Archives by: Gary Hoag

“To be grateful is to recognize the love of God in everything He has given us—and He has given us everything. Every breath we draw is a gift of His love, every moment of existence is a grace, for it brings with it immense graces from Him. Gratitude therefore takes nothing for granted, is never unresponsive, is constantly awakening to new wonder and to praise of the goodness of God. For the grateful person knows that God is good, not by hearsay but by experience. And that is what makes all the difference.”

Thomas Merton (1915-1968) as recounted by Stephen Macchia in SILENCIO, a resource of Leadership Transformations, Inc., November 2013, eleventh edition.

“God’s great generosity to us sets us free to model that generosity toward others. Because He gave we are enabled to give.”

Richard Foster, Freedom of Simplicity: Finding Harmony in a Complex World (New York: HarperCollins, 2005) 24.

“In the biblical understanding of giftedness, gifts are never really ours for ourselves. We have nothing that was not given us. Our gifts are ultimately God’s, and we are only “stewards”–responsible for the prudent management of property that is not our own. This is why our gifts are always “our for others,” whether in the community of Christ or the broader society outside, especially the neighbor in need.

This is also why it is wrong to treat God as a grand employment agency, a celestial executive searcher to find perfect fits for our perfect gifts. The truth is not that God is finding us a place for our gifts but that God has created us and our gifts for a place of His choosing–and we will only be ourselves when we are finally there.”

Os Guinness, The Call: Finding and Fulfilling the Central Purpose of Your Life (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2993) 46.

“Creation has its origins in God’s own overflowing goodness. It is purely a gift, ‘grace’ in a sense. It did not have to be there and its existence has no other purpose than the reflection and manifestation of God’s goodness.”

Carlo Leget, Living with God: Thomas Aquinas on the Relation between Life on Earth and ‘Life’ after Death (Thomas Insitituut Utrecht, 1997) 70.

“Those who are rich must see God giving them their riches, and giving them to enjoy them richly; for many have riches, but enjoy them poorly, not having a heart to use them…Those are truly rich who are rich in good works…Ministers must not be afraid of the rich; be they ever so rich, they must speak to them, and charge them. They must caution them against pride, and vain confidence in their riches. Stir them up to works of piety and charity. This is the way for the rich to lay up in store for themselves for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.”

Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible. Notes from 1 Tim 6:17-19.

Today I want to honor my “truly rich” mother, Patsy Hoag. It’s her birthday! Few people enjoy and share material and spiritual blessings with such Christ-like generosity. Thanks for being a great example.

“Generosity is a spontaneous movement of the heart to give of oneself and share one’s resources. “What shall I give to the Lord for all the Lord has given to me?” (Psalm 116:2). Christian generosity is first a response to the generosity of God toward us…We have nothing that we have not receive from God. All of this flows from God’s boundless generosity. The very nature of God is to give in unmeasured love.”

Gerald Fagin, Putting on the Heart of Christ (2010) 81.

“What is the burden of poverty? The having of nothing. What is the burden of riches? The having more than is necessary. Both he is laden, and thou art laden.

Bear with him the having nothing, let him bear with thee the having superfluity; that your burdens may be made equal. For if thou givest to the needy, thou dost lessen to him who hath nothing his burden, which was the having nothing; if thou hast given to him, he begins to have; his burden which is called the having nothing is lessened; and he too lessens thy burden, which is called the having superfluity.

Both of you are walking on God’s way in the pilgrimage of this world; thou wast bearing great superfluous wealth, and he had none; he hath joined himself unto thee, desiring to be thy companion; do not neglect, do not despise, do not abandon him. Dost thou not see how much thou art bearing? Give something of it to him who is bearing nothing, and hath nothing, and thou wilt at once assist thy companion, and relieve thyself.”

Augustine (354-430), Bishop of Hippo, Sermon 114 on Galatians 6 “Bear Ye Another’s Burdens” excerpt from section 9.

If I give all I possess to the poor…but do not have love, I gain nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:3

“Though I divide all my real and all my personal estate into small portions (so the original word properly signifies) and diligently bestow it on those who, I have reason to believe, are the most proper objects; yet if I am proud, passionate, or discontented; if I give way to any of these tempers; whatever good I may do to others, I do none to my own soul. O how pitiable a case is this!

Who would not grieve that these beneficent men should lose all their labour! It is true, many of them have a reward in this world, if not before, yet after their death. They have costly and pompous funerals. They have marble monuments of the most exquisite workmanship. They have epitaphs wrote in the most elegant strain, which extol their virtues to the skies. Perhaps they have yearly orations spoken over them, to transmit their memory to all generations.

So have many founders of religious houses, of colleges, alms-houses, and most charitable institutions. And it is an allowed rule, that none can exceed in the praise of the founder of his house, college, or hospital. But still what a poor reward is this! Will it add to their comfort or to their misery, suppose (which must be the case if they did not die in faith) that they are in the hands of the devil and his angels.

What insults, what cutting reproaches, would these occasion from their infernal companions! O that they were wise! That all those who are zealous of good works would put them in their proper place; would not imagine they can supply the want of holy tempers, but take care that they may spring from them!”

John Wesley (1703-1791) excerpt from On Charity, Sermon 91.8.

“You want to change the world? … Stop what you are doing, thrust your body and your wealth in, and let’s get rolling. Are you truly in? Or are there other financial and family constraints holding you back today? … I fear that many people’s legacy will be that “He Worried Better than Anyone Else” … I can hear it now … that will be the theme at our funerals. “He watched CNN, or Fox News, or read the NY Times more than anyone I know. He knew all the issues and looked them up in Wikipedia and Google and cared so much … but DID nothing. This is his “Legacy”. Really?

… Having personal goals that specifically align with your wealth are so much more important than the worries of today. So how do we stay focused? Let’s get in the game of living and nailing these goals and not be someone that leaves this world with regrets and concerns. I would love to walk alongside you serving others that are most important to you, using our wealth to better the world instead of hoarding it, and trusting that history will repeat itself in both the good and the bad. Let’s be the ones to “Finish Well” and die well!”

John A. Scott, excerpt from Q3 edition of Cedrus 180: A Reverse Angle, Well Balanced.

I don’t quote many financial advisors because so few sound like Jesus. Few tell the rich to “thrust their wealth in” and urge generosity “instead of hoarding”. I cite him because he’s a follower of Christ who gives counter-cultural advice. Listen to him. Don’t worry better than anyone else. Put whatever you’ve got in play, and God may change the world through you! For doing so, may we all hear the words: “Well Done!”

“Your giving can effect extraordinary change. Pick a need, country, people group, an organization focused on empowerment and sustainable independence. You could be an answer to countless prayers. The poor don’t lack ambition, imagination, or intelligence; most simply lack resources. We have what they require and more than we need. We could share.”

Jen Hatmaker, Seven: Clothes, Spending, Waste, Stress, Media, Possessions, Food – An Experimental Mutiny against Excess (Nashville: B&H Publishing, 2012) 169.

What am I doing for the poor today? I’m speaking at the Peoria Rescue Ministries annual Stewardship celebration, and in my remarks, I too will share the Gospel. Pray with me that God will open hearts to Him and to generously share with the poor in Peoria, IL.

Meanwhile, my wife, Jenni, posted this quote on her Facebook page last night. Along with it she reminded everyone she knows to give to Potter’s House in support of VBS among the Treasures (the destitute poor of the garbage dump) of Guatemala City.

Every $20 helps one of 2,000 children go through the VBS curriculum Jenni wrote. The theme is: “Who is God?” Also, mark your calendar to pray as VBS runs through Thanksgiving. Ask God to lift the Treasures out of the dump and draw them to Himself.

He lifts the poor from the dust and the needy from the garbage dump. He sets them among princes, placing them in seats of honor. For all the earth is the LORD’s, and he has set the world in order. 1 Samuel 2:8