Archives by: Gary Hoag

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? 1 John 3:17

“God’s Word teaches a very hard, disturbing truth. Those who neglect the poor and the oppressed are really not God’s people at all—no matter how frequently they practice their religious rituals nor how orthodox are their creeds and confessions.” ‘

Ronald J. Sider in Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger: Moving from Affluence to Generosity, revised and updated (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2015) 62.

Someone asked me recently for advice on helping the poor in these crisis times. I said repeatedly that doing nothing is not an option. I also added not to give handouts that create dependencies but a hand up that builds disciples.

Admittedly, I said this in part because of my work with GTP. When we had great need, Jesus did not send help, He came. Then He taught a small group of disciples the way and told them to multiply themselves. Support ministries that do that.

But remember, if you do nothing, it shows there’s no love of God within you. This may be a very hard truth, but it is one we must all ask ourselves, especially in times when the rich have gotten richer and the poor have gotten poorer.

The rod and a rebuke give wisdom, but a child who gets his own way brings shame to his mother. Proverbs 29:15

“Don’t forget one of the most effective forms of child abuse: parents giving their children whatever they want.”

Randy Alcorn in Lord Foulgrin’s Letters (Multnomah Books, 2001) 29.

Don’t wait to teach kids about their role as stewards. Help children discern the difference between wants and needs.  I think it was my great grandfather who said, “I have everything I need because I have learned to control my wants.” I thank my parents for echoing that to me.

What should you teach them? Help them learn to spend (they don’t need help learning this), to save (learning not spend everything that comes to them but setting aside money to create margin for giving and for larger purchases with cash) and to share (that the giving part).

If you have already raised your children, think how you could pass on these ideas to your grandchildren. To fail to do this is an effective form of child abuse, because in stewardship terms, the children never grow up. Start today. Don’t give your children everything they want.

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Galatians 6:7-8

“If our values have not been converted, we have not been converted. Valuing what God values shapes us and directs us. In naming Christ as Lord we honor ourselves. As a second-century Christian put it, “Whatever you honor most will rule you. Honor what is best that you may be governed by what is best.” People render themselves worthless by investing their lives in worthless things.”

Klyne R. Snodgrass in Who God Says You Are: A Christian Understanding of Identity (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2018). And I hope you like the new header photo of a spring sunset over the foothills here in Colorado.

At GTP, in Journey of Empowerment we talk about the fact that most people don’t make an impact in their context because they are conforming to the values of society rather than living out the values of their Christian identity.

Are you investing yourself and the money you steward in keeping with your values? As my friend, Michael Blue says, you should not be thinking about the next 30 years but about the next 30 million years.

You will reap at that time what you have sown today. Name the worthless things that you are tempted to invest in. Do this to make a change that starts today. Sow generously in keeping with your Christian values.

They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:18b-19

“When we know we have freely received love, we are empowered to freely give love. To give from a surrendered place of faith, hope, and love rather than from a posture of expectation of return is a profound risk. We so often think of sacrificial giving as giving till it hurts or giving some percentage of our wealth we think we can’t afford to give. I’m beginning to think that’s just another worldly way of thinking about money. True giving, which is to say sacrificial giving, cannot be measured in amounts, percentage or otherwise. It is the manifestation of a surrendered soul in love for God and others. When giving to God for others is done in this fashion, which cannot be faked, what comes back to the giver from God through others is so surprisingly extraordinary and so completely free that they wonder why they didn’t give more. And they usually do…They have entered into an economy that cannot be explained by mathematical accounting. My best understanding is this is what Paul means in today’s text when he says this to the Philippians concerning their giving.”

J.D Walt in an excerpt of “Why Most Giving Falls Short of True Giving” from The Seedbed Daily Text on 17 May 2021. J.D. Walt is a friend and brother. If you want a daily email that will walk you through the Scriptures, subscribe here.

A common question people ask about giving relates to amount. How much should I give? If you are asking this question, let me offer you this word of advice linked to today’s Scripture.

The kind of giving Jesus celebrated and the kind of giving Paul describes as “acceptable” is sacrificial. It gives more than it can spare showing it is functioning in God’s economy.

So how do I explain it when J.D. rightly notes that it cannot be explained by mathematical accounting? In plain terms, it’s when you trust God and not yourself to meet your needs.

The first step to becoming such a surrendered soul and living in God’s economy is acknowledging your insufficiency and God’s all sufficiency. From there, give Him any and every need you have.

I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. Philippians 4:10-12

“There are two sets of values that live on two separate planes — one visible and the other invisible. On the visible plane we have wealth and poverty. On the invisible plane there is abundance and scarcity. A person can be financially wealthy yet be possessed by scarcity to such a degree that they might as well be in poverty.

In other words, there are many rich people in the world (on the outside) who live like poor people (on the inside). To the contrary, there are many poor people in the world (on the outside) who live from an incredible place of abundance (on the inside). Wealth and poverty are the external, visible circumstances while scarcity and abundance are the internal, invisible realities. Paul gets this and gets at it in today’s text.

The kingdom of this world is a kingdom of scarcity. The kingdom of heaven is a kingdom of abundance. Some of the wealthiest people I know live in the kingdom of scarcity. Paul shows us what living in the zone of the kingdom of abundance looks like…

There is only one antidote to the cancer of scarcity: radical generosity. People of scarcity get richer and richer on the outside and more and more impoverished on the inside. It’s why Jesus said it was so hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God (Matthew 19:23-24). This is why Jesus instructed the rich young ruler to sell everything he had and give the money to the poor and come and follow him (Matthew 19:21). He knew the rich man’s money had him. This is the sad and painful truth behind so many rich people…

There’s nothing so disheartening than to ask someone of great means for help and to be turned away. On the other hand, there’s nothing quite so gratifying when someone who seemingly lacks the capacity to help you does so in a surprising way. This explains Paul’s exuberant gratitude for the Philippians. Of all the churches he served, only the Philippians came through and helped him. Something tells me they were the least likely. Abundance has nothing to do with how much or how little we have.”

J.D Walt in an excerpt of “The Sad Truth Behind So Many Rich People” from The Seedbed Daily Text on 15 May 2021. J.D. Walt is a dear friend. I read his blog regularly and so do many other Daily Meditations readers who alerted me to this post.

If you are reading this and you possess financial wealth, remember three things. (1) It’s not yours. (2) It can’t save you, bring you satisfaction, or give you the security it promises. (3) The only way to make sure it does not make you poor on the inside is to give it away.

If you say, “It won’t impact me. I can possess wealth and not get tainted.” You are fooling yourself. I know. I did it for years. You don’t figure out until you live it out that God’s design won’t leave you empty but enriched.

Shout out to our daughter Sophie today! She turns 24! For many years she’s grasped the antidote to the cancer of scarcity by living, giving, serving, and loving generously. Happy Birthday. I love you, Sophie. The way you shine for Jesus impacts everyone you touch in profound ways.

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

“Basil requires the monk to work, not merely as a cure for idleness, but also ‘that he may have whereof to give to him that hath need’. The monk was not to escape the ordinary obligation of the Christian to deeds of charity, but rather to make his love of the poor a proof of his great devotion to God.”
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Basil of Caesarea (330-379) as recounted in Basil and His Rule (London: Oxford University Press, 1912) 123.

Notice for Basil that work is a cure for idleness as Paul notes (cf. Paul’s instructions in 1 Thessalonians 4:9–12 and 2 Thessalonians 3:6–16) and positions the worker to have resources to give as noted in today’s Scripture. Giving for Basil (and Paul) also demonstrates proof of love.

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

As we think about our own generosity, if you can work, you should work. Idleness leads to other sins, such as hoarding for self, which is stealing in the biblical mindset. Also consider what proof you want to put forth.

God give us strength to work and help people see your love through our generosity. Amen,

Whether anyone who wishes to avail himself of the monastery only for a short time, is to be allowed admission Basil’s decision is as follows:

“It is right to give him admission, even though the result may be doubtful. For perhaps he will be benefited by his short stay, as not infrequently happens, and become completely enamoured of our life, when he has made full proof of our discipline, and has found it to be very different from what he had suspected.”

Basil of Caesarea (330-379) as recounted in Basil and His Rule (London: Oxford University Press, 1912) 122.

As we dig into the Rule of Basil of Caesarea we learn an interesting insight about generous living. When we urge people to try it, they may realize it is “very different” from what they expected.

Isn’t that true about many aspects of life? We often have fears or misconceptions about the unknown. But when we try it, we realize by experience it is actually really good.

If you want to encourage someone to grow in generosity, you don’t have to invite them to live in a monastery. Invite them to take steps as God leads. They too may find it it be “very different” than they suspected.

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. 1 John 2:15

“Visitors are not to go away with an impression that the monks live in luxury. If a guest does not care for the entertainment provided, he need not come again. Suppose that a stranger comes to us. If he is a brother, and leads the same life, he will not object to having the same table. For he will only find what he has left at home…

But if he is of the world, he will learn from our deeds that which words could not teach him, and will see a practical example of frugality with contentment. He will go away with a recollection of true Christian fare, and of poverty endured without shame for Christ’s sake. If, however, he is not thus impressed, but is disposed to ridicule our doings, he will not trouble us a second time.”

Basil of Caesarea (330-379) as recounted in Basil and His Rule (London: Oxford University Press, 1912) 121.

Early church fathers, like Basil of Caesarea, taught fellow disciples to avoid giving the impression of living in “luxury” but to exhibit “frugality with contentment.”

What impression do people get when they see how you live?

This relates to generosity, for Basil, in that our way of living is to provide a practical example for others how to live. If they love the world, they will not embrace it.

If are likeminded, they will feel right at home.

Jesus wants us to look different our culture (a.k.a. “the world”) where we live. “True Christian fare” reflects hospitality and poverty and is countercultural and generous.

For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace. Romans 6:14

“The Lord grant you the grace to observe these precepts with love as lovers of spiritual beauty, exuding the fragrance of Christ by the goodness of your lives; you are no longer slaves under the law, but a people living in freedom under grace. These precepts should be read to you once a week, so that you will see yourselves in this little book as in a mirror and not neglect anything through forgetfulness. When you find yourselves doing what has been written here, thank the Lord, the giver of all good gifts. However, if anyone of you realizes that he has failed on a specific point, let him be sorry for the past, safeguard the future, and continue to pray for his offences to be forgiven, and that he not be led into temptation.”

Augustine of Hippo in The Rule of St. Augustine 8.1-2. The text of the rule is adapted from George Lawless’ translation in Augustine of Hippo and His Monastic Rule (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1987), included in Constitutions of the Order of Preachers (Dublin: Dominican Publications, 2012).

This is the last day looking at The Rule of St. Augustine. I hope you have enjoyed it.

Following God’s design for life and living produces goodness (a.k.a. generosity). We don’t have to try to be generous, it happens.

For Augustine, this conclusion to his rule aims to remind fellow disciples that grace enables us to follow it. In so doing, God blesses with gifts.

The gifts are to be enjoyed and shared, while offences are to be forgiven. I can only imagine how a weekly reminder of this would transform a community of disciples.

God may our goodness and forgiveness draw others to you. Amen.

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 5:3-4

“Whenever anyone brings anything to sons or relations who reside in the monastery, an article of clothing, or anything else that is considered necessary, the gift is not to be pocketed on the sly but given to the superior as common property, so that it can be given to whoever needs it.”

Augustine of Hippo in The Rule of St. Augustine 5.3. The text of the rule is adapted from George Lawless’ translation in Augustine of Hippo and His Monastic Rule (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1987), included in Constitutions of the Order of Preachers (Dublin: Dominican Publications, 2012).

God sees everything. When He saw the sin on the sly of Ananias and Sapphira, He acted swiftly to send the church a message. I think most have missed it the message and continue to pocket on the sly.

I am not saying I am perfect here. Goodness, I will log in as chief of sinners. What’s key here is that keeping possessions for ourselves is not God’s design or desire. He knows whatever we hold on to gets a hold on to us.

So, Augustine urged everyone who followed his rule to see everything, including gifts, as common property. Every good and perfect gift comes from God for our enjoyment and sharing, not our keeping.

Giving is possible coupled with keeping, but it’s not generosity, in the biblical sense of the word. Generosity only happens when we serve as conduits of material and spiritual blessings.

God, forgive me for pocketing on the sly and teach me to see everything as common because You own it all. Amen.