Archives by: Gary Hoag

You shall not charge interest to your countrymen: interest on money, food, or anything that may be loaned at interest. Deuteronomy 23:19

“There is one bit of advice given to us by the ancient heathen Greeks, and by the Jews in the Old Testament, and by the great Christian teachers of the Middle Ages, which the modern economic system has completely disobeyed. All these people told us not to lend money at interest; and lending money at interest—what we call investment—is the basis of our whole system. Now it may not absolutely follow that we are wrong.

Some people say that when Moses and Aristotle and the Christians agreed in forbidding interest (or ‘usury’ as they called it), they could not foresee the joint stock company, and were only thinking of the private money-lender, and that, therefore, we need not bother about what they said. That is a question I cannot decide on. I am not an economist and I simply do not know whether the investment system is responsible for the state we are in or not.

This is where we want the Christian economist. But I should not have been honest if I had not told you that the three great civilizations agreed (or so it seems at first sight) in condemning the very thing on which we have based our whole life. One more point and I am done. In the passage where the New Testament says that everyone must work, it gives as a reason ‘in order that he may have something to give to those in need’ [Ephesians 4:28]. Charity—giving to the poor—is an essential part of Christian morality: in the frightening parable of the sheep and the goats it seems to be the point on which everything turns. Some people nowadays say that charity ought to be unnecessary and that instead of giving to the poor we ought to be producing a society in which there were no poor to give to.

They may be quite right in saying that we ought to produce that kind of society. But if anyone thinks that, as a consequence, you can stop giving in the meantime, then he has parted company with all Christian morality. I do not believe one can settle how much we ought to give. I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare. In other words, if our expenditure on comforts, luxuries, amusements, etc, is up to the standard common among those with the same income as our own, we are probably giving away too little. If our charities do not at all pinch or hamper us, I should say they are too small. There ought to be things we should like to do and cannot do because our charitable expenditure excludes them. I am speaking now of “charities” in the common way.

Particular cases of distress among your own relatives, friends, neighbours or employees, which God, as it were, forces upon your notice, may demand much more: even to the crippling and endangering of your own position. For many of us the great obstacle to charity lies not in our luxurious living or desire for more money, but in our fear—fear of insecurity. This must often be recognised as a temptation. Sometimes our pride also hinders our charity; we are tempted to spend more than we ought on the showy forms of generosity (tipping, hospitality) and less than we ought on those who really need our help.”

C.S. Lewis (1898-1963) in Mere Christianity (New York: Harper One, 1980) 85-87.

While I have previous quoted a portion of this meditation, in his exploration of “Social Morality” I believe Lewis puts his finger on the fundamental flaw in the economy of this world. Work should not driven by greed for personal gain and investment rooted in usury. We work to have something to enjoy and share. Consequently, in the economy of God all investments are based not on usury but linked to generosity, which Jesus describes as storing up treasures in heaven.

Rather than comment any further myself, listen to the concluding comments of Lewis for this section of Mere Christianity (one of my top-ten all-time favorite books)! They are most fitting for American readers today because of the political climate in which we find ourselves, though applicable all around the world.

“And now, before I end, I am going to venture on a guess as to how this section has affected any who have read it. My guess is that there are some Leftist people among them who are very angry that it has not gone further in that direction, and some people of an opposite sort who are angry because they think it has gone much too far. If so, that brings us right up against the real snag in all this drawing up of blueprints for a Christian society. Most of us are not really approaching the subject in order to find out what Christianity says: we are approaching it in the hope of finding support from Christianity for the views of our own party.

We are looking for an ally where we are offered either a Master or—a Judge. I am just the same. There are bits in this section that I wanted to leave out. And that is why nothing whatever is going to come of such talks unless we go a much longer way round. A Christian society is not going to arrive until most of us really want it: and we are not going to want it until we become fully Christian. I may repeat “Do as you would be done by” till I am black in the face, but I cannot really carry it out till I love my neighbour as myself: and I cannot learn to love my neighbour as myself till I learn to love God: and I cannot learn to love God except by learning to obey Him. And so, as I warned you, we are driven on to something more inward—driven on from social matters to religious matters. For the longest way round is the shortest way home.”

One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. Proverbs 11:24

“Generous giving contributes to abundance and withholding to shortage and scarcity. The operative word in the text is ‘freely’. There is something about generous (and wise) giving that does something not only for those who are the recipients of the giving but for the giver also. Those who hold on to what they have and refuse to be generous towards those less fortunate than themselves may not experience poverty in financial terms, but they will undoubtedly experience it in spiritual terms. And there can be nothing worse than poverty of soul.”

Selwyn Hughes in Divine Mathematics: A Biblical Perspective on Investing in God’s Kingdom (Surrey, UK: CWR, 2004) 9. Special thanks to Cameron Doolittle of Generosity Path for recommending this wonderful little book.

Living according to “Divine Mathematics” results in abundance and spiritual richness, whereas following the world’s system leads to scarcity and poverty of soul. Only those who live into the abundance paradigm, which requires faith, ever grasp it.

This is not about prosperity gospel, in which giving is about getting material wealth in return. This is about learning to give ‘freely’ rooted in the realization that all we have came to us ‘freely’ by grace from God. The function of the word ‘freely’ truly does determine a person’s spiritual richness or poverty.

To look at it another way, when we live according to “Divine Mathematics” (as Hughes puts it) we realize we are not simply end-users of all that comes to us, but rather distributors of God’s love and care. When we don’t let it flow through us, we are the ones who miss out, and as a result, we experience scarcity and the spiritual poverty that comes with it.

Remember the words of Jesus Himself. Freely you have received; freely give. Matthew 10:8b

Do you give freely?

Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the Kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. Luke 12:32-33

“The tangible resources of God’s Kingdom have been placed at our disposal. We have the privilege of investing those resources–not just our money, but our time, possessions, ideas, relationships, skills, spiritual gifts, and so forth–to produce positive results for the Kingdom. The progress of God’s work depends to some extent upon how we utilize the ample resources that He has entrusted to us. You are, in effect, a portfolio manager for the Kingdom of God…

God has given you the checkbook and told you to invest it in whatever ways will bring about the best outcomes for His glory and purposes. And, of course, you will be evaluated for how wisely you invested those resources. It has often been said that you can tell a person’s priorities by examining his or her checkbook. If someone were to examine your checkbook–as well as your schedule and personal goals–what message would he or she receive?”

Frank Viola and George Barna in Pagan Christianity?: Exploring the Roots of our Church Practices (Carol Stream: Tyndale, 2008) 257-258.

“Portfolio Manager” is great word picture for our role in investing God’s resources. I wrote a one-page article called “Spiritual Formation and Stewardship” back in 2006. It includes a “Stewardship Portfolio” that may be helpful for you to maximize your stewardship of the gifts and goods that God has entrusted to you. Click here to read or download it. Feel free to share it with others as well. The goal is that our actions send the message that we are faithful and generous portfolio managers for God.

The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning. Lamentations 3:22-23

“The more we depend on God, the more dependable we will find He is.”

Cliff Richard in The Westminster Collection of Christian Quotations, edited by Martin H. Manser (Louisville: WJKP, 2001) 383.

Richard rightly exhorts us to depend on God, for when we do we realize, by experience, that He is more dependable than we could have imagined.

Related to generosity, we will never grow in the grace of giving unless we place our trust in His love and faithful care. Do you trust Him?

But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? Acts 5:3

“Not how much we give, but what we do not give, is the test of our Christianity.”

Oswald Chambers in The Westminster Collection of Christian Quotations, edited by Martin H. Manser (Louisville: WJKP, 2001) 122.

When I teach through the Scriptures on generosity, when I get to Ananias and Sapphira, I remind my students to be honest about their giving and to not hold anything back from God.

Chambers likely calls this “the test of Christianity” because it reveals whether our trust is in God or in ourselves based on what we have held back. Would you pass this test?

Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, what God in His kindness has done through the churches in Macedonia. They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity. 2 Corinthians 8:1-2

“I recently heard the testimony of a pastor who took his youth group to Guatemala on a mission trip. They visited the trash dump on the outskirts of town and met the people who make their living by picking through the garbage.

Later, they visited a local church where the people from the dump would gather for a meal every day—a meal freely provided by the church. When the pastor asked how this outreach ministry was funded (assuming of course, that funding for such a ministry would come from donors in the USA or wealthier people in Guatemala), he was surprised by the answer. The local church members who work in the dump give generously from their meager earnings so that their neighbors could also have food!

The gift didn’t come from some outside wealthy anonymous, faceless, organization. It didn’t come from child sponsors or a relief committee in the USA or Europe. Rather the food was freely given by the poorest of the poor—Christians who daily demonstrate the love of Christ to their neighbors in the most tangible and personal way through radical generosity!

This powerful story illustrates one simple truth: The ministry of giving is for everyone!”

Ron Frey in “Giving is For Everyone!” blog post dated 1 August 2016 on the new Ministry Fundraising Network website. Check it out!

The Ministry Fundraising Network (MFN) serves the global church and its ministries by directly helping leaders and financial development staff with biblical fundraising motivation, strategy, best practices and national accreditation councils for financial accountability.

This is a great story to launch the MFN blog! What I love most about the Macedonian and the Guatemalan generosity is that God is clearly seen through their sacrificial and unexpectedly generous giving. Is God clearly see through your life? Does your giving surprise or exceed anyone’s expectations?

Jesus sat down near the collection box in the Temple and watched as the crowds dropped in their money. Many rich people put in large amounts. Then a poor widow came and dropped in two small coins. Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions. For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on.” Mark 12:41-44

“Jesus commended the incredible sacrifice which even this small gift represented…Our giving is ultimately not about meeting the church budget. Obviously, we have a responsibility to maintain and nurture the church ministries to which we are connected. But even if the budgetary needs are met, it is still our responsibility to give…Mathematically, the two coins the widow offered added practically nothing to the total offering. It is about obedience and sacrifice…I have called the widow’s gift “the mighty mite.” We can learn much from this poor widow. The owner of nothing, being watched by the owner of all things.”

Timothy C. Tennent in “The Mighty Mite” blog post dated 7 August 2016.

More and more voices are echoing the truth that giving is not about meeting the church budget but about obedience and sacrifice. Perhaps the most profound statement by Tennent was his last line: “The owner of nothing, being watched by the owner of all things.” The only kind of giving Jesus celebrated was the kind that left the giver completely dependent on the LORD. In that light, what each of us does not give reveals more about our hearts that what we do give. Take inventory. Are you holding anything back from the Lord?

Make every effort to add to your faith excellence, to excellence, knowledge; to knowledge, self-control; to self-control, perseverance; to perseverance, godliness; to godliness, brotherly affection; to brotherly affection, unselfish love. For if these things are really yours and are continually increasing, they will keep you from becoming ineffective and unproductive in your pursuit of knowing our Lord Jesus Christ more intimately. 2 Peter 1:5b-8

“Generosity describes the Christian’s unselfish willingness to give in order to make a positive difference. Extravagant Generosity describes practices of sharing and giving that exceed all expectations and extend to unexpected measures. Fruitful congregations thrive because of extraordinary sharing, willing sacrifice, and joyous giving out of love for God and neighbor.

Such churches focus on the abundance of God’s grace and emphasize the Christians need to give rather than the church’s need for money. In the spirit and manner of Christ, congregations that practice extravagant generosity explicitly talk about money in the Christian’s walk of faith. They are driven to be generous by a high sense of mission and a keen desire to please God by making a positive difference in the world.”

Robert Schnase in Cultivating Fruitfulness: Five Weeks of Prayer and Practice for Congregations (Nashville: Abingdon, 2008).

The Apostle Peter desired that the Jewish Christians dispersed across the ancient world were effective and productive in their pursuit of knowing Jesus Christ. To do this they had to make every effort to put on specific virtues, and ultimately, unselfish love.

Likewise today, Schnase urges to make a positive difference but cultivating congregations with an “unselfish willingness to give.” I especially like how the talk about money in these churches is not about the church budget but about each Christian’s walk of faith.

Read through the Apostle Peter’s list again in the biblical text above. He says make every effort to add all those virtues to your life. It seems that unselfish love is listed last because it binds them all together. God help each of us to exhibit unselfish love so that our willingness to give looks like You to the world. Amen.

But since you excel in everything–in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you–see that you also excel in this grace of giving. 2 Corinthians 8:7

“Your people need to give more importantly than your church needs to receive offering. People need to grow spiritually more than church bank accounts need to be filled financially. Yes, there are salaries to pay, buildings to maintain, ministries to fund. Those are critical. But more important than all those things, God’s children need to be reminded that giving is essential to a real walk and relationship with Him. Don’t let messaging on giving orbit around the needs of your church. Your folks need it more than your church does.”

Jeff Anderson in Acceptable Gift email dated 12 July 2016.

Jeff is a an author and speaker I deeply respect in the generosity space. I also consider him a friend and brother as we have spent much time together talking, eating pizza, and fly fishing.

His words on this Lord’s day ring so true. Don’t talk about giving at your church because you need money or because the church budget is in the red. Talk about it because it’s a vital aspect of spiritual growth.

When we give, it changes us. It conforms us into the image of the Giver. Sure, needs are met, budgets are funded, but those are secondary to the work God wants to do in each of our lives.

For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not? 1 Corinthians 4:7

“What do you have in your hands, heart and life today? I believe you have enough to do whatever it is that God wants you to do, today. Not necessarily tomorrow. Today. Take a look around you. Take stock. What do you already have? Who do you already know? What gifts, talents, skills have you already been given? Use those. Today. But use them for God’s glory, because they all came from Him.”

Vanessa Hall in 1 August 2016 blog post entitled ‘Enough’ is a ‘trust’ word.

Hall serves on the advisory board of the CMA Standards Council. CMASC is the Australian equivalent to ECFA in the USA. It’s been a privilege for me to get acquainted with her. She’s passionate about trust, and in this post, rightly connects faithful stewardship and trust.

All we have in our hands, our abilities and resources, are gifts from God to use to make known His grace. Today, that means each of us has enough for whatever God has in store for us. As the parable of the talents reminds us, let us put what he has entrusted to us to work. Today! To do this obediently requires trust.

What stops us? We believe (wrongly!) the messages of the world. They are lies. In today’s NT reading above, it appears that the Apostle Paul had to combat such wrong thinking in Corinth.

One lie says, “You don’t have enough.” So fear of lacking immobilizes us to put what we have to work and even causes us to accumulate what we are supposed to be distributing for God. We forget that five loaves and two fish fed 5,000 people when put to work for God.

Another lie adds “All you have is yours and came from your own hard work.” This lie denies the truth that God gave us the ability to be fruitful and productive in the first place (cf. Deuteronomy 8:18).

Father, forgive us for focusing on what we don’t have. Open our eyes to realize that what is in our hands, heart and lives is ‘enough’. Show us by your Holy Spirit how to put these gifts to work today for your glory. Strengthen our trust in You! Do this work in our lives I pray in the matchless name of Jesus. Amen.