Meditations

Do not wear yourself out to get rich; do not trust your own cleverness. Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle. Proverbs 23:4-5

“You will say, ‘What burden is there in a prosperous condition?’ Answer. Yes, there is certainly a great burden, and it needs great strength to bear it. Just as men need strong brains to bear strong wine, so they need strong spirits to bear prosperous conditions, and not to do themselves hurt. Many men and women look at the shine and glitter of prosperity, but they little think of the burden. There is a fourfold burden in a prosperous condition.

1. There is a burden of trouble…

The consideration of the trouble that is in a prosperous condition, I have many times thought of, and I cannot think of anything better to compare it with than to travelling in some open country, where round about is very fair and sandy ground, and you see a town a great way off in a valley and you thin, Oh how well situated that town is; but when you come and ride into the town, you ride through a dirty lane and through a lot of fearfully dirty holes. You could not see the dirty lane and holes when you were two or three miles off. In the same way, sometimes we look upon the prosperity of men and think, this man lives well and comfortably, but if we only knew what troubles he has in his family, in his possessions, in his dealings with men, we would not think his position so happy…

2. There is a burden of danger in it…

Honey, we know, invites bees and wasps to it, and the sweet of prosperity invites the Devil and temptation. Men in a prosperous position are subject to many temptations that other men are not subject to. The Scripture calls the Devil Beelzebub, that is, the God of flies, and so Beelzebub comes where the honey of prosperity is. Yes, they are in very great danger of temptations who are in a prosperous condition. The dangers that men in a prosperous position have more than others should be considered by those who are lower. Think to yourself: though they are above me, yet they are in more
danger than I am…

3. In a prosperous condition there is the burden of duty.

You look only at the sweetness and comfort, the honor and respect that they have who are in a prosperous position, but you must consider the duty that they owe to God. God requires more duty at their hands than at yours. You are ready to be discontented because you have not got such gifts and abilities as others have, but God requires more duty of those who have greater wealth than of you who have not such wealth. Oh, you would fain have the honor, but can you carry the burden of the duty?

4. The last is the burden of account in a prosperous condition.

Those who enjoy great wealth and a prosperous condition have a great account to give to God. We are all stewards, and one is a steward to a meaner man, perhaps but to an ordinary knight, another is a steward to a nobleman, an earl-now the steward of the meaner man has not so much as the other under his hand, and shall he be discontented because of this? No, he thinks, I have less, and I will have to give the less account. So your account, in comparison of the minister’s and magistrate’s, will be nothing: you are to give an account of your own souls and so are they, you are to give an account for your own family and so are they, but you will not have to give account for congregations, and for towns, and cities and countries.”

Jeremiah Burroughs (1600-1646) in The Rare Jewel Of Christian Contentment (Preach the Word) 61-63.

Today’s a long post so I will make my comments short.

People wear themselves out trying to get rich or remain rich do well to understand these burdens associated with wealth.

Ponder how generosity serves as a pathway for navigating trouble, avoiding danger, doing your duty and preparing to give an account. It offers matchless benefits!

You can’t get into trouble if you give the money to God.

You avoid the flies and other dangers if the money is stored in heaven.

You do your duty by acting as a responsible and faithful steward.

And it prepares you to give an account for your stewardship to God.

Which one stands out to you – trouble, danger, duty, or account – as something to be sure to warn your children or grandchildren or anyone with whom you have influence?

But He gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” James 4:6

“As it is with a vessel that is full of liquor, if you strike it, it will make no great noise, but if it is empty then it makes a great noise; so it is with the heart, a heart that is full of grace and goodness within will bear a great many strokes, and never make any noise, but if an empty heart is struck it will make a noise.

When some men and women are complaining so much, and always whining, it is a sign that there is an emptiness in their hearts. If their hearts were filled with grace they would not make such a noise… So a gracious heart, having the Spirit of God within him, and his heart filled with grace has that within him that makes him find contentment.”

Jeremiah Burroughs (1600-1646) in The Rare Jewel Of Christian Contentment (Preach the Word) 45.

Don’t miss the illustration about the liquor bottle.

If our hearts are full, we can minister to others. When we have an abundance of grace and goodness, we can lavish it on those around us. And we don’t complain because we have everything we need in Christ.

Are you an empty liquor bottle or a full one?

If you are an empty one, notice God’s posture toward you. He opposes the proud. He will not fill the ones who think they can navigate life on their own. Wealthy people tend to struggle with pride.

What should you do? Ask God for more grace and grow in generosity.

Admit to God that contentment is a hard thing to grasp. Ask Him to pour grace on you in abundance and fill your heart with His goodness, the biblical synonym for generosity.

And while these are my words, I think Burroughs might conclude saying this.

“Empty liquor bottles get tossed in the rubbish bin. Keep your bottle full. In Christ you find contentment. You’ll have all you need to enjoy and share!”

But godliness with contentment 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. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 1 Timothy 6:6-9

“It may be said of one who is contented in a Christian way that he is the most contented man in the world, and yet the most unsatisfied man in the world; these two together must needs be mysterious. I say, a contented man, just as he is the most contented, so he is the most unsatisfied man in the world.

You never learned the mystery of contentment unless it may be said of you that, just as you are the most contented man, so you are also the most unsatisfied man in the world. You will say, ‘How is that?’ A man who has learned the art of contentment is the most contented with any low condition that he has in the world, and yet he cannot be satisfied with the enjoyment of all the world.

He is contented if he has but a crust, but bread and water, that is, if God disposes of him, for the things of the world, to have but bread and water for his present condition, he can be satisfied with God’s disposal in that; yet if God should give unto him Kingdoms and Empires, all the world to rule, if he should give it him for his portion, he would not be satisfied with that.

Here is the mystery of it: though his heart is so enlarged that the enjoyment of all the world and ten thousand worlds cannot satisfy him for his portion; yet he has a heart quieted under God’s disposal, if he gives him but bread and water. To join these two together must needs be a great art and mystery.”

Jeremiah Burroughs (1600-1646) in The Rare Jewel Of Christian Contentment (Preach the Word) 23-24.

People who try to pursue godliness without contentment do not gain, they lose. They try to get rich, and in so doing, choose a path that leads to all manner of troubles.

It is needful to grasp this mystery. Godliness with contentment is great gain. The one who is content with Christ has everything he or she needs to navigate life.

Simultaneously, nothing on this earth can satisfy a person. This reminds me of a previous meditation from C.S. Lewis in his classic work, Mere Christianity.

“If I find in myself desires which nothing in this world can satisfy, the only logical explanation is that I was made for another world.” Do you see it? That’s why nothing in this world can satisfy us.

We were made for heaven. Though some try to find satisfaction with the enjoyment of the world, the famous Rolling Stones song suggests otherwise: “I can’t get no satisfaction.”

Today’s Scripture provides the answer. Aiming at getting rich will only leave a person unsatisfied. Alternatively, aiming at godliness with contentment marks the way to life.

Such people use money in ways that bless others because they know they cannot take it with them when they die, but they can send it ahead to heaven through giving.

What about you? Are you content but never satisfied? Once you get to this place, generosity comes into view as your purpose and the reason God has placed you on this planet.

Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God. Psalm 43:5

“Sometimes, a great deal of disturbance is involved in getting contentment into people’s judgments, that is, to satisfy their judgment about their condition. If you come to many, whom the hand of God is upon perhaps in a grievous manner, and seek to satisfy them and tell them they have no cause to be so disquieted, ‘Oh, no cause?’ says the troubled spirit, ‘then there is no cause for anyone to be disquieted. There has never been such an affliction as I have.’

And they have a hundred things with which to evade the force of what is said to them, so that you cannot so much as get at their judgments to satisfy them. But there is a great deal of hope of attaining contentment, if once your judgments are satisfied, if you can sit down and say in your judgment, ‘I see good reason to be contented.’ Yet even when you have got so far, you may still have much to do with your hearts afterwards.

There is such unruliness in our thoughts and affections that our judgments are not always able to rule our thoughts and affections. That is what makes me say that contentment is an inward, quiet, gracious frame of spirit-the whole soul, judgment, thoughts, will, affections and all are satisfied and quiet. I suppose that merely in opening this subject you begin to see that it is a lesson that you need to learn, and that if contentment is like this then it is not easily obtained.”

Jeremiah Burroughs (1600-1646) in The Rare Jewel Of Christian Contentment (Preach the Word) 13-14.

God allows disturbances to get our attention. He loves it when they lead us to contentment.

So often, however, we become disquieted. We may have deep faith, but like Sons of Korah who penned today’s Scripture, become disquieted. Notice how disturbances reveal the times when we have misplaced our hope. We do well to hope in God.

When we put our hope anywhere else, we become disquieted. Take a few minutes to read Psalm 42-43.

And notice, when we put our hope in God, in the midst of the disturbances, we find clarity, peace, light, deliverance, help, and so much more. Because when we have God we have all we need.

Now if we relate this to generosity, notice what comes clearly into view.

Our human tendency is to hold on to money. The world tells us that having lots of money can protect us from difficulty or help us navigate disturbances. Nothing could be further from the truth.

The Sons of Korah teach us in Psalm 49, that riches can’t save us, satisfy us, or give us the security that we long for. Only God can. Do you see why finding our contentment in God alone is so important?

Without contentment we live in fear, we have no hope, and we feel disquieted by the disturbances of life.

With contentment, we realize why we are here on earth. God has put us here to serve as conduits of blessing and hope to a disturbed and disquieted world.

And I want to extend the happiest of birthdays to my daughter, Sophie Victoria! She’s a beacon of hope, content with God, rarely disturbed or disquieted, and so generous too! Happy Birthday, Sophie!

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5

“To Know the one thing needful. A lesson which Christ teaches a Christian when he comes into His school is this: He teaches him to understand what is the one thing that is necessary, which he never understood before. You know what he said to Martha: ‘O Martha thou cumberest thyself about many things, but there is one thing necessary.’

Before, the soul sought after this and that, but now it says, I see that it is not necessary for me to be rich, but it is necessary for me to make my peace with God; it s not necessary that I should live a pleasurable life in this world, but it is absolutely necessary that I should have pardon of my sin; it is not necessary that I should have honor and preferment, but it is necessary that I should have God as my portion, and have my part in Jesus Christ, it is necessary that my soul should be saved in the day of Jesus Christ.

The other things are pretty fine indeed, and I should be glad if God would give me them, a fine house, and income, and clothes, and advancement for my wife and children: these are comfortable things, but they are not the necessary things; I may have these and yet perish for ever, but the other is absolutely necessary. No matter how poor I am, I may have what is absolutely necessary: thus Christ instructs the soul.

Many of you have had some thoughts about this, that it is indeed necessary for you to provide for your souls, but when you come to Christ’s school, Christ causes the fear of eternity to fall upon you, and causes such a real sight of the great things of eternity, and the absolute necessity of those things, that it possesses your heart with fear and takes you off from all other things in the world.”

Jeremiah Burroughs (1600-1646) in The Rare Jewel Of Christian Contentment (Preach the Word) 55.

Today we pivot to the Puritan era. This classic work is a rare jewel for sure. I will explore it over the next week to see what is necessary and needful for living, giving, serving, and loving generously like Jesus.

Burroughs beckons us to go to school with Jesus to learn the one thing needful. The world tells us to value a pleasurable life with a fine house, incomes, clothes, and other comfortable things. Jesus wants more for us.

We learn to value things in light of eternity when we go to school with Jesus. We learn contentment only by understanding that in Christ we have everything we have ever needed and will ever need.

In this light, knowing Christ comes into view as the one thing, the only thing, that is needful. Knowing Christ is also the only pathway for grasping contentment and living a life of Christian generosity.

Let’s see what we can learn this week! Start by pondering the truth that when we have Jesus, we have everything we have ever needed, everything we need, and everything we will ever need for the rest of our lives.

When you consider this profound truth — that your greatest needs have been sorted by Jesus — it propels you to live with open hands and a generous heart. As Christ has cared for you, you can care for others.

I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one. Ezekiel 22:30

“The present generation is seriously corrupt and all full of pride and hypocrisy. In bodily labors it perhaps reaches the level of our ancient fathers, but it is not graced with their gifts, though I think nature never had such need of spiritual gifts as now. And we have got what we deserve. For God is manifested not in labors but in simplicity and humility. And if the power of the Lord is made perfect in weakness, the Lord will certainly not reject a humble worker.”

John Climacus (6th century monk) in The Ladder of Divine Ascent, translated by Archimandrite Lazarus Moore (Harper & Brothers, 1959) 94.

Today represents the seventh and final post at this time from John Climacus. We will pivot to exploring what is needful in another classic from church history starting tomorrow.

Today’s Scripture from Ezekiel cites a time when God was looking for someone to stand in the gap. Then in the 6th century, we see basically the same message. I think the same is true today.

In every generation, God looks for people who will stand in the gap. He seeks people willing to rebuild what is broken down. Can He count on you for such a time as this?

Climacus describes the needful traits in such people: simplicity and humility. And I would add generosity. Let us pray for and endeavor to be such people for our day for rebuilding what is broken around us.

Join me. Let us pursue the path of simplicity, humility, and generosity to stand in the gap for God.

But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. James 2:18

“A discerning solitary will have no need of words, because he expresses words by deeds.”

John Climacus (6th century monk) in The Ladder of Divine Ascent, translated by Archimandrite Lazarus Moore (Harper & Brothers, 1959) 111.

I have had a great week with Kingdom Capital Fund in South Dakota. Heading home to Colorado this afternoon.

Over the course of this week, I have interfaced with some really great people who have chosen to shift their focus from building wealth to building God’s kingdom.

In the words of Climacus, they are like discerning solitary people who have no need of words because they express words with deeds. But God is calling them to move to KCF 2.0.

God wants them to give more, to go deeper, to stretch to new levels of living, giving, serving, and loving. I think God wants that for all of us! What would that look like in your life?

Most people resist the stretch because they value comfort too much. Others allow fear to guide their decision making so they never Would people say that you have no need of words and that you express your faith with generous deeds?

But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God. Acts 20:24

“Some often expressed their doubts to each other and said: ‘Are we accomplishing anything brothers? Are we obtaining our requests? Will the Lord accept us again? Will He open to us?’ And to this others would reply: ‘Who knows, as our brothers the Ninevites said, if God will repent and will deliver us even from great punishment? In any case, let us do our part. And if He opens the door, well and good. And if not, blessed is the Lord God who in His justice has closed the door to us. At least let us persist in knocking at the door till the end of our life.”

John Climacus (6th century monk) in The Ladder of Divine Ascent, translated by Archimandrite Lazarus Moore (Harper & Brothers, 1959) 31.

In today’s Scripture, the apostle Paul expresses his unswerving resolve to finishing the task God gave Him. Then in reading John Climacus, we realize that this is not easy. We wonder, “Are we accomplishing anything brothers?”

I met with some of the Founders of Kingdom Capital Fund last night for dinner. They admit they wondered that for years in the early days of the last two decades. But they persisted, sometimes asking, “Are we obtaining our requests?”

And now through the God as CEO program, they are rallying professionals in large numbers to shift from building wealth to building God’s kingdom. And Climacus adds to focus not on the results but on doing our part.

When people start to get it, KCF rallies them to give generously to ministry partners. To read the report of my training with ministry partners, click here.

Tonight I speak at a KCF 2.0 event. I appreciate your prayers for Spirit-filled speaking and receptive hearts. Participants will receive a branded copy of my KCF devotional, Finishing Well. Click here to download your free copy.

And resolve to focus not on achieving results or obtaining requests. Instead, ask yourself what finishing well looks like for you. Pursue that.

Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”), sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet. Acts 4:36-37

“Those who have really determined to serve Christ, with the help of spiritual fathers and their own self-knowledge will strive before all else to choose a place, and a way of life, and a habitation, and exercises suitable for them. For community life is not for all, on account of greed; and not for all are places of solitude, on account of anger. But each will consider what is most suited to his needs.”

John Climacus (6th century monk) in The Ladder of Divine Ascent, translated by Archimandrite Lazarus Moore (Harper & Brothers, 1959) 5.

What a privilege to provide biblical and practical teaching in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, yesterday! Kingdom Capital Fund hosted ministry partners. We had 40 in attendance exploring the topic of “From Vision to Execution — Building the Operational Backbone” (see header photo of participants above).

KCF Board Chair (and dear friend), Steve Jankord, introduced me and urged everyone to subscribe to Daily Meditations. I shared teaching from The Choice: The Christ-Centered Pursuit of Kingdom Outcomes to give them a framework for growing ministries through faithful activities. Then I pointed them to the GTP diagnostic tool and templates to strengthen capacity.

Today, I attend the KCF board meeting as a special advisor and have dinner with the KCF Founders. See their 6-minute video here if you did not watch it yesterday. The KCF Founders are like Joseph, also known as Barnabas, the son of encouragement. In the video they rightly appear as ordinary Joes who have chosen an extraordinary way of life together.

They have all agreed to shift from building wealth (greed as Climacus put) to building the kingdom (generosity as the KCF Founders put it). I am advising them regarding ways to grow deeper in this way of life and how to share it more widely with others. And Climacus would add that it is needful not to pressure anyone to this way of life but to invite them to consider it.

And what about you? Want to join the community of people committed to living, giving, serving, and loving generously? In June 2026, the Generosity Monk team plans to release a new website and social and video channels to reach the world. One invitation will be to adopt the Generosity Monk rule of life. Stay tuned to see what it is.

For now, ask God to help you be like Joseph who released assets, not just income, to build the kingdom. And if you need help with that, reply to this email. I can assist you. Once you adopt this way of life you will see God will entrust you with more resources to steward. You won’t end up empty but rather enriched for greater generosity.

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Hebrews 10:24

“I saw among these holy fathers things that were truly profitable and admirable. I saw a brotherhood gathered and united in the Lord, with a wonderful active and contemplative life. For they were so occupied with divine thoughts and they exercised themselves so much in good deeds that there was scarcely any need for the superior to remind them of anything, but of their own good will they aroused one another to divine vigilance.”

John Climacus (6th century monk) in The Ladder of Divine Ascent, translated by Archimandrite Lazarus Moore (Harper & Brothers, 1959) 13.

There’s something that happens when we journey spiritually together with others. It creates a brotherhood and sisterhood of people united in the Lord and committed to divine thoughts.

When we think about what God desires for us it inspires us to do good deeds. This happens not because some external superior dictates it. This service flows from internal commitment with divine vigilance.

I pray this for the larger community of Daily Meditations readers. That God will make us into a global community committed to contemplative living and contagious giving.

Yesterday I invited you to contribute to the rebuilding of the Generosity Monk website and establishment of video and social media channels to spread the reach of generosity resources worldwide, but I failed to give you the link. Click here.

Today I do a workshop for about 50 ministry workers called “From Vision to Execution — Building the Operational Backbone” with a focus on turning mission and strategy into repeatable, healthy operations.

Kingdom Capital Fund is hosting it and I will integrate themes from my book, The Choice: The Christ-Centered Pursuit of Kingdom Outcomes. I appreciate your prayers for Spirit-filled facilitation and receptive hearts.

Kingdom Capital Fund was formed by a group of founders that shifted from building wealth to building God’s kingdom. They are like the “holy fathers” in today’s post. Watch an awesome 6-minute video about them here.