Archives by: Gary Hoag

“Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do — blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get. But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. Matthew 6:1-4

“Some cover their pride with the pretence of high spiritedness, and please themselves in apprehensions of some magnanimity and generosity. But the truth is, it is not true magnitude, but a swelling out of the superabundance of pestilent humours. True greatness of spirit is inwardly and throughout solid, firm from the bottom, and the foundation of it is truth. Which of the two do ye think hath the better spirit, he that calls dust, dust, and accounts of dung as dung, or he that, upon a false imagination, thinks dust and dung is gold and silver, esteems himself a rich man, and raises up himself above others? Humility is only true magnanimity, for it digs down low, that it may set and establish the foundation of true worth. It is true, it is lowly, and bows down low. But as the water that comes from a height, the lower it comes down the higher it ascends up again, so the humble spirit, the lower it fall in its own estimation, the higher it is raised in real worth and in God’s estimation.”

Hugh Binning (1627-1653) in “A Treatise of Christian Love” (Edinburgh, 1743) excerpt from chapter five.

Magnanimity is synonymous with generosity, and from God’s perspective, true magnanimity cannot be found without humility. Today I want to honor our daughter, Sophie Victoria Hoag, as she turns 20 years old today. She’s a beautiful young woman whose life is solid, because her roots go deep in the firm foundation of God’s truth. She also exhibits true magnanimity with humility, caring what God sees and thinks of her above the estimations of people (cf. 1 Peter 3:3-4). In at least three ways, she reminds me of Hugh Binning.

Firstly, as the son of a prominent landowner, Hugh Binning could have used that status for personal gain. Instead, he humbled himself to serve others and help them grasp Christian love. That’s Sophie, always lovingly attuned to serving the needs of those around her with the blessings she has gratefully received from God. Secondly, Binning was committed to rigorous learning and religious exercises. That’s Sophie, dedicated to studying God’s Word. Thirdly, Binning became a brilliant young Scottish theologian and philosopher who had a way with words. It was commonly said, “There is no speaking after Mr. Binning.” That’s Sophie, she loves words and writing, and she exhibits wisdom beyond her years.

What about you? Would others say you have true magnanimity, this is, generosity coupled with humility? The way to get there is to bow down low, to esteem things as God esteems them, and to base your life on the foundation of truth. Humbly and generously use whatever you’ve got to serve others — wealth, status, knowledge, talents and abilities — in order to show Christian love. Binning uses colorful language like “dust” and “dung” to get our attention and help our thinking shift from false imagination to God’s estimation. What would God say about you?

Thou shalt not steal. Exodus 20:15

“Frugality and moderation in our expenses about ourselves ought to be used, lest the fountain should be drawn dry, whence such streams should flow, for helping and refreshing others. Bounty and mercy ought to be exercised in communicating our goods unto others, especially persons that are to be pitied; and of these, chiefly such are of the household of faith. For in this duty is the most of all exercised and most manifestly that virtue that is most contrary to theft; because as in theft we take unjustly to ourselves, what is not our own so in liberality and alms, we justly take from ourselves what is our own, and freely bestow it on another.”

William Ames (1576-1633) in the conclusion to the reading for the forty second Lord’s day on Exodus 20:15, “Thou Shalt Not Steal” in The Substance of Christian Religion (London: Thomas Davie, 1659) 255.

If you don’t mind reading old English, today’s reading comes from a brilliant four-page exposition of the seventh commandment, which is today’s Scripture passage. This excerpt from Ames illuminates our role with regard to that which we possess. As we own nothing, we must exercise frugality and moderation in spending that which God gives us on ourselves lest we be found unfaithful. God wants us to enjoy and share material blessings. Not to share with others, especially fellow believers, is stealing (cf. Ephesians 4:28). That may sound harsh, but even if we worked to earn it, God gave us that ability (cf. Deuteronomy 8:18), and thus, all we possess must be used according to God’s purposes.

God desires that those who have more than enough freely bestow their surplus to others with bounty and mercy. Sadly, however, most people are afraid to “communicate,” or in modern English, to “share,” because they fear they themselves will end up empty. Others talk themselves out of sharing saying to themselves that it will create dependencies, whereas God’s pattern is to create interdependent people who show love through sharing while depending on Him, rather than themselves, for their ongoing sustenance. The only way to take hold of life is to fear God rather than fearing being in need. Ames graciously reminds readers that those who fear God will be sustained by His providence.

Most people think the aim of meditations like this one is to help people prepare now, while they have capacity and ability, to give an account for their stewardship to God later. Undoubtedly, that’s part of it, but I would say a lesser part. The aim of meditations like this is to urge people to obey by spending simply on themselves and sharing with others rather than stealing from them because when we freely bestow with mercy and bounty in this way, we exhibit the the charity of God, we realize that sometimes we get to care for others and sometimes they get to assist us, and most importantly, we take hold of life because we no longer rely on ourselves but on God, which glorifies Him and shows the world He can be trusted.

For bodily exercise is profitable for a little, but piety is profitable for everything, having promise of life, of the present one, and of that to come. 1 Timothy 4:8

“Let it be your first care to set up Christ in your hearts; see that you make all your worldly interests to stoop to Him; that you be entirely and unreservedly devoted unto Him. If you wilfully, and deliberately, and ordinarily, harbor any sin, you are undone. See that you unfeignedly take the law of Christ as the rule of your words, thoughts, and actions, and subject your whole man, members, and minds, faithfully to Him…

Let piety be your first and great business: it is the highest point of justice to give God his due. Beware that none of you be a prayerless person; for that is a most certain discovery that you are a Christless and graceless person, or one that is a very stranger to the fear of God. Suffer not your Bibles to gather dust. See that you converse daily with the Word. That man can never lay claim to blessedness whose delight is not in the law of the Lord. Let meditation and self-examination be your daily exercise.

But piety without charity is but the half of Christianity, or rather impious hypocrisy. We may not divide the tables; see therefore that you do justly, and love mercy, and let equity and charity run like an even thread throughout all your dealings. Be you temperate in all things, and let chastity and sobriety be your undivided companions. Let truth and purity, seriousness and modesty, heaviness and gravity, be the constant ornaments of your speech. Let patience and humility, simplicity and sincerity, shine out in all the parts of your conversations. See that you forget and forgive wrongs, and requite them with kindness, as you would be found the children of the Most High.

Will you answer the calls of divine Providence? Would you remove the incumbent, or prevent the impendent calamities? Would you plant nurseries for the church of God? Would you that God should build your houses and bless your substance? Would you that your children should bless you? O then set up piety in your families, as ever you would be blessed or be a blessing. Let your hearts and your houses be the temples of the living God, in which his worship may be with constancy reverently performed”

Joseph Alleine in “Counsel for Personal and Family Godliness” in An Alarm to Unconverted Sinners (Glasgow: Charmers & Collins, 1824) 270-271, 276.

What a joy it has been for Jenni and me to celebrate Sammy’s graduation from college, to observe Sophie’s 20th birthday, and then Mother’s Day with my mother and father, Jack & Patsy Hoag, and with my wife’s parents, John & Wilma Pickrell. We are thankful for everyone’s commitment to God and, to the best of their ability, for how each person sets up piety with charity in our family. What about your family? Setting up piety with charity in your family will cost you everything, but the matchless gain is worth the sacrifice. You will be found as children of the Most High!

“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” Jeremiah 17:7-8

“The Christian has a spring of comfort, which he cannot lose; and therefore never wants something to support him. If one have all his riches in money, robbers may take these away, and then what has he more? But though the landed man be robbed of his money, yet his lands remain for his support. They that build their comfort on worldly goods, may quickly be comfortless: but they that are united to Christ, shall find comfort when all the streams of worldly enjoyments are dried up.”

Thomas Boston (1676-1732) in Human Nature in its Fourfold State (Falkirk: Patrick Mair, 1787) 206.

In the days of the Puritans, a “landed man” referred to a person who worked diligently and relied on God to cause his faithful labor to bear fruit. This person trusted God’s design for living, giving, serving, and loving and, as a result, enjoyed a spring of comfort despite the ups and downs of life.  This person was set in contrast to those who accumulated wealth and trusted in what they stored up. That path may seem right but it actually leaves people comfortless because their trust has been misplaced.

My mind went to Jeremiah when reading this quote because the comfort Boston speaks about only comes to us when our trust is rightly placed in God. Where’s your trust? The heat and drought will come. For example, we had a large unexpected car repair bill this week. Perhaps you have experienced a recent loss or trial. Friends, God sees and knows all we are going through, and He invites us to trust Him while continuing to live generous lives. Thank you Lord for the springs of comfort we find in you!

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed; as it is written, “He scattered abroad, he gave to the [working class], His righteousness endures forever.” Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness; you will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God. 2 Corinthians 9:8-11

“Christianity requires the greatest diligence: if we look up to God, what a multitude of things are required of a Christian, to carry himself as he should; a spirit of faith, of love, of joy, and of delight in God above all: and if we look to men, there are duties for a Christian to his superiors, a spirit of subjection; to equals he must show a spirit of love; and to inferiors, a spirit of pity and liberality: if we look to Satan, we have a commandment to watch, and resist the tempter: if we look to the world, it is full of snares, there must be constant spiritual watchfulness, that we be not surprised: and if we look to ourselves, there are many duties required, to carry our vessels in honour, and to walk within the rules of the Holy Ghost, to preserve the peace of our consciences, and always to walk answerably to our dignity, as being the sons of God, and coheirs with Christ. The Christian must dispense with himself in no sin, must be prepared for every good work, and must refrain from no service that God calls him unto. The life of a Christian therefore continually abounds with honorable and profitable employment.”

Richard Sibbes (1577-1635) in Divine Meditations and Holy Contemplations 178 (London: J. Buckland, 1775) 64-65. Sibbes was an Anglican theologian at Cambridge, a preacher in London, and a leading voice among Puritans.

In today’s Scripture, we learn that God blesses faithful workers to be a blessing and that He will continue to supply their generosity or “liberality.” We often miss that in the English reading where the Greek word, penes, is translated “poor” rather than “working class.” Working class is a much better rendering of penes, which describes those who work, as we say “from paycheck to paycheck,” in contrast to the ptochos which are the “destitute poor.”

In Divine Meditations and Holy Contemplations, Sibbes reminds us that “honorable and profitable employment” is to diligently fulfill our Christian duties, and among them, is liberality or generosity to those in need. This is our prayer for our son, Sammy, who graduates today with honors (and no debt!) with a bachelors degree in biology from Colorado Christian University, finishing in only three years. Congratulations, Samuel David Hoag!

If you are anywhere near Littleton, Colorado, join us today for Sammy’s graduation party. Reply and I’ll email you our townhouse address. Whether or not you can make it, remind the graduates in your life likewise to pursue such “honorable and profitable employment,” which is far more important than any job, because we are workers for God, not for money. Fair wages are only a byproduct of faithful work and liberality is the mark of a Christian worker.

So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:31-33

“Christ is such a golden mine of wisdom, grace, and glory, that neither saints nor angels can ever fathom their depth in Him; there is both fullness and sweetness. Nor does a Christian need necessaries — in Christ he has unsearchable riches.”

Thomas Watson (1620-1686) in Puritan Gems or Wise and Holy Sayings of the Rev. Thomas Watson, A.M. (London: Snow & Ward, 1850) 17.

While reading “Puritan Gems” I stumbled on this one. I needed to hear it today. “Nor does a Christian need necessaries — in Christ he has unsearchable riches.” It sent me back to the Sermon on the Mount which reminded me that Christ is the only “necessary” for every single person!

In Christ we have everything have ever needed, everything we need, and everything we will ever need in the future. Alternatively, the pagans, that is, those who don’t know any better, spend themselves to acquire “necessaries” they think they need to live. Let’s show the world Christ is our all sufficiency!

Father in heaven, thank you for Jesus Christ, in whom we have unsearchable riches. Remind us, by your Holy Spirit, to mine His unfathomable depths in our times of need. Help us do this so the world sees and knows your fullness and sweetness. Amen.

One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. Proverbs 11:24-25

“Wealth in the hand of a worldling is like blood in the hand, which is good for nothing; but wealth in the hand of a charitable Christian is like water in the hand, which may be of use both to a man’s self and others.

By what has been said, there is nothing more evident that this: that men of public spirits, and men of charitable spirits, of all men on earth are (1) to be most highly prized; (2) most cordially loved; and (3) most greatly honored.”

Thomas Brooks (1608-1680) in “Epistle Dedicatory” in The Complete Works of Thomas Brooks, ed. by Rev. Alexander Balloch Grosart (Edinburgh: James Nichol, 1866) 247.

The language of the Puritans is colorful. This is the third or fourth writer I have explored in the last week that has used the term “worldling” to describe people who follow the thinking of the world. Here Brooks contrasts the worldling to the “charitable” follower of Christ.

I love his use of the word “charitable” because any wealth that we possess is a gift of “grace” for us to enjoy and share (charis in Greek means “grace”). Those who live charitably are prized, loved, and honored. Do you live charitably? It means to give generously to others whether they are deserving or not.

This is the season of graduation ceremonies here in the States. My prayer for graduates today (our son Sammy included) is that each one will chose to live not as a worldling, but rather, as a charitable Christian. Let’s model the way for them, shall we?

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” Hebrews 13:5-6

“The Lord will stand by His people, and deliver them, when it shall be for His glory. Now, till we come to this courage and constancy of mind, and fearlessness of men, we never have the generosity of Christians…

It goeth near to the hearts of worldlings to part with their necessary and convenient earthly comforts; but to a believer it is more easy, for heaven is infinitely better and more precious than all the wealth of the world.

If the world be our darling, or any created comfort be overvalued, it will fill our hearts with sorrow to be deprived of it. A Christian, that hath heaven in hope and reversion, cannot be poor; he is richer than all worldly men, though God’s providence hath given him little, or left him little.”

Thomas Manton (1622-1677) in Sermon II on John 14:1 in The Works of Thomas Manton (London: J. Nisbet & Company, 1874) 354.

Do you have this constancy of mind? Only when a Christian believes that he or she has everything in the Lord, can he or she let go of earthly comforts. The key is not to overvalue anything here on earth as “worldlings” do. Easier said than done.

Notice Manton said it is not easy but “more easy” for the believer to grasp this because, while we cannot comprehend heaven and the rewards that await us, we have a glimpse of it. It’s infinitely better than anything we can acquire, better than “all the wealth of the world.”

Manton’s advice for us today is clear: we will never have the generosity of Christians if we don’t hold fast to the notion that the Lord is our Helper. Is the Lord your helper? Or perhaps, if I asked a close friend or family member if the Lord is your helper, what would that person say?

Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues with injustice. Proverbs 16:8

“There is a secret dew of God’s goodness and blessing upon him in his estate that others have not: and by all this you may see the meaning of that Scripture, Proverbs 16:8. A man that hath but a little, yet if he hath it with righteousness, it is better than a great deal without right; yea better than the great revenues of the wicked…Not only the good things that he hath, he hath the dew of God’s blessing in them, and they are very sweet to him; but all the afflictions, all the evils that do befall him, he can see love in them all, and can enjoy the sweetness of love in his afflictions, as well as in his mercies.”

Jeremiah Burroughs (1600-1646) in Sermon III on Philippians 4:11 in The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment (London: W. Bentley, 1651) 30.

I am fly fishing with my son, Sammy, today!

We are starting the celebration early as this coming Saturday he will graduate with honors from Colorado Christian University in three years with a biology degree. While he’s had his share of ups and downs, enjoying both times of sweetness and affliction, he is learning to see God’s love and mercies through it all, which is cause for even greater joy that getting a diploma. In the words of Jeremiah Burroughs, he sees “the secret dew of God’s blessings” covering everything in his life with God’s love and mercies!

What’s this got to do with generosity?

While life will be filled with joys and disappointments, those who choose the path of righteousness (think: “God’s way”) find themselves free to live, give, serve, and love because they get their role in God’s plan is not so much to do things for God but to model life with God. That’s where Sammy is at. He has no debt, a great education, and a “little” money with righteousness as Solomon put it. And as he lives faithfully, God will likely entrust him with more and expand his territory.

What’s this mean for the graduates in our lives?

Remind graduates these days who have worked hard and have an exciting future ahead of them that more important than the “diploma” is the seeing “the secret dew of God’s blessings” in life — seeing how His love and mercies cover everything — and urge them to be faithful with the “little” that they have. In academic terms, this is the prerequisite to greater stewardship responsibilities in God’s economy. It’s also the pathway that leads graduates to live generous lives!

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28

“By its being thus ordered, that the creature should have so absolute and universal a dependence on God, provision is made that God should have our whole souls, and should be the object of our undivided respect. If we had our dependence partly on God, and partly on something else, man’s respect would be divided to those different things on which he had dependence. Thus it would be if we depended on God only for a part of our good, and on ourselves, or some other being, for another part: or if we had our good only from God, and through another that was not God, and in something else distinct from both, our hearts would be divided between the good itself, and Him from whom, and Him through whom, we received it. But now there is no occasion for this, God being not only He from or of whom we have all good, but also through whom, and is that good itself, that we have from Him and through Him. So that whatsoever there is to attract our respect, the tendency is still directly towards God, all unites in Him as the centre.”

Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) in a sermon entitled “God’s Glorified in Man’s Dependence” in The Works of Jonathan Edwards, A.M. edited by Edward Hickman (London: Ball, Arnold & Company, 1840) 6.

One blessing from my time with my daughter, Sophie, while driving nearly 1,100 miles together these past two days has been (in the words of Jonathan Edwards) her “undivided respect” for God. She mentioned numerous times how thankful she is that “God causes all things to work together for good” in her life. Today’s Scripture has been formative for her. Her dependence and trust in God is the bedrock for her generosity toward others. It’s beautiful to see.

Edwards discerns keenly that if there be any thread of independence within us, that is trusting ourselves or anything or anyone apart from God, our hearts will be divided between God and that other thing or other one. How can we see if we have undivided respect toward God? That’s not an easy question for any of us to answer honestly. A glimpse at things like our bank accounts, our credit card statements, and our schedules may offer clues.

Perhaps take a few minutes today, and ask God this question: Is there anything or anyone in my life that I am depending on in addition to or other than God? Friends, it’s easy to follow the path of the Israelites who worshiped the golden calf instead of the God who gave them the golden calf (cf. Exodus 32-34). Whatever comes to mind, let go of it. Make God the center of your trust. And find peace in the care of the God who works all things for our good.