Archives by: Gary Hoag

You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Matthew 5:14

“The Bible calls the good man’s life a light; and it is the nature of light to flow out spontaneously in all directions, and fill the world unconsciously with its beams. So the Christian shines it would say, not so much because he will, as because he is a luminous object. Not that the active influence of Christians is made of no account in the figure, but only that this symbol of light has its propriety in the fact that their unconscious influence is the chief influence, and has the precedence in its power over the world. The outward endeavors made by good men or bad to sway others, they call their influence; whereas it is, in fact, but a fraction, and, in most cases, but a very small fraction of the good or evil that flows out of their lives.”

Horace Bushnell in Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers, compiled by Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert (New York: Wilbur B. Ketcham, 1895) 350.

What if we lived as though the chief influence of our lives is who and what we are and not what we do. This is good for me to think about as I walk the fields of North Dakota with my friend, John Roswech. The irony of the Christian faith is that our unconscious influence is our chief influence.

Do we live as though this is true? How can we nurture the ‘being’ aspect to our faith? I am realizing that is part of the reason God gave me the opportunity to go hunting this weekend. To just ‘be’ with the Lord, and of course our dog, Joy St. Clare, and Sammy’s dog, Hope St. Teresa.

For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7

“The only cure for indolence is work; the only cure for selfishness is sacrifice; the only cure for unbelief is to shake off the ague of doubt, by doing Christ’s bidding; the only cure for timidity is to plunge into some dreaded duty before the chill comes on.”

Samuel Rutherford (1600-1661) in Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers, compiled by Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert (New York: Wilbur B. Ketcham, 1895) 346.

I made it safely to Mott, North Dakota, yesterday evening. I am thankful for the opportunity to hunt pheasant and fellowship with John Roswech and some of his friends.

Think with me about the fact that God has given you the power, love, and self-discipline that you need to live out the Christian faith. Seriously, reflect on the fact that you have all you need to sustain you.

When I teach, I say that you don’t figure it out until you live it out that the teachings of Jesus on money will help you take hold of life, sometimes people give me a funny look. It’s the look of timidity.

Rutherford reminds us that the cure for timidity is to work, to sacrifice, to defy all doubt by living a life of faith and trust with commitment to fulfilling our duty as followers of Christ.

He rightly refers to it as taking a plunge because it requires faith. Those who do find it is the antidote for avarice, the cure for consumerism, and the prescription for peace.

My family can testify that until Christ is all you have, you don’t really realize that He’s all you have ever needed and will ever need. Take the plunge before the proverbial chill comes on.

Work, put some sacrifice in your generosity, and quench all doubt with the experience of putting your trust in God to sustain you. Again, you don’t discover it’s the cure until you try it.

To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” Luke 18:9-14

“The reason why the publican returned from the Temple justified was that he had got that lowly and self-emptied mind to which the grace of God is welcome. It was not his standing afar off merely, nor his dejected eyes, nor his smiting on his breast, but his despair of himself and his hope in God’s mercy — “God be merciful to me a sinner.” And you will be justified, too, when, losing all confidence in the flesh, you learn to rejoice in Jesus Christ.”

James Hamilton in Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers, compiled by Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert (New York: Wilbur B. Ketcham, 1895) 335.

Those close to me will often hear me say in times of prayer, trial or difficulty, “Lord have mercy.” I say this because I have learned that down is up in the kingdom of God.

Early in my journey I was the pharisee in the story. My faith was a to-do list, and I pridefully ticked the boxes. I did not realize that the handling of money was about helping my heart get to where it needed to be.

Then over time I matured into the publican. I realized that the path for growth was actually losing confidence in myself and hoping only in God’s mercy. “Lord have mercy. Christ have mercy. Lord have mercy.”

Today, as I look honestly into my heart, I find both characters, the pharisee and the publican. The paradox is that this means I can both exhibit humility and fall into the trap of pride. Perhaps you can relate?

So, as I drive 9 hours to Mott, ND, to meet my pheasant-hunting friends John Roswech and Shawn McFarland, I reflect on my life and resolve to lose all confidence in the flesh and rejoice only in God’s mercy.

God does not need our money. He wants our hearts. He’s not impressed by our disciplines. He wants them to shape us into humble servants who hope only in His mercy. What about you? Care to join me?

Lord have mercy on us. We confess, we are sinners. We fast from all confidence in our flesh. We rejoice and hope in You alone. In your mercy, hear our prayer because of your unfailing love.

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are — yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:15-16

“Therefore, if you aspire to be a son of consolation — if you would partake of the priestly gift of sympathy — if you would pour something beyond common-place consolation into a tempted heart — if you would pass through the daily intercourse of daily life with the delicate tact which never inflicts pain — if, to that most acute of human ailments, mental doubt, you are ever to give effectual succor, you must be content to pay the price of the costly education. Like Him, you must suffer — being tempted.”

Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert in Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers (New York: Wilbur B. Ketcham, 1895) 574.

As a CEO, I am asking God to help me grow in empathy. To this point, the Spirit has led me to build a “with you” culture in the GTP organization. This comes into view as a community of servants who appear as sons and daughters of consolation. We come alongside ministry administrators in need and assist them.

As I dig deeper into empathy and its relationship to generosity, I find it calls for a willingness to suffer in unexpected ways. I am experiencing this in real time.

For example, at present, I am teaching my online course, Faith and Finances, at Asian Theological Seminary and one student confessed fear and worry linked to obeying the teachings of Jesus on money. Others concurred. At that point, though I know the truth that can set them free from fear and worry, I determined first to meet them in their place of fear and worry. It’s actually really hard to do.

If I dismiss this situation, they remain locked in sin and shame. But, only when I allow myself to feel the same temptation, do I help them bear this burden and discover the freedom only found in Jesus. I can’t do this for everyone but can serve those God puts in my path. This is a costly price because we have to humble ourselves, and meet people where they are struggling.

This is priceless generosity. I have a long way to go in this area. Perhaps you do too? With God’s help, let us meet people where they are with the love of Christ and give the gift of empathy.

Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 1 Peter 3:8-9

“We often do more good by our sympathy than by our labors. A man may lose position, influence, wealth, and even health, and yet live on in comfgrt, if with resignation; but there is one thing without which life becomes a burden — that is human sympathy.”

F. W. Farrar in Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers, compiled by Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert (New York: Wilbur B. Ketcham, 1895) 574.

Think about this idea. “We often do more good by our sympathy than by our labors.” For some of you, this is not a new idea. This mindset guides your living, giving, serving, and loving. God bless you people!

For the rest of us who tend to focus on our labors, it’s profound to think that listening, for example, may be the best gift we can give someone. Such sympathy costs nothing. We can all do it. But it requires effort.

The Apostle Peter beckons us to be like-minded, sympathetic, loving, compassionate, and humble toward each other. This is the pathway both giving and receiving blessing. It’s key for our generosity.

Father, remind us of the good we can do by being sympathetic today. Empower us by your Holy Spirit to be loving and compassionate. Hear our prayer in your mercy in the name of Jesus. Amen.

My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise. Psalm 51:17

“Humility, what is it? It is a gracious gift of the Holy Ghost. It is the same disposition which the Psalmist called a “broken heart” and that consciousness of need which Jesus had in view when He said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit.” So far as it has respect to God, it is that docility which is willing to learn what God teaches; that conscious penury, which is willing to accept whatever God proffers; that submission which is willing to do what God desires, and to endure whatever God deems needful.”

James Hamilton in Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers, compiled by Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert (New York: Wilbur B. Ketcham, 1895) 331.

For the past month or so, we have been exploring themes related to generosity in the minds of key voices around the enlightenment period. Their brilliant minds bring life to basic truths.

Today’s lesson links to the heart or spirit we must have in order to grasp the things of God and share them generously with others. On our part, it requires docility, conscious penury, and submission.

In plain terms, if our lives are to exhibit Christian generosity, we must take the posture of a humble learner, then that of a grateful receiver, and then with complete submission, we must do what God desires.

Our human tendency is to gain knowledge, to amass resources, and do what we desire. Modern philanthropy says to give to the things that bring you the most joy. Instead, let us give to what thrills the heart of God.

What path will you take? Jesus promised the kingdom of heaven to the poor in spirit. It’s a paradox. The secret to grasping this lies in docility, conscious penury, and submission.

And you don’t discover that this path actually helps you grow in generosity until you take it.

When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. Proverbs 11:2

“Humility is that simple, inner life of real greatness, which is indifferent to magnificence, and, surrounded by it all, lives far away in the distant country of a Father’s home, with the cross borne silently and self-sacrificingly in the heart of hearts.”

F. W. Robertson in Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers, compiled by Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert (New York: Wilbur B. Ketcham, 1895) 330.

We must not allow our generosity to seek glory or magnificence. How do we remain indifferent to it. We learn in proverbs to pursue wisdom, to dwell with the Father and let His thoughts be our thoughts.

What cross has God called you to bear? Do it silently and self-sacrificingly. God sees. Don’t worry about whether or not anyone else does. They are not the audience or the One you serve.

Good and upright is the Lord; therefore He instructs sinners in His ways. He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them His way. All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful toward those who keep the demands of His covenant. For the sake of your name, Lord, forgive my iniquity, though it is great. Psalm 25:8-11

“True humility is a Christian grace and one of the fruits of the Spirit originating in a deep consciousness of sin past and present and leading us to discover our nothingness in the view of God, our insufficiency for any thing that is good, and prompting us, as we feel our infirmities, to strive after higher and yet higher attainments.”

James McCosh in Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers, compiled by Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert (New York: Wilbur B. Ketcham, 1895) 329.

We need to see ourselves rightly before God if we are to remain teachable and if we are to walk in His ways. We are sinners with an “insufficiency for any thing that is good.”

So how does this relate to generosity? True humility teaches us take our rightful place as conduits of divine grace. Any good we do is by His grace, so our role is really only spreading God’s goodness.

God, forgive us our sins and pour out your grace on us. Teach us Your ways by your Holy Spirit so we may walk in your truth and guide others to You. In Your mercy, hear our prayer in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. Colossians 3:2

“We should carry up our affections to the mansions prepared for us above, where eternity is the measure, felicity the state, angels the company, the Lamb the light, and God the inheritance and portion of His people forever.”

Jeremy Taylor in Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers, compiled by Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert (New York: Wilbur B. Ketcham, 1895) 308.

We have had lots of snow this week. With the arrival of November, we also enter the holiday shopping season where temptations surround us and offer to sell us a seemingly endless supply of stuff.

That means it is also time to set our affections on things above, not on earthly things. Sure, we buy what we need, but let’s keep our heart’s desires on heavenly realities.

Like the character “Tris” in the Divergent movie series, we must say to ourselves, “that’s not real,” when we hear the satisfaction that products promise us in the advertisements.

The only thing and only One that satisfies and will ever satisfy our needs is the God who is our heavenly inheritance. So, let’s set our affections on things above, not on earthly things.

And let’s put God’s resources to work related to what God cares about. When we do this, our generosity will reflect Christ’s love to a broken and hurting world.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28

“Do not let the empty cup be your first teacher of the blessings you had when it was full. Do not let a hard place here and there in the bed destroy your rest. Seek, as a plain duty, to cultivate a buoyant, joyous sense of the crowded kindnesses of God in your daily life.”

Alexander Maclaren in Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers, compiled by Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert (New York: Wilbur B. Ketcham, 1895) 290.

This statement really caught my attention when I read it. I need to cultivate “a buoyant, joyous sense of the crowded kindnesses of God” in my daily life.

To do so, I am sitting and reflecting and making a list of the crowded kindnesses of God. I must marinate in the truth that He is always working for my good.

The words “buoyant” and “joyous” give me so much hope. They remind me that God will lift me out of hard places and restore joy to my soul.

This action took my mind to Psalm 40. Meditate on it with me and find encouragement and a “buoyant, joyous sense” for your journey of generosity.