Archives by: Gary Hoag

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:43-48

“A brother said to a hermit, “If I see a monk about whom I have heard that he is guilty of sin, I cannot make myself invite him into my cell. But if I see a good monk, I bring him in gladly.” The hermit said, “If you do good to a good brother, it is nothing to him, but to the other give double charity, for he is sick.”

Conversation between a hermit and a brother in Where God Happens: Discovering Christ in One Another, by Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury (Boston: Shambhala, 2005) 131.

Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me. Matthew 25:40b

“Our life and our death are with our neighbor. If we do good to our neighbor, we do good to God; if we cause our neighbor to stumble, we sin against Christ.”

Anthony, Desert Father (c. 270) as recounted in Where God Happens: Discovering Christ in One Another by Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury (Boston: Shambhala, 2005) 130.

You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. Matthew 5:38-42

“One of the [desert] fathers said, “If anyone asks you for something, and you give it to him, even if you are forced to give it, let your heart go with the gift, as it is written, ‘ if a man forces you to go with him one mile, go with him two.’ (Matt. 5:41). This means that if you are asked for anything, give it with a willing heart.”

A Desert Father as recounted in Where God Happens: Discovering Christ in One Another by Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury (Boston: Shambhala, 2005) 129.

Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower. For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business. James 1:9-11

“In this case the wealthy Christian is instructed to take no pride in possessions or position, but rather to think on his self-abasement in identifying with Christ (i.e. repenting) and Christ’s poor people…

This rich person is called with a sharp ironic twist to understand the humiliation in which he lives, existing like the rich fool (Luke 12:13–21) in luxury in this age only to discover the true system of values in the coming age, which will be unexpectedly thrust upon him. There may also be the suggestion that if the rich would really embrace humiliation (i.e. the outward situation of the followers of Jesus), he would really have something to boast about…”

Peter Davids in The Epistle of James: A Commentary on the Greek Text (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1982).

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. James 2:14-17

“The question about the destiny of the inactive believer must be carefully answered. Only God is able to save. Only those who do the Word make valid claims to be believers. God will not show mercy in the judgment to those who have been unmerciful. But neither profession of faith nor deeds of faith actually “save” anyone; only God saves.

It is thus much more advisable to emphasize what James emphasized: faith without deeds is good to no one. He was not implying that the deeds of faith are effective for salvation. Rather, the deeds of faith demonstrate the validity of the claim to be a believer; without them the claim is empty or “dead”—but more importantly, without deeds the needy do not receive help.”

Kurt Richardson The New American Commentary. Vol. 36 (Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 1997).

But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. James 1:5

“The word wisdom is one of the important terms in this letter…it is basically a practical, moral, and spiritual insight given by God. It is the ability to discern right from wrong and good from evil. It is the power that enables a person to do and say the right thing at the right time…

According to James wisdom is a gift from God, something God gives, and therefore a person must ask for it and it will be given to him.

The adverb rendered generously is found only here in the New Testament. It means literally “simply” or “single-heartedly,” that is, “without hesitation,” “without condition,” or “without reservation.”

…Considering the fact that this adverb is used in connection with “giving,” most modern translations favor the rendering generously. The focus here appears to be on the extent of giving, but it may be noted that generosity in some languages also refers to the manner of giving. In certain languages it will be rendered in an idiomatic way; for example, “give with a wide heart.”

Without reproaching can be taken in the sense of “without making them feel guilty” or “without scolding;” or it can be understood in the sense of “ungrudgingly.” The former goes better with “without condition” or “without question,” while the latter pairs better with “generously.” The rendering “graciously,” expressed positively, is more general than other translations. “Graciously” may also be rendered as “in a kind way,” or “in a way that shows his love and care.”

An alternative translation model for this verse may be:

If any of you need wisdom, you should ask God and he will give it to you. God is generous and will give wisdom to all who ask him, in a way that shows his love and care.”

What about your giving?

I. Loh & H. Hatton, A Handbook on the Letter from James. UBS Handbook Series (New York: United Bible Societies, 1997).

Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Romans 12:16

“Jesus did not send help. He came among us. He was victorious under our conditions of existence. That makes all the difference. We continue on his incarnational model when we follow the apostle’s command “to associate with people of low position” by unassumingly walking with them in the path of the their daily affairs, not just on special occasions created because of their need.”

Dallas Willard in The Spirit of the Disciplines (San Francisco: Harper, 1988) 213.

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21

“Lord Jesus, regarding my money and resources: do they own my heart, or am I stewarding them well? Your words are ringing in my heart–where my treasure is, there is my heart also. Where is my heart today, Lord? I submit to your loving embrace and your honest evaluation. Where the things of this world have a grip on my heart, help me to release them. Where I value possessions more than I honor you, the Lord of all, forgive me and grant me your compassion. Where I long for things that have been created more than you, the Creator of all things, grant me your peace. I want my heart to treasure that which you treasure, Lord. May it be so today, for you and you alone are the center of my heart and the lover of my soul. In Jesus name. Amen.”

Stephen Macchia in Crafting a Rule of Life (Downers Grove: IVP, 2012) 125.

No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money. Therefore, I tell you, do not worry about your life…but seek first [God’s] kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:24-25, 33

“Today we obtained, without any trouble, through the kind hand of God, very suitable premises for the Infant Orphan-House. If we had laid out many hundreds in building a house, we could scarcely have built one more suitable for the purpose. How evident is the hand of God in all these matters. How important to leave our concerns, great and small, with Him; for He arranges all things well! If our work be His work, we shall prosper in it.”

George Mueller as quoted by Stephen Macchia in Crafting a Rule of Life (Downers Grove: IVP, 2012) 121-122.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27

“This is the legacy of Christ: peace. It is His peace that is our inheritance. He gives the gift in a way that is different from gifts that are given in this world. There are no ulterior motives and no sinister strings attached. He gives us His peace not for His benefit but for ours. It is an otherworldly gift given in an otherworldly manner.”

R.C. Sproul in The Holiness of God, 2nd ed. (Tyndale, 1998) 152.