Archives by: Gary Hoag

I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. Luke 16:9

“Point of view is important in these closing verses. The master commends the manager for his shrewdness, while the narrator of the parable, Jesus, identifies the manager as “dishonest.” That is, the master does not commend his manager for his dishonesty, but for his prudence in business affairs…

“Children of this age,” he observes, understand how the world works and use it to their benefit; why do “children of the light” not understand the ways of the kingdom of God? “This age” draws on the characterization of time divided into two aeons, the present epoch and the one to come. Collocated with “their own generation,” this age is implicated with faithlessness and wickedness…

If they did understand the ways of the new aeon, how would it be manifest in their practices? Simply put, they would use “dishonest wealth” to “make friends” in order that they might be welcomed “into eternal homes.” Wealth is characterized as dishonest in the same way that the manager was. Both belong to this aeon; indeed, in speaking of its demise, Jesus insinuates that mammon has no place in the age to come.”

Joel B. Green in The Gospel of Luke (NICNT; Zondervan: Grand Rapids, 1997) 593.

I want to honor my mom today. It’s her birthday. And for as long as I can remember, she’s used any worldly wealth she has to make friends for eternity. What about you?

This is not a trick question. It’s an open book test. The book is the Bible and the test relates to our handling of possessions. Will we used it for earthly or eternal purposes?

Happy birthday Mom! Thanks for your example that mammon must have “no place” in our lives now as it has no place in the life to come. Thanks for living for eternity. I love you.

Now, however, I am on my way to Jerusalem in the service of the Lord’s people there. For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the Lord’s people in Jerusalem. They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews’ spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings. Romans 15:25-27

“The purpose of the collection that Paul gives here is twofold, material and spiritual. It supplies the needs of the saints and abounds in thanksgivings offered to God. Their gift is not just a service for the poor, it is a service to God because of the thanksgiving that will redound to God’s glory. The recipients of their gifts cannot help but lift their voices in thanksgiving to God.”

David E. Garland in 2 Corinthians: An Exegetical and Theological Exposition of Holy Scripture (Volume 29) (The New American Commentary) 413.

When giving happens there are spiritual and material implications. Praise goes up to God and the giver credits the gift to their heavenly account as it goes to God. We don’t understand how it happens, but God says it happens. Simultaneously, real needs are met and real ministry happens.

So, the next time you think about giving to your church, GTP, or some other organization, remember this. There are material and spiritual implications. And you don’t become empty in giving, but enriched, now and for eternity. And God, not you, becomes the focus of all praise.

Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. 2 Corinthians 9:13

“The proof of this ministry recalls Paul’s description of the Macedonians in 8:2. They proved themselves in severe affliction. God does not always test us through affliction. Some of the most difficult tests come when we must prove ourselves obedient to God in times of relative prosperity. If the Corinthians follow through generously on their commitment to this ministry, they will have passed this test. Their obedience will also bring glory to God from the recipients as they praise God for it.”

David E. Garland in 2 Corinthians: An Exegetical and Theological Exposition of Holy Scripture (Volume 29) (The New American Commentary) 413.

The proof for Paul related to follow through. The Corinthian participation in the collection, like the Macedonians, would show evidence or proof of their faith, their commitment, their obedience.

Yesterday was the Generosity Summit sponsored by the Christian Stewardship Association (Philippines) and attended by about 130+ people from across the Philippines and around the world (pictured above).

It was a privilege to speak, but more than that, to learn from other international and national speakers. Among them, the chair of the board of CSA spoke of our stewardship of time, talent, treasure, and testimony.

I had never heard that last word as included as part of stewardship and I loved it. We must steward generously our testimony. It’s our proclamation of the gospel and how God’s gracious generosity to each of us.

And proof is connected to our testimony. When we follow through in living generously and testifying to God’s faithfulness, we meet needs and discover experientially, that those who trust God are not disappointed.

This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 2 Corinthians 9:12

“Paul now explains why “generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.” “This service that you perform” translates the Greek phrase “the ministry of service.” The ministry is the same word used in the “service for the saints,” but here it refers to the rendering or execution of something. The word translated “service” was used in Paul’s day for public service, such as the contributions of money or services for a specific cause by the wealthier residents of the city-state. The rich were expected to spend a portion of their wealth to promote the common good. They received honors in return, such as public praise and honorific inscriptions lauding their service and preserving their honor after death. The word would recall for the Corinthians the benefactions that the wealthy made as patrons of their city or social group. Participating in the “service” Paul administers is not something that only the very rich can do, even the poorest can be, so to speak, public patrons.”

David E. Garland in 2 Corinthians: An Exegetical and Theological Exposition of Holy Scripture (Volume 29) (The New American Commentary) 413

I appreciate this exposition of the language of the collection. Paul wanted people to realize that service to those in need is not just the task of the rich. It’s a privilege for everyone.

Consider the implications.

Paul wants everyone to realize that generosity is not a service just for the rich to perform. It’s something everyone can do. We can all participate as conduits of blessing to others.

What about you where you are?

Imagine if you encouraged those you serve to minister as “public patrons” where they are! And while the worldly benefactors were expected to play this role, envision the impact of doing it willingly.

God wants all of us to serve as models of generosity to a watching world. Will you?

And [Jesus] told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’ “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.” Luke 12:16-21

“If we try to hoard money or spend it on ourselves, that should set off alarm bells that our relationship with God is out of balance or worse, nonexistent. The rich fool with his bulging barns and bumper crop wondered where he could store all his good things to preserve them all for himself. It apparently never crossed his mind that he had plenty of storage in the mouths of the needy. Those who are decisive and resourceful in trying to find ways to use God’s bounty to help others, as the rich fool was decisive and resourceful in finding ways to feather his own luxuriant nest, are those who are righteous in God’s eyes and who live out God’s righteousness.”

David E. Garland in 2 Corinthians: An Exegetical and Theological Exposition of Holy Scripture (Volume 29) (The New American Commentary) 412.

Today in Manila is one of my favorite days of the year. It’s not a holiday. It’s the day of the annual GTP Global Gathering where the board, staff, and regional facilitators convene.

These are people whose faith and stewardship is the opposite of nonexistent. The deploy themselves and the resources in their stewardship with radical obedience and generosity.

Ponder the word picture that the resources in your stewardship could be stored in the mouths of the needy. This marks a decisive and resourceful use of them.

Ask yourself this question. Am I decisive and resourceful to deploy myself and resources toward others? Or do I foolishly aim to deploy resources to make my life more luxurious?

You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. 2 Corinthians 9:11

“The first half of the verse summarizes Paul’s point in the previous verses: God will provide the means for them to be generous. They will not be enriched so that they can become like the rich fool who sits back in comfort and says to himself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy, eat, drink, and be merry” (Luke 12:19). They are enriched solely to give them every opportunity to be generous with others. God is generous in giving people wealth so they may be generous with others. What we do with our money, then, becomes a litmus test for our relationship to God.”

David E. Garland in 2 Corinthians: An Exegetical and Theological Exposition of Holy Scripture (Volume 29) (The New American Commentary) 412.

How does this idea resonate with you that what you do with money is litmus test for your relationship to God?

In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas); she was always doing good and helping the poor. About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room. Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, “Please come at once!” Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them. Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called for the believers, especially the widows, and presented her to them alive. This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord. Acts 9:36-42

“A selfish man is never rich. His day is as long as his neighbor’s, yet he has no leisure except for his own amusements, no sympathy or concern beyond his own perplexities, no strength but to fight his own battles, and no money except for his own need; what haunts his mind at every turn is the dread of having too little for himself.”

William Malcolm MacGregor (1861-1944) in Jesus Christ Son of God as cited by David E. Garland in 2 Corinthians: An Exegetical and Theological Exposition of Holy Scripture (Volume 29) (The New American Commentary) 411.

Imagine the burden people with wealth carry on themselves unnecessarily.

Many rationalize that a good steward stores up treasures for himself so as not to burden others. In so doing, they unnecessarily burden themselves.

Others report that they have no other choice by to store up treasures for themselves forgetting that God is their Provider.

Some say, “But I don’t want my kids to have to take care of me when I am old,” and so appear as selfish, independent parents who create selfish kids.

These are strong statements for sure, but they are true. Humans bring nothing into this world and take nothing out of it. How we use wealth in between shows where we place or misplace our trust.

God’s design for us includes compassionate caring, generous sharing, and interdependent living practiced in community.

And if not having enough brings you dread, let this reality sober you. Those who choose God’s design tend to die surrounded by those they served like Dorcas.

Those who choose the independent route tend to lack joy from the haunting and die alone like the rich fool. While they may have money, it is coupled with dread.

They have no leisure, no sympathy or concern, and no strength because they have chosen the path of scarcity and they reap the consequences.

One thing I love about the GTP board, staff, and regional facilitators. They exhibit radical obedience and rich generosity with all they are and all they have, like Dorcas.

What path will you take? One like Dorcas or like the rich fool? If the question haunts you, ask the Holy Spirit what steps you should take.

But godliness with contentment [αὐταρκείας] is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 1 Timothy 6:6-8

“Paul also differs from the Cynics and Stoics in the use of αὐταρκείας in his assumption that self-sufficiency does come from one’s own earnest self-discipline. It is a gift of God. Therefore, self-sufficiency is a misnomer, since it is sufficiency that comes from God and not from the self.”

David E. Garland in 2 Corinthians: An Exegetical and Theological Exposition of Holy Scripture (Volume 29) (The New American Commentary) 408.

I have not studied αὐταρκείας as much as brothers like Tim Macready who did his master’s thesis on the term, but today I learned something new and really hope you see it too.

The Cynics and Stoics taught that disciplined stewardship would result in self-sufficiency. For a price, these moral philosophers taught people “how to live.” On the surface, it sounds great. Yet, the fresh connection I made is that modern-day financial advisors proclaim the same message. But it’s not taking hold of life or experiencing godliness with αὐταρκείας. When we follow God’s design to enjoy and share God’s blessings we grasp it.

To put it another way, when our giving at all times and all occasions reveals that we have enough for every good work, we show that God is the source of our sufficiency, not our stockpiling. So, the fresh word is this. Don’t just live simply so you can build wealth. Live simply so you can give generously to show that our all-sufficient God sustains you.

Yesterday in Manila, pictured above, the GTP staff of ten convened for the first time ever and our board members arrive from around the world today for the start of the Global Gathering tomorrow. Pray for a fruitful week of meetings.

And I am praying that every person reading this takes hold of αὐταρκείας and lives as a conduit rather than a container of God’s material and spiritual blessings.

The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.” “What should we do then?” the crowd asked. John answered, “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.” Luke 3:9-11

“When God gives us resources, God gives us more than we need, not so that we can have more, but so that we can give more to others. God does not bestow material blessings so that one can hoard them for ourselves or withdraw from others but so that they might be shared with others. The whole purpose of the collection, therefore, is not to establish the independence of the Gentile Christians from the Jewish Christians in Jerusalem but to deepen their interdependence.”

David E. Garland in 2 Corinthians: An Exegetical and Theological Exposition of Holy Scripture (Volume 29) (The New American Commentary) 408.

Just before I boarded the plane for Tokyo, I communicated that Q1 (July-August-September), giving to GTP was lagging at about $150,000 against budgeted expenses of $200,000. We had need.

I shared about open doors in Hong Kong, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Qatar, Pakistan, Ireland, Albania, Nepal, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Paraguay.

In response, a friend sent word that he would contribute $25,000 from assets he put into his donor advised fund.

He understands “the whole purpose” of the resources he possesses and shares generously. This had stock, put it into a fund to give, and released those funds upon hearing the need.

For the one who has two shirts, it could be a shirt. For the one who has two cars, it could be a car. For the one who has two buildings or parcel of land, it could be a building or a parcel of land. Why do I use this illustration?

I have been praying over the past year for God to move someone to share a physical asset with GTP. We set up the GTP Trust Fund to receive complex asset gifts, but we have not received anything beyond gifts of cash.

If you have something you want to share, let me know.

The GTP Trust Fund is not an endowment. All gifts will be invested and expended to ensure the perpetuity of the GTP purpose. Both the principal and interest will be administrated by and available to the GTP board to resource the ongoing work of GTP.

I am not the one to tell you what to do with what you have. I only want to remind you that the ax is at the root of the tree. I want you to remember “the whole purpose” of what you have. And I want to urge you to share what you have and see what God does in response to your obedience.

Thanks for your prayers. I have arrived safely in Manila.

Today with the GTP Training Team, I will facilitate Journey of Empowerment. I am so excited to do this because the people who have registered represent ministries and networks with whom they can replicate it.

Pray with me for receptive hearts. Thanks. And I am praying for you, right now, to grasp “the whole purpose” of what you have.

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 2 Corinthians 9:6

“For Paul, having all you need means having enough for every good work. Paul’s point is that “God will provide the means to be generous, that one can sow liberally (which means freely and cheerfully) in the confidence that God will bestow a liberal harvest. The more we give, the more we will be given by God to share with others. We may not have all the money that we wan, but we will have all the money we need to be abundant in our giving to others.”

David E. Garland in 2 Corinthians: An Exegetical and Theological Exposition of Holy Scripture (Volume 29) (The New American Commentary) 408.

I have really appreciated Garland’s thoughts from his commentary the past few days. I hope you have too. Again today, he does not disappoint.

He reminds us that Paul would say that we will have enough for all the giving opportunities that God puts in our path. Think about that.

“The more we give, the more we will be given by God to share with others.” This is not prosperity gospel but generosity gospel.

Even as the grace we have received from God, came to us liberally, freely, and cheerfully, God wants our giving to flow like that. Does yours?

Recently GTP did work in Cayman Islands, Liberia, and Turkey. Reply if you want copies of our trip reports. And click here to give.

In Q1 (July-August-September), giving to GTP was about $150,000 against budgeted expenses of $200,000. As you are able, click here to make a gift today.

As I type this, Jenni and I will board our flight from Denver to Tokyo. It will post sometime on our journey. Thanks for your prayers for safe travel there and connecting to Manila.