Archives by: Gary Hoag

The disciples, as each one was able, decided to provide help for the brothers and sisters living in Judea. Acts 11:29

“Everywhere I have traveled, I’ve seen churches supported by their local congregations; however, in the past, the first few generations of many of these churches were dependent on their Western founders for their missional outreaches. Now, in this post-colonial era, they are self-sustaining in the core operations of their missional work and can invite outside participation as true equals.

Sustained interdependence exists when a partner—giver, receiver, or agency—works together and is financially sustained for their own core operations within a local context. This may be easy for givers depending on the source of their money, but, nonetheless, their money can accomplish nothing without the partner who is seeking the transformative effect of the gospel in the field where they work.

This need for sustained interdependence is also true for the ministry or individual seeking to realize Kingdom goals. The transformation they seek, that also attracts givers, needs resources to be accomplished. In this era, to achieve ownership and engagement, the autochthonous leader must first seek a communion of giving and receiving within his or her own local setting.”

Rob Martin in When Money Goes on Mission: Fundraising and Giving in the 21st Century (Chicago: Moody, 2019) 51.

If you only read one book on global generosity, read this one. If you visit my home, I will give you a free copy. I have a few in my office. I realize this is a strong statement but let me tell you why I say it. It links to today’s Scripture.

Ministry in the ancient world would not explode until those who received the gospel, stewarded it to the point of moving from receivers to givers. When the church in Antioch and the churches across Galatia, Asia Minor, Greece, and even Italy participated in the Jerusalem collection, something happened. The people learned that the gospel always comes to us on the way to someone else. And our role is to participate in the communion of giving and receiving.

Too much of generosity today, globally-speaking, is thought to flow from the West to the East and South. Those days are nearly gone. If they are not over, they will be with this global recession. Now that the wealth of the world is in the East and the gospel is spreading in the South, everything will change. I am no futurist, but I have traveled the world, and can’t wait to get back on an airplane to serve national workers all over the planet for GTP to nurture one of our ten values: sustained interdependence.

In plain terms, we are not giving a man a fish to feed him for a day, we must teach people how to fish to feed them for a lifetime. As a guy who loves to fly fish and guide other anglers, the only thing better than landing a nice trout is guiding for someone who has never touched a rod and helping them hook and land a fish!

“When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate. Luke 15:17-24

“Interestingly, the word prodigal actually means financially wasteful. The son failed morally and financially. The point of the story is that each of us has done the same. We are prodigal; God is the Father. We have all sinned morally, rejecting the law of God. And none of us have saved, given, or spent our money perfectly…

The story shows that even if you’re deeply in debt, even if you’ve run from God, and even if you’re wealthy and consumed with an ugly pride, God will still welcome you home with open arms if you’ll come back to Him.

Notice something here. The father was not taken off guard by the son’s return. He didn’t need a moment to figure out what to say. Instead, when the son was still a long way off, the father saw him coming back and ran to meet him. The father was watching the road. His patience and love were undiluted by the long wait, and his heart overflowed with welcoming love for his wayward son.”

John Cortines and Gregory Baumer in True Riches: What Jesus Really Said About Money and Your Heart (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2019) 22. Here’s another good new stewardship book for your library.

I am teaching Faith and Finances at Northern Seminary on Tuesdays in June. We have a saying: “No shame. No blame!” We say this because we are all prodigal. We have failed financially and morally. And, we need welcoming love!

The key for helping students (or anyone you serve) to experience transformation is to show them the same welcoming love from the Father. As they open up and acknowledge their mistakes, love the darkness out of them.

We don’t kill any fatted calves in class but we always get pizza. Northern is in Chicago, and Chicago is known for some of the best pizza on the planet. Seriously, we always end the class with a pizza celebration. I will miss that with COVID-19.

That’s one of the hardest parts about COVID-19. I miss celebrations together. No wonder when we all convene in heaven, our generous God will welcome us with love to a banquet.

For now, we press on despite COVID-19. Let’s do it with welcoming love.

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

“I immediately figured out why I suffered from an anxiety attack: I was on a revenue split model with God. The first 10% was His, and the other 90% was mine. How I saved it, spent it, invested it, and so on, was my business, thank you very much.

It was not that I had ever heard what was said before, but it finally REALLY sank in that EVERYTHING I have belonged to God. Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will leave this world, I was reminded that I am merely God’s fund manager.

What a relief that is! The 90% also belongs to God, and therefore every spending and saving decision is a spiritual one. God has promised to take care of all my needs (but not necessarily my wants), and let me tell you that is the most comforting thought in the world.”

Roger Lam in Lost and Found: Money vs. Riches – A Journey from Slavery to Mastery (Nashville: Elm Hill, 2018) 29-30.

Roger is a dear friend and an amazing communicator from Hong Kong. His book which chronicles his journey from slavery to mastery of money is a real page-turner.

Today’s excerpt is timely in light of our continued COVID-19 crisis. The mindset and behavior of people appears to be unraveling globally. Especially in hard times, each of us must not forget the most comforting thought in the world: “God has promised to take care of all my needs.” He cares more for you and me more than we care for ourselves and for our loved ones.

When we couple this thinking, as Roger keenly does, with the point that everything belongs to God, we find our place and purpose, especially in times of crisis. We are here to offer hope and help.

Speaking of hope and help, later this month Roger and I will do a GTP webinar serving Hong Kong and the world on this topic with Trevor Lui and Ereny Monir.

If you are doing a lot of reading during these days where we are safer at home, get this book, and the sequel, Lose to Find: Change of Control. Read them both if you have not read them. I am recommending them to my Faith and Finances students now.

They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen. Romans 1:25

“Stuff is and always will be good, but our sinful hearts make mountains out of molehills and turn stuff from a good to The Good, worshipping and serving created things rather that the Creator. The way to free ourselves from our slavery to stuff is to share it with others. When we do this, we turn from being hoarders to God’s distributors. This allows us to see stuff in light of the three T’s: to use stuff as a tool to do God’s work in the world, knowing that we are being tested as to how well we can bear God’s generous trademark to the world. There are eternal consequences to this test, so it is of the utmost importance that we take it seriously and strive to use and enjoy stuff as God intended us to. This is no easy task!”

Wesley K. Willmer with Micah Hogan in Stuff & Soul: Mastering the Critical Connection (Colbert: Kingdom Life, 2020) 50. Here’s another winner book by my mentor and friend, Wes Willmer.

Willmer offers practical advice for making sure we don’t worship created things instead of the Creator. We must handle stuff as a tool for doing God’s work. It’s our trademark, showing God’s love to the watching world. And, it’s a test of obedience.

How are you using stuff as a tool to do God’s work? If your handling of money and possessions reflects a trademark, how would people describe you? Since stuff is a test that has eternal implications, would you pass? Take time to ponder these thoughts?

As I am teaching Faith and Finances this month at Northern Seminary, I am exposing my students to books and resources for their personal journey and for helping others. I hope you enjoy the sampling of resources I will feature afresh in my daily posts.

For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants. They will spring up like grass in a meadow, like poplar trees by flowing streams. Isaiah 44:3-4

“This will be a radical new day of restoration, new life, and divine blessing… The people will be empowered by a special pouring down (using the same verb used of rain) of the Spirit of God. This is God’s gift that abundantly fills and transforms everything it touches. The Spirit will give new life and refreshing blessings to a future generation of children like the water gives new life and brings fertility to the earth… The important thing emphasized is not the ethnic or religious background of these people; the central issue is what these people choose to become. The Spirit’s transforming power will make them want to be identified with God and His righteous people.”

Gary V. Smith in Isaiah 40-66: An Exegetical and Theological Exposition of Holy Scripture (NAC; Nashville: B&H Publishing, 2009) 219-220.

So, lately I have been praying for rain, for provision for GTP. I am still praying for that. But God has nudged me to raise my hopes higher. In light of the pandemic, the panic, and the problems that fill the earth, today I am praying for a “special pouring down” of the Spirit. Would you join me?

Such an outpouring is “God’s gift that abundantly fills and transforms everything it touches.” As described in this vision of Isaiah, may it be so today. May the Spirit of God cause righteous people to spring up all over the earth who serve as conduits of blessing, because generosity is a fruit of the Spirit.

The picture fits what I see outside. Even as rain from clouds causes grass to spring up and trees to flourish, the Spirit can enliven God’s people. Father, our land is thirsty. We need a special pouring down of your Spirit to grow as righteous and generous people. Make it so I ask in the name of Jesus, Amen.

Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. Matthew 6:1

“When Jesus warned, “Beware of practicing your piety before men,” He then added pointedly, “to be seen by them.” On first glance it seems as if the same thing were being repeated, but if you were carefully to pay attention you will note the careful distinction. Alms may be given in the presence of others primarily to be seen by them, or they may be given in the presence of others but not to be seen, or they may be openly given in order to be seen but still not be seen, or they may be given quietly and still be seen. He is not focusing simply on the outward act done but on the inward intent.”

John Chrysostom in The Gospel of Matthew, Homily 19.2 in Matthew 1-13, volume 1a, edited by Manlio Simonetti (ACCS; Downers Grove: IVP, 2001) 124.

What God cares about related to generosity in good times and bad ones is the intent of our hearts. Don’t give to be seen. God sees and will not reward you.

Perhaps giving in secret is about being seen by God. What would change if you focused only on what God sees and what He thinks about your giving?

It might leads us to talk about the things people don’t talk enough about, like money. Pray for me. I teach Faith and Finances at Northern Seminary on five Tuesdays in June.

Register to join us if you wish. It’s not a credit course, but rather a continuing education seminar. And pray for God to work in the hearts of the students.

So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. Matthew 6:2-4

“Here the Lord is not speaking literally of the hands of the human body. Hands as such cannot know, having the senses neither of seeing nor language. Rather, “on the right hand” means righteous deeds and “on the left” signifies sinful deeds or persons.

Thus we read it written in the book of Kings that “hand” means people when it says “Do not I have ten hands in Israel?” [2 Samuel 19:43] that is, ten tribes of Israel. Therefore, there is no doubt that “on the right hand” means “the just” and “on the left” means “sinners,” according to what Solomon related: “The Lord acknowledges the divisions soon the right; the perverse are those who are on the left” [Ecclesiastes 10:2; Proverbs 4:27].

The Lord makes very plain the meaning of this “right” and “left” in the Gospel when He declares that the just are to be placed on the right, the sinners on the left [Matthew 25:33]. If something is to be accomplished according to the teaching of the Lord, then the right hand of the just must not know what the left is doing. That is, in order to labor religiously and faithfully, we should not boast in the sight of sinners and unfaithful people.”

Chromatius (c. 400) in Tractate on Matthew 26.5.2-4 in Matthew 1-13, volume 1a, edited by Manlio Simonetti (ACCS; Downers Grove: IVP, 2001) 125.

I read a great article yesterday by John Rinehart in the NCF Saturday 7 about “Should all your giving be in secret?” based on today’s Scripture text. I appreciated the content of the article which drove me to read ancient biblical perspectives on the “right” and “left” because I think commentators, such as Chromatius, draw out why Jesus said what He said.

Right-handed giving is righteous generosity. If our left hand is in the loop with regard to our giving, it will reflect worldly influences, sinful motives, and unrighteous desires. These negative factors must not be allowed to inform or shape our generosity. If we allow them to, we will shift the focus of our giving to be about us instead of about God desires.

So giving in secret does not mean that we don’t talk about giving. Jesus certainly does. The key is that we don’t make it about us. The teachings of Jesus must guide our giving. We must avoid worldly thinking on money. If we fail in this, we will store up treasures on earth (left hand) rather than store them up in heaven (right hand). And we will hoard (left hand) instead of help (right hand) in times like these.

I will make a covenant of peace with them and rid the land of savage beasts so that they may live in the wilderness and sleep in the forests in safety. I will make them and the places surrounding my hill a blessing. I will send down showers in season; there will be showers of blessing. Ezekiel 34:25-26

“The Lord will make a “covenant of peace” with his flock. In place of the curses of the Sinai covenant, which they have experienced while being under the judgment of God — wild animals, drought, famine, and the sword (Leviticus 26:14—35) — they will now experience the blessings of the covenant: safety, rain in its season, fruitfulness, and peace. The state of experiencing the blessings that flow from a harmonious relationship with God is what makes this distinctively a “covenant of peace.”

The covenant is thus not so much a “new” covenant as it is the experience of the blessings promised in the original covenant. In place of the monarchy divided by sin, God’s people will be under one shepherd. In place of an undistinguished procession of monarchs, they will be given a ruler after God’s own heart, a new David. In place of famine, plague, drought, and the sword, they will see a new level of peace and prosperity so that they will no longer bear the reproach of the nations. Then indeed they will know that the Lord their God is with them.”

Iain M. Duguid in Ezekiel (NIVAC; Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1999) 396.

As I continue to explore the season after a plague in the Scriptures, here is what comes into view and how it relates to generosity.

God wants His people to humble themselves, to fast, pray and confess their sins, and to return to Him in order to experience “times of refreshing” (Acts 3:19).

The season after the plague is characterized by peace and showers of blessings. It is a time of opportunity related to extending generosity.

He will accomplish this. It is the work of Jesus through His body. It’s us, Christians, all over the world, who have found peace with Him as our shepherd.

Father, forgive us our sins, and heal our land. As you bring renewal and refreshment, by your Holy Spirit, make us generous sharers I ask in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love; break up your fallow ground, for it is the time to seek the LORD, that He may come and rain righteousness upon you. Hosea 10:12

“So verse 12a is as positive as it is practical, and 12b is as generous as it is urgent. The expression ‘fallow ground’ was extraordinarily well suited to describe a people doubly impervious to the good seed of God’s Word, both by the tangled growth of worldly notions and preoccupations which had taken hold of them, and by the hard crust beneath it all, of wills and attitudes never broken into penitence.”

Derek Kidner in The Message of Hosea (BST; Downers Grove: IVP, 1981) 98.

The sky was stunning on the morning walk yesterday, pictured above.

Perhaps God has led me to a place of praying for rain in this COVID-19 season because we are all praying for a time of refreshing. We are asking Him to deliver us from challenging times and distracting things. Hosea tells us what to do in the meantime. We must sow righteousness and break up our ‘fallow ground’ by seeking the Lord.

Kidner notes that we can become tangled and preoccupied with worldly notions. What about you?

Hosea teaches us that when we so righteousness that God does two things. Firstly, He will come. That’s a powerful picture. When we seek Him, we experience Him. And, secondly, He will rain righteousness on us. So, wherever you are today, do the faithful activities that God desires and trust Him to come to you and rain righteousness (or that which is good).

As weather forecasts go, there is a 100% chance God will do His part. Will we? 

Sow righteousness. Break up your fallow ground. Seek not worldly things, but seek the Lord.

Yet He has not left Himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; He provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy. Acts 14:17

“God has not left Himself without testimony meaning that in the bounty of nature there was testimony to both the being and the nature of God. God has continued to show kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons. Something of God’s character is demonstrated in the regular provision of life’s necessities. The result of this care is that He provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy. God’s goodness is experienced by everyone who enjoys the benefits of living in His creation.”

David G. Peterson in The Acts of the Apostles (PNTC; Grand Rapids; Eerdmans, 2009) 410.

In today’s Scripture, Paul proclaims these words to the people of Lystra. He describes the goodness of God, in part, by talking about His care for creation in general and people in particular. We must remember this, especially during a pandemic.

This message is relevant today. Even in hard times, we can look out on creation and celebrate a caring Creator for His “regular provision” for us. We can pause in a pandemic and see how He has our good in mind even now. Let us humble ourselves before Him and respond like Him.

To exhibit generosity that reflects this same love and care means that we keep our wits about us in this crisis. Rather than hoard in fear, we dispense provision from God and show care to those in need around us with the same love. We do this to spread abundant joy.