Archives by: Gary Hoag

“When we are in debt, we are in a position of servitude to the lender. Indeed, the deeper we are in debt, the more of a servant we become. We do not have the full freedom or discretion to decide where to spend our income because we have legally obligated ourselves to meet these debts.”

Howard Dayton in Your Money Counts (Wheaton: Tyndale House, 1996) 37.

Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. Colossians 3:2

“Natural riches have no power to fill the heart’s most yearning affections…Let us be content with what God in his wisdom provides, assured that it is best for us. In envying the good of another, we destroy our own good. There is a higher wealth than gold…Treasures of good affections and true thoughts are worth more than all earthly riches, and will bear us far more safely and happily through the world; such treasures are given to all who will receive them, and given in lavish abundance.”

Timothy Shay Arthur (1809-1885) in True Riches; or, Wealth without Wings (London: J.S. Hodson, 1855) 10-12.

“We know from the act of creation that God is generous, and we know something of the immensity of divine generosity from the nature of the world.”

Diogenes Allen in Philosophy for Understanding Theology (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2007) xxiii.

“Your giving can be and is a tangible indication of how much faith you have that God will provide for your needs.”

Donald Whitney in Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life (Colorado Springs: NavPress, 1991) 144.

Bring an offering, and come into his courts! Psalm 96:8b

“In Christian worship the offering of gifts is an expression of gratitude and appreciation to God…The church certainly needs money, but the raising of money to support the church should not dominate the motivation in giving…The offering of gifts is a symbol of sacrifice; it is a positive act which symbolizes an inner attitude of homage…Worship needs the spirit of sacrifice. The offering of money in the offering plate is no less an act of worship than are the offering of songs, prayers and sermons…In Christian worship, making an offering is a symbolic act representing the giving of one’s self to God.”

Franklin Segler and Randall Bradley in Christian Worship: Its Theology and Practice (2006) 188-189.

“Consider the infinite liberality of God, which consists in continually giving to His creatures immense gifts and graces without owing them anything nor expecting any return or profit from them. Repass in thy mind all the gifts of nature and of grace that God bestows on all, and especially those that He has granted to thee. Behold how generous He has shown Himself and does daily show Himself, and how bound therefore thou art to serve Him and to be generous towards Him. Return Him many thanks for all this, and renew thy resolution of serving Him.

Consider the second point wherein His liberality is manifested, namely, in the quality of the gifts that He bestows on man. For they are such that a single degree of grace is of greater value than all the treasures of the world, and the generosity of God is such that He even gives Himself, His Son, and the Holy Ghost, and His Body and Blood in sacrifice and as food, and lastly, as a reward to be eternally enjoyed in bliss. Learn to be generous towards God, to give Him all that thou hast and all that thou art, thy body, thy blood, thy soul, and all thy powers to be employed in His holy service.

Consider the third manner in which His generosity shines forth, namely, in giving to all without any exception, most equally, as far as His will is concerned, and learn to be generous towards thy neighbor, not limiting thyself to this one or that from love or affection to any in particular.

The fourth quality of this generosity of God’s is that He gives without owing, and without expecting payment from creatures; for he that gives what he owes or sells for the sake of profit cannot be termed generous. Ponder within thyself this perfection of God, and derive thence a firm resolution of being very generous towards Him, not confining thyself to what thou owest in regard to precepts, but performing moreover in His service works of supererogation for His glory’s sake, without any view to recompense, in order that He may be generous towards thee according as thou art generous towards Him.”

Alonso de Andrade in Daily meditations on the mysteries of our holy faith, and on the lives of our Lord Jesus Christ and of the Saints, translated from Spanish (London: Burns & Oates, 1878), 112th meditation.

“Only in heaven will we see how much we owe to the poor for helping us love God better because of them.”

Mother Teresa as recounted by Keith Meyer in Spiritual Rhythms in Community (Downers Grove: IVP, 2012) 145.

“The taproot of generosity is spiritual. The apostle Paul, when he explains to the Corinthians about the astounding generosity of the Macedonians remarks, “They gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us.” 2 Cor. 8:5, emphasis mine). True generosity always moves in that sequence: first God, then others. First the Spirit, then the flesh. And it always starts with giving, not something, but ourselves…Try this for a week, giving yourself first to God and then to others. Be generous with time. See if your world isn’t larger by this time next week.”

Mark Buchanan in The Rest of God: Restoring Your Soul by Restoring Sabbath (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2006) 84.

“Nobody is so poor that he or she has nothing to give, and nobody is so rich that he or she has nothing to receive.”

Pope John Paul II (1920-2005) in Bread for the Journey: A Daybook of Wisdom and Faith by Henri Nouwen, reading for April 2 (San Francisco: HarperCollins, 1997).

“Receiving is often harder than giving. Giving is very important: giving insight, giving hope, giving courage, giving advice, giving support, giving money, and most of all, giving ourselves. Without giving there is no brother hood and sisterhood.

But receiving is just as important, because by receiving we reveal to the givers that they have gifts to offer. When we say, “Thank you, you gave me hope; thank you, you gave me a reason to live; thank you, you allowed me to realize my dream,” we make givers aware of their unique and precious gifts. Sometimes it is only in the eyes of the receivers that givers discover their gifts.”

Henri Nouwen (1932-1996) in Bread for the Journey: A Daybook of Wisdom and Faith, reading for April 3 (San Francisco: HarperCollins, 1997).