Archives by: Gary Hoag

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:21

“Giving to the mission and ministry of others is established as a biblical indicator of spiritual health…In fact, if we’re not giving to the gospel ministry, we have no part in it. “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21). What we do with our resources is a window into our souls. The question is, what does God see when He looks in?”

R. Kent Hughes in Philippians: The Fellowship of the Gospel (Wheaton: Crossway, 2007) 190.

After more than a day of travel, John Van Drunen and I are thankful to have arrived safely in Nairobi, Kenya. We are positioned to serve the AfCAA board and committees this week, in part, thanks to God’s enablement, and also because ECFA believes in serving brothers and sisters around the world and backs that belief with financial resources.

Hughes makes a powerful point here: “What we do with our resources is a window into our souls.” How we handle God’s resources tells more about what we believe about God than our lips do. If you think there’s room for growth in your life in giving, ask God what mission or ministry you should add to your budget for regular support.

How I praise the Lord that you are concerned about me again. I know you have always been concerned for me, but you didn’t have the chance to help me. Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Philippians 4:10-13

“Paul’s point is that he has learned to live in either want or plenty through the enabling of Christ. Being in Christ, not being self-sufficient, has rendered both want and wealth of little or no significance…Either “want” or “wealth” can have a deleterious affect on one’s life, those in “want” because their “want” consumes them, those in “wealth” because their “wealth” does the same…Those in “want” learn patience and trust in suffering; those in “wealth” learn humility and dependence in prospering, not to mention the joy of giving without strings attached.”

Gordon Fee in Paul’s Letter to the Philippians (NICNT; Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1995) 435-436.

I love Fee’s expression that the Apostle Paul learned to live according to “the enabling of Christ” rather than levels of financial resources. The Apostle Paul is writing his letter to the Philippians about 30 years into his spiritual journey, so it is encouraging to know that it took him time to figure this out. He learned it through the ups and downs of life. We get to do the same thing.

This meditation will post about the time I arrive in Nairobi, Kenya. John Van Drunen and I have much teaching and many meetings scheduled here. We desire to bless all those we have come to serve with love. We are richly prepared because we count on “the enabling of Christ” not any measure of wealth. Pray for a fruitful week of ministry and service.

Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:4

“A large part of the pain of life comes from the haunting “fear of evil” which so often besets us. Our lives are full of supposes. Suppose this should happen, or suppose that should happen; what could we do; how could we bear it? But, if we are living in the “high tower” of the dwelling place of God, all these supposes will drop out of our lives. We shall be “quiet from the fear of evil,” for no threatenings of evil can penetrate into the “high tower” of God. Even when walking through the valley of the shadow of death, the psalmist could say, “I will fear no evil”; and, if we are dwelling in God, we can say so too.

But you may ask here how you are to get into this divine dwelling place. To this I answer that you must simply move in. If a house should be taken for us by a friend, and we were told it was ready, and that the lease and all the necessary papers were duly attested and signed, we should not ask how we could get into it—we should just pack up and move in. And we must do the same here. God says that He is our dwelling place, and the Bible contains all the necessary papers, duly attested and signed. And our Lord invites us, nay more, commands us to enter in and abide there.

Hannah Whitall Smith (1832-1911) in her classic work, The God of All Comfort, excerpt from chapter 8 entitled “The Lord our Dwelling Place”.

“Fear of evil” is a leading hindrance to generosity globally. This fear is rooted in the “supposes” of life as Smith keenly labels them. Thankfully, the Scriptures invite us to “move in” to the high tower of God. The most secure of all places. This is not about living foolishly. On the contrary, it is about finding peace by trusting in the promises of God.

Another leading hindrance to generosity globally is financial corruption. As many of you know, with about one quarter of my time I serve as the International Liaison for ECFA. I help national leaders set up structures to champion financial transparency and accountability to give people confidence to participate generously in God’s work.

Today I board a flight for Washington D.C., where I will meet up with John Van Drunen, SVP of ECFA, and we will fly together to Zurich, Switzerland, and then Nairobi, Kenya. We have been invited to train national leaders and join them in celebrating the formal launch of AfCAA, the African Council for Accreditation and Accountability.

We could allow “fear of evil” or the “supposes” of life keep us from such a journey as many challenges might await us or befall our loved ones back home while we are away through 31 August 2016. Regardless, we go with confidence because we have peace because we reside in the divine dwelling place of God, and because we believe He is with us.

For God knew His people in advance, and he chose them to become like His Son, so that His Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. Romans 8:29

“Since we are what we are by the impacts of those who surround us, those who surround themselves with the highest will be those who change into the highest. There are some men and some women in whose company we are always at our best. While with them we cannot think mean thoughts or speak ungenerous words. Their mere presence is elevation, purification, sanctity. All the best stops in our nature are drawn out by their intercourse, and we find a music in our souls that was never there before.”

Henry Drummond (1851-1897) Scottish Preacher, in his classic message: The Alchemy of Influence.

What impact does your life have on those around you? Does it lift them up? These are good questions to ask as we find ourselves in the “back to school” season, a time when we often interact with new people in various settings.

Listen to the punchline of Drummond’s message. It serves as a fitting charge for each of us, especially every young man or woman headed “back to school” at this time of year: “Make Christ your most constant companion.”

If each of us does that, God will transform us into the highest!

Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Luke 6:38

“This concluding proverb, which is also found in Matthew 7:2 and Mark 4:24, points out that the believer’s behavior toward others will determine God’s behavior toward him or her. The issue is not that human generosity is accorded with the same generosity (no more or no less) from God but that human generosity is rewarded with divine generosity, which is far greater, as the early part of this verse shows.”

Robert H. Stein in Luke (NAC 24; Nashville: B&H Publishing, 1992) 212.

With this proverb (descriptive statement) from Jesus, the Son of God, the declaration is clear: abundant, divine generosity awaits those who are generous. He even uses vivid language to make His point. Might it be that more people are not generous because they simply do not believe Him? Or perhaps people just don’t know about this? Help us Lord in our unbelief so that our lives proclaim Your truth to a skeptical, faith-scarce generation.

Since you excel in so many ways–in your faith, your gifted speakers, your knowledge, your enthusiasm, and your love from us–I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving. 2 Corinthians 8:7

“Paul knew how to move and motivate people by means of sincere praise. There was one other thing they needed, however. They needed to grow in the grace of giving. Paul wanted to them to add generosity to their other virtues. He wanted their generosity to overflow. He wanted them to be richly endowed with this grace.”

John Phillips in Exploring 2 Corinthians: An Expository Commentary (Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2002) 194.

Sammy and Sophie will soon return to college. They have been ordering textbooks and other supplies.

In our “last supper” together last night, I affirmed them and reminded them to “add generosity” to their lives as they head back to school. My prayer is that they abound in it and are richly endowed with this grace, so that all they do reflects the depths of God’s love.

Make it so, Lord Jesus, and richly endow everyone reading the grace of generosity, too.

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

“A lack of generosity refuses to acknowledge that your assets are not really yours, but God’s.”

Tim Keller in Generous Justice: How God’s Grace Makes Us Just (New York: Penguin, 2012) 91.

Jenni and I are updating our estate. The kids are both over 18 so it’s time. As part of the process, we had to complete a questionnaire listing our physical assets for our attorney, a long-time friend.

For the record, these are God’s assets in our stewardship: two Apple computers, two iPhones, two used (but dependable) Toyotas, my biblical studies library, Jenni’s spiritual formation library, fly fishing and other outdoor gear, a coffee maker (and other standard household appliances but the coffee maker is my favorite), some World Series and MLB memorabilia, some clothes and very ordinary furniture, many wonderful pictures (mostly of family members that have precious memories attached to them), various pieces of wall art (some are crosses, other pieces have words on them…some from my parents, others Jenni and I have purchased to make our home feel like a sanctuary), and financial resources in the amount of a few dollars in our bank account.

Our attorney, said, “That’s it?” He persisted in drilling down regarding retirement or savings accounts, IRA, 403b, pension plans, and the like. To which we replied. “All that is stored up in heaven.”

What about you? Take inventory. It’s a good exercise. What amount of God’s assets are in your hands and what does it reveal about your generosity?

Why share openly about our experience? I do it not draw attention to us, but rather to encourage everyone reading this to handle God’s assets in such a manner that your house is in order on earth, and so you are prepared to give an account for your stewardship before God in eternity.

Live by the Spirit, I say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. For what the flesh desires is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit desires is opposed to the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you want. Galatians 5:16-17

“Unless we love natural goods — sex, alcohol, food, money, success, power — in the way God intended, we become their slaves, as any addict can attest. Jesus demonstrated in person how to live freely and fully, and not surprisingly he upset the religious establishment in the process. I cannot imagine anyone following Jesus around for two or three years and commenting, “My, think of all he missed out on.” More than likely they would say, “Think of all I am missing out on.” …

Perhaps the most powerful thing Christians can do to communicate to a skeptical world is to live fulfilled lives, exhibiting proof that Jesus’ way truly leads to a life most abundant and most thirst-satisfying. The fruits of the Spirit — love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control — flow out of a healthy soul and in the process may attract those who have found such qualities elusive or unattainable.”

Philip Yancey in Vanishing Grace: What Ever Happened to the Good News? (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2014).

Our relationship to natural goods such as money shapes our lives. When we idolize money, we exhibit discontentment, greed, selfishness, and many other vices. Or as the Apostle Paul put it in his letter to the Galatians: our flesh prevents us from doing what we want to do.

Alternatively, when (as Yancey notes) we relate to natural goods in the way God intended, that is to say, when we follow the design of Jesus related to things such as money, our fulfilled lives become our greatest witness to a skeptical world.

What fruits are evident in your life and what do they reveal about you? Would others say that you are living a fulfilled life? When we relate rightly to God and natural goods, we don’t miss out on anything. Ironically, it’s the only way to take hold of that which money can’t buy.

And [Jesus] said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.” Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.” Luke 9:22-24

“Our hearts can only know one ruler. Our lives can only follow one leader. Our passions can only focus on one object. Our allegiance can only fall to one Lord. Our choice to follow one ruler means absolute rejection of all alternatives. The object of our love requires us to forsake all others. It’s not who you are leading, but who is leading you that matters!

Commitment to one path and one leader means leaving every other possible route behind. Committing our lives in one direction means absolute death to all other competing possibilities. I know we wish this weren’t so. We wish we could keep our options open, play the field, and explore all possibilities without closing the door on any of them. But in our spiritual lives, a vacillating loyalty is a choice for self-indulgence over the walk of faith.

What is at stake in this decision is the gift of true intimacy with God. It is only when we deny all of the selfish alternatives that we find the life that is lived in the presence and bright countenance of the God who created us for Himself. If we want to know the joy of that life, we have to die to the life that is focused on the self. And out of this death comes freedom, certainty, and the peace of God that passes all understanding.”

R. Scott Rodin in Steward Leader Meditations: Fifty Devotions for the Leadership Journey (Colbert: KLP, 2016) 70. If you are looking for a devotional linked to stewardship leadership, check this one out by my friend, Scott!

This particular excerpt from a meditation struck me because the words “vacillating loyalty” describe what I see in the world today.

In business, people vacillate toward deals or decisions that benefit themselves. In politics, voters vacillate toward candidates and platforms that promise to preserve their way of life. In ministry, congregants vacillate toward churches that meet their needs and organizations that advance the causes they think are most important. At the core, these tendencies reveal our self-centeredness.

What’s all this got to do with generosity? Only those who lose their life will find it. Only those who let go of that which they do not own will take hold of that which money can’t buy. As Scott puts it: the gift of true intimacy with God.

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 21:4

“Giving isn’t sacrificial unless you sacrifice to give. Many professing Christians give only token amounts to the work of God’s kingdom. A much smaller number give well. Perhaps only a few give sacrificially.

Polls consistently show that the more money Americans make, the less sacrificially we give. With each transition to a higher income bracket, the smaller percentage of our income we give each year to churches, charities, and other nonprofit groups. Wouldn’t you agree that if we are making more money than ever but giving a smaller percentage than before, then we are not giving sacrificially? We may be giving larger amounts, but actually sacrificing less financially for the kingdom of God.

I’ve never known anyone who gave sacrificially—whether through a one-time sacrificial gift or consistent sacrificial offerings—who regretted it. Sure, they missed having some of the things they could have enjoyed if they spent the money on themselves. But the joy and fulfillment gained by giving away something they could not ultimately keep was more than worth the sacrifice.”

Donald S. Whitney in Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life, revised and updated (Colorado Springs: NavPress, 2014) 175.

The only kind of giving Jesus celebrated was sacrificial giving. On this note Jenni and I have learned that when we sacrifice, we realize experientially that when Christ is all we have, that He is all we have ever needed all along.

The challenge of sacrificial giving is that it constantly stretches us. We never arrive. It’s not rooted in a percentage but teaches us a posture. Are you giving sacrificially? What changes might you need to make in your life to give sacrificially?