Archives by: Gary Hoag

“God demands the affection of the heart, which is in our own power…For what would the giving of one’s whole property benefit without charity?

There are some who aim at the credit of generosity for pride alone, because they wish thereby to gain the good opinion of the multitude for leaving nothing to themselves; but whilst they are seeking rewards in this life, they are laying up none for the life to come, and having received their reward here they cannot hope for it there.

Some again, having, through impulsive excitement and not after long consideration, given their possessions to the Church, think that they can claim them back. These gain neither the first nor the second reward, for the gift was made thoughtlessly, its recall sacrilegiously.”

Aurelius Ambrosius (340-397), or Ambrose of Milan, was a bishop and doctor of the church. This excerpt comes from his work, Concerning Repentance, Book II, Chapter IX.

Ambrose announces that our giving must be accompanied with charity, that is, grace-filled love (cf. 1 Corinthians 13:3). Without this “affection of the heart” our giving in meaningless. Remember, we don’t give because the God we serve has deficiencies. God does not need our money; He wants our hearts.

I greatly distain letters from ministries that overemphasize how needs won’t be met unless I give. They exhibit a frazzled trust in people as the source of support. Conversely, I love letters that challenge me to think about God’s generosity toward me and the grace I have received. When I reflect on God’s abundance, the “affection of my heart” grows, and with it, my gratitude and generosity.

If you send such letters, please direct your audience to consider on God’s abundant grace rather than your temporal needs, and ask them to pray with you for God’s provision, thus exhibiting your trust in God as your Provider.

Our giving must also be accompanied with humility rather than the pride. Those who give to get recognition, have received their reward in full (cf. Matthew 6:1-4). Simultaneously, let us resolve not to give thoughtlessly or sacrilegiously. There must be an intentionality and a sincerity to our giving. How we handle money is important to Jesus because where our treasure is, there our heart will be also (cf. Matthew 6:21). He wants our hearts!

If you, or perhaps more specifically, your heart needs help with this, call your local National Christian Foundation office. I had the privilege of speaking at a luncheon yesterday for their Colorado office and was reminded afresh by Bryan Chrisman of the wonderful services, support, and spiritual insight they offer from their offices around the country.

“For the method of godliness consists of these two things, pious doctrines and virtuous practice: and neither are the doctrines acceptable to God apart from good works, nor does God accept the works which are not perfected with pious doctrines. For what profit is it, to know well the doctrines concerning God, and yet to be a vile fornicator? And again, what profit is it, to be nobly temperate, and an impious blasphemer?”

Cyril of Jerusalem (c. 313-386) was an early church theologian, bishop, and one the doctors of the church. Here he is recounted in Lecture IV. “On the Ten Points of Doctrine”.

Constantine stationed bishops in the various regions of the Roman Empire. Cyril presided as bishop over Caesarea Maritima (modern day Israel and Palestine). He taught “pious doctrine coupled with virtuous practice” passionately. You can’t have one without the other! No more impious blaspheming and vile fornication. He echoed the Apostle Paul who announced: we were dead, but God made alive in Christ by His grace, and our good works are the way of life that God designed for us.

You were dead through the trespasses and sins in which you once lived, following the course of this world, following the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work among those who are disobedient. All of us once lived among them in the passions of our flesh, following the desires of flesh and senses, and we were by nature children of wrath, like everyone else. But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God—not the result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life. Ephesians 2:1-10.

“For thy stewardship of these corruptible things thy reward shall be glory everlasting, a crown of righteousness, the heavenly kingdom…Thy heart is so fixed on the present that thou despisest what is waited for in hope. Come then; dispose of thy wealth in various directions. Be generous and liberal in thy expenditure on the poor. Let it be said of thee, He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever.

Do not press heavily on necessity and sell for great prices. Do not wait for a famine before thou openest thy barns. He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him. Watch not for a time of want for gold’s sake — for public scarcity to promote thy private profit…Thou keepest thine eye on thy gold, and wilt not look at thy brother…Thou canst not tell who is thy brother in the day of distress.”

Basil of Caesarea (330-379) bishop of Caesarea Mazaca in Cappadocia, also known as one of the Cappadocian Fathers, in Homily VI on Luke 12:18 on selfish wealth and greed.

A generous person will be enriched, and one who gives water will get water. The people curse those who hold back grain, but a blessing is on the head of those who sell it. Proverbs 11:25-26

In reading Basil’s homily and related Scriptures this morning this phrase stuck with me: “Do not wait for a famine before thou openest thy barns.” Basil exhorts us to be generous at all times, not just in crisis, and to shift our eyes off gold and on to people. What do you possess that you could be generous with toward people today?

“Do not put your wages into a bag with holes, but you lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven.”

You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it. Haggai 1:6

Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Matthew 6:20

Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus, a.k.a. St. Jerome (c. 347-420) priest, monk, and doctor of the church. He wrote this letter to a blind church leader to encourage him. This excerpt comes from Letter LXXVI. To Abigaus.

In the larger letter Jerome exhorts Abigaus to adopt a posture of repentance for sin, to not grieve because he is blind but pray for eyes to see the spiritual harvest (cf. John 4:35), to resist temptations, to care for a widow, and of course, to handle money as the Master instructs us.

In plain terms, we should buy the food and clothes we need, and beyond that, direct the resources in our stewardship to God’s eternal kingdom rather than just buy more and more earthly things. Also, when we work and store up money for ourselves, ironically, we actually put it in a purse with holes.

This ancient correspondence between an early church doctor and an early church leader exhibits both a knowledge of the Scriptures and a call to obedience. Jerome was known for short quips, which tweet well today. Share his wisdom through your social network!

“How absurd it would be to grasp at money and throw away health; and to be lavish of the cleansing of the body, but economical over the cleansing of the soul; and to seek for freedom from earthly slavery, but not to care about heavenly freedom; and to make every effort to be splendidly housed and dressed, but to have never a thought how you yourself may become really very precious…

Sow in good season, and gather together, and open thy barns when it is the time to do so; and plant in season, and let the clusters be cut when they are ripe, and launch boldly in spring, and draw thy ship on shore again at the beginning of winter, when the sea begins to rage…if you will follow Solomon’s advice. And it is best to do so, for the advice is profitable. But the work of your salvation is one upon which you should be engaged at all time…

Gregory of Nazianzus (330-390) Archbishop of Constantinople in Oration XL.XIII-XIV “The Oration of Holy Baptism” preached at Constantinople on 6 January 381.

Sophie turns 18 today! As she launches into adulthood as a committed Christ-follower, my advice to her (and to everyone else reading this) echoes the words of Gregory. The world will want you to focus on everything earthly: Don’t do it. Don’t be distracted. Keep your focus on God and your engagement with the work of your salvation and let the rest take care of itself. These words represent advice I am still learning in adulthood (so I am a slow learner in some areas). Anyway do this and you will shine for Jesus! Happy birthday, Sophie Victoria!

Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me, not only in my presence, but much more now in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Do all things without murmuring and arguing, so that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine like stars in the world. Philippians 2:12-15

“If you find physical pleasure in earthly experiences, use the occasion to praise God for these gifts. Turn your love not on the pleasures but toward their Maker. Otherwise the things that please you will cause you to displease.”

Augustine of Hippo (354-430) in The Confessions of St. Augustine: Modern English Version (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2005) 62.

I returned late last night from three days of fly fishing with my son, Sammy, in Puget Sound, WA. The trip was an unforgettable gift from God! One of my highlights was the way Sammy and I often celebrated “God’s extravagance” and creativity when catching a beautiful Coastal Cutthroat Trout (underwater trout video forthcoming shortly at www.sammysflyshop.com).

With Augustine, we believe that gifts not received rightly can become like gods to us. For example, do we love fly fishing for trout? We enjoy it as a gift from God. Our love, however, is toward the creator of the fish, the One who gave us fish to enjoy and share (we practice catch and release). Today, Sammy and I have 110 reasons to praise God. That’s how many coastal cutthroats and coho salmon we landed in three days. No kidding!

If we cannot learn to enjoy and share God’s blessings as gifts, we can never be generous. Let us consider earthly experiences as gifts, and consequently, celebrate and imitate the generosity of the Giver of all good things (cf. James 1:17)

“It is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful [1 Corinthians 4:1-2]: that is, that he does not appropriate to himself his master’s goods, that he does not as a master lay claim for himself but administer as a steward. For a steward’s part is to administer well the things committed to his charge: not to say that his master’s things are his own; but, on the contrary, that his own are his master’s. Let every one think on these things, both he that hath power in speech and he that possesses wealth, namely, that he hath been entrusted with a master’s goods and that they are not his own; let him not keep them with himself, nor set them down to his own account; but let him impute them unto God who gave them all.”

John Chyrsostom (c. 347-407), Archbishop of Constantinople, in Homilies on the Epistles to the Corinthians X.5. He received the epithet “chrysostomos” (translated from the Greek as “golden mouthed”) because he was an eloquent communicator. He was one of the four doctors of the Eastern Church.

Chrysostom states plainly that we must not “lay claim” to anything we possess for ourselves but rather administer all we possess according to God’s purposes. When we handle God’s resources in this way, we serve as faithful stewards. Everything you and I possess belongs to God. Everything. So let’s administrate great!

“In the splendor of imperial authority, she bestowed abundant proofs of her liberality as well on the inhabitants of the several cities collectively, as on individuals who approached her, at the same time that she scattered largesses among the soldiery with a liberal hand. But especially abundant were the gifts she bestowed on the naked and unprotected poor. To some she gave money, to others an ample supply of clothing: she liberated some from imprisonment, or from the bitter servitude of the mines; others she delivered from unjust oppression, and others again, she restored from exile.”

Flavia Julia Helena (c. 250-330), a.k.a. Empress Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine. She is thought to have significantly shaped her son’s Christian faith. Undoubtedly, she influenced his generosity based on this testimony from Eusebius Pamphilius in The Life of Constantine, Book III, Chapter XLIV “Of Helena’s Generosity and Beneficent Acts.”

I wish I would have discovered this quote before Mother’s Day. Better late than never, I share it today to inspire all women who read these posts to consider the generous influence they can have on the lives of people around them. I especially want to honor one young lady who shines brightly for Jesus: Sophie Victoria Hoag.

Join me in praying for her. She was honored yesterday as the 2015 Valedictorian for Front Range Christian School. Let’s pray specifically that she can have a generous influence through the speech she delivers to her classmates and all who attend the graduation ceremony on Saturday, May 23, 2015. I love you, Sophie!

Imagine a leader with such a generous reputation…

“[Constantine] distributed money largely to those who were in need…and even for the beggars in the forum, miserable and shiftless, he provided, not with money only, or necessary food, but also decent clothing. But in the case of those who had once been prosperous, and had experienced a reverse of circumstances, his aid was still more lavishly bestowed…

Orphans of the unfortunate he cared for as a father, while he relieved the destitution of widows, and cared for them with special solicitude…In short, as the sun, when he rises upon the earth, liberally imparts his rays of light to all, so did Constantine, proceeding at early dawn from the imperial palace…It was scarcely possible to be near him without receiving some benefit, nor did it ever happen that any who had expected to obtain his assistance were disappointed in their hope.”

Eusebius Pamphilius (263-339) in The Life of Constantine Book I, Chapter XLIII. “Constantine’s Liberality to the Poor.” Eusebius also authored the more famous work, Ecclesiastical History, the most comprehensive account available to us today of the early church from the first to the fourth centuries.

Here in The Life of Constantine, Eusebius undoubtedly employs hyperbole, but behind the flowery language is a legacy of generosity. Constantine clearly followed the instructions of his good teacher, Lactantius (featured yesterday). Constantine’s care for the poor demonstrated a radical, biblical shift from prevailing Roman norms to align with the teachings of Jesus (cf. Matthew 25:31-46).

Speaking of good teachers, Sammy and I are fly fishing today in West Puget Sound with 2011 Orvis endorsed Fly Fishing Guide of the Year, Derek Young. Our aim is to learn about catching the Coastal Cutthroat Trout, one of only a few sea run species of trout. As Sammy is a licensed outfitter and fly fishing guide (www.sammysflyshop.com), we are getting some outdoor education and enjoying God’s creation in Washington for a few days, while celebrating the completion of his first year of college.

Today’s post is admittedly long, but there is treasure below for the one who reads these words from the tutor of the first Christian Roman Emperor.

“The ransoming of captives is a great and noble exercise of justice…I greatly prefer this practice of liberality to lavish expenditure on shows…For it is deserving of the greatest praise for those to confer benefit from whom no one expected such conduct. For he who does good to a relative, or neighbour, or friend, either deserves no praise, or certainly no great praise, because he is bound to do it, and he would be impious and detestable if he did not do that which both nature itself and relationship require; and if he does it, he does it not so much for the sake of obtaining glory as of avoiding censure.

But he who does it to a stranger and an unknown person, he truly is worthy of praise, because he was led to do it by kindness only [cf. Luke 6:27-36]. Justice therefore exists there, where there is no obligation of necessity for conferring a benefit. He ought not therefore to have preferred this duty of generosity to expenditure on shows; for this is the part of one making a comparison, and of two goods choosing that which is the better…

Nor is it less a great work of justice to protect and defend orphans and widows who are destitute and stand in need of assistance; and therefore that divine law prescribes this to all, since all good judges deem that it belongs to their office to favour them with natural kindness, and to strive to benefit them. But these works are especially ours, since we have received the law, and the words of God Himself giving us instructions. For they perceive that it is naturally just to protect those who need protection, but they do not perceive why it is so. For God, to whom everlasting mercy belongs, on this account commands that widows and orphans should be defended and cherished…

Some one will perhaps say: If I shall do all these things, I shall have no possessions. For what if a great number of men shall be in want, shall suffer cold, shall be taken captive, shall die, since one who acts thus must deprive himself of his property even in a single day, shall I throw away the estate acquired by my own labour or by that of my ancestors, so that after this I myself must live by the pity of others?

Why do you so pusillanimously fear poverty, which even your philosophers praise, and bear witness that nothing is safer and nothing more calm than this? That which you fear is a haven against anxieties. Do you not know to how many dangers, to how many accidents, you are exposed with these evil resources? These will treat you well if they shall pass without your bloodshed. But you walk about laden with booty, and you bear spoils which may excite the minds even of your own relatives. Why, then, do you hesitate to lay that out well which perhaps a single robbery will snatch away from you, or a proscription suddenly arising, or the plundering of an enemy? Why do you fear to make a frail and perishable good everlasting, or to entrust your treasures to God as their preserver, in which case you need not fear thief and robber, nor rust, nor tyrant? He who is rich towards God can never be poor.”

Lucius Caecilius Firmianus Lactantius (c. 260-330) known as “Lactantius” for short, was the pupil of Arnobius (highlighted yesterday) and the personal teacher to the first Christian Roman Emperor, Constantine (272-337). His work, which endeavored to teach the heathen how to live Christianly, is titled, The Divine Institutes, and this excerpt comes from Book VI “On True Worship” and Chapter XII “Of the kinds of beneficence, and works of mercy.”

Here Lactantius teaches Constantine (and us) that setting captives free is a better use of money than heading to a show. It’s fine to go to shows on special occasions, but life is more than entertainment. God has placed us here to care for widows, orphans, and the sick (cf. Matthew 25:31-46). He also instructs that we deploy financial resources at our disposal toward such efforts, all the while not fearing poverty, but storing up treasures in heaven. Then he announces (I believe rightly!) that the one “who is rich towards God can never be poor.” Amen! I will undoubtedly recount this quote in a sermon I am preparing to deliver in Korea on 21 June 2015 on the text below.

Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.” But he said to him, “Friend, who set me to be a judge or arbitrator over you?” And he said to them, “Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.” Then he told them a parable: “The land of a rich man produced abundantly. And he thought to himself, ‘What should I do, for I have no place to store my crops?’ Then he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.’ But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich toward God.” Luke 12:13-21