us if we will only obey Him. Does it really matter that our circumstances are difficult? Why shouldn’t they be! If we give way to self-pity and indulge in the luxury of misery, we remove God’s riches from our lives and hinder others from entering into His provision.

No sin is worse than the sin of self-pity, because it removes God from the throne of our lives, replacing Him with our own self-interests. It causes us to open our mouths only to complain, and we simply become spiritual sponges—always absorbing, never giving, and never being satisfied. And there is nothing lovely or generous about our lives.”

Oswald Chambers in My Utmost for His Highest reading entitled “The Habit of Recognizing God’s Provision” for 16 May.

I don’t know about you, bit sometimes I’m guilty of sharing my earthly nature in self-pity rather than sharing God’s nature through His promises. Chambers helped me see today afresh that self-pity creeps in when I think the Father has not supplied what I want or what I feel I need in my timing.

From there, self interest leads to frustration and complaining. Not good. So, how do we avoid this? The Apostle Peter would say to rely on God’s promises and not our own strength or our self-determined timeframe for things to happen in life. When we do this, we find ourselves sharing His nature widely.

So the lesson for those who want to be generous today is to trust in the promises of God. By this way, we testify by experience to the faithfulness of God. As our trust grows, we become people of faith instead of fear and people who share the divine nature rather than fleshly self-pity. God help us.

Today’s my mom’s birthday. Happy birthday Patsy Hoag. I love you. Thanks for sharing the divine nature everywhere you go and raising me to trust in the promises of God to sustain me. May God continue to give you good health and strength to demonstrate God’s faithfulness to His promises for another 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

“If you don’t have a heart to give out of your lack, you won’t give out of your abundance. This widow had a generous heart. She gave even when she had little to give. She is one Jesus called generous… A generous person, gives above and beyond what is required of them. They look for ways to invest in the Kingdom of God and in God’s people. Their heart is to give.

Personally, I am always looking for ways to go deeper in God. To be more pleasing to Him. I think one of the ways I need to work on this year is being a more generous giver. I wake up each day and ask God who I can pray for today and that is great. But what about asking Him who I can bless financially today as well? To pray for someone only takes a little of my time. To bless someone financially, that will take more than a prayer…

While writing this today, I remembered a word someone I love dearly once gave me. She told me it would be a life Scripture to me, it was… And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work… There is certainly a way to have all grace about toward us…to have all sufficiency in all things…to have an abundance for every good work.

That way is to be a generous, bountiful giver. May God give us all a generous heart. A heart to give above and beyond what we feel is required of us. A heart like His. This year, may you and I become, a generous source of blessing to those whom the Lord leads us to bless.”

Kim Potter in “Becoming A Generous Source of Blessing” blog post dated 22 October 2021 from A New Thing Ministries. Special thanks to Daily Meditations reader, Pat Warbington, for sharing this post with me.

I am learning that giving out of my lack requires a generous heart that knows, beyond all shadow of a doubt, that God is the faithful supplier of everything I have ever needed, ever need now, and will ever need in the future.

The widow likely put in everything because over the course of her life she had experienced God’s faithfulness, so often that she knew He could be trusted to sustain her. So, what is the only way to grow in this area?

Potter points the way. We must grow in the grace of giving. That is, increase our giving to learn by experience why we are on this round ball called earth. Speaking of a round ball, I will conclude today’s post with a story.

I am flying to Atlanta today. I will attend the World Series #21. How is that possible you ask? About three decades ago I let go of my dream to be a Cleveland Indians season ticket holder to go to seminary.

God saw me give up everything to follow Him. In return, He did the impossible. I would forge a close relationship, like a spiritual advisor, to the founding owner of the Colorado Rockies. I encouraged him to be generous.

He knew my love for baseball so he put me on a special list which gives me access to up to 42 WS tickets a year at cost. All glory to God. I will attend WS #21. Better than that, I have shared more than 800 WS tickets.

How is this possible? It’s how God’s economy works. Let go of your plans, your dreams, even your money like the widow with a generous heart and see what happens. For me, WS tickets are a gift from God to enjoy and share.

I got to go to Houston in 2005 so I shared all my Houston tickets. In the future, if you want to a WS ticket that God supplies at face value, let me know when your team is in the Fall Classic. I will share with you as I am able.