Meditations

With all my resources I have provided for the temple of my God — gold for the gold work, silver for the silver, bronze for the bronze, iron for the iron and wood for the wood, as well as onyx for the settings, turquoise,stones of various colors, and all kinds of fine stone and marble—all of these in large quantities. Besides, in my devotion to the temple of my God I now give my personal treasures of gold and silver for the temple of my God, over and above everything I have provided for this holy temple: three thousand talents of gold (gold of Ophir) and seven thousand talents of refined silver, for the overlaying of the walls of the buildings, for the gold work and the silver work, and for all the work to be done by the craftsmen. Now, who is willing to consecrate themselves to the Lord today?” Then the leaders of families, the officers of the tribes of Israel, the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, and the officials in charge of the king’s work gave willingly. 2 Chronicles 29:2-6

“Now I would be greatly remiss if I left the impression that the pastor (drill instructor) can lead by himself or herself. No one is more important, but laity (fellow recruits) must also be willing to pick up the mantle. No one motivates better than a peer. When a fellow recruit gets out front and encourages compatriots to follow, the troops take notice. When they exalt, “You can do it and I will show you how,” others listen. It is one thing for a coach to suggest that players come in early or stay late, but when one of the players announces that he ior she will be there early and stay late, now that gets attention. For the church to become a generous community that Christ desires, there must be laity willing to step forward and lead in announcing their commitment. They must stand in front of a congregation or a Sunday school class and invite persons to follow them. They must share their stories as to how generosity is a priority in their Christian walk that keeps them grounded and close to Christ.”

J. Clif Christopher in God vs. Money: Winning Strategies in the Combat Zone (Nashville: Abingdon, 2018) 16.

In today’s Scripture, David brings his gift, then his compatriots pitch in. Their response has a domino effect. Then the entire community makes willing gifts in gratitude for all God had richly supplied to each of them. But notice the power and importance of the compatriots.

If we read on in the text we see the impact in verse nine. “The people rejoiced at the willing response of their leaders, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the Lord. David the king also rejoiced greatly.” Notice that the people did not rejoice at David but at the response of the next layer of workers.

We need more compatriots for generosity to spread in church congregations and ministry constituencies. As a CEO of GTP, I am expected (like David) to give sacrificially and invite generous giving. But the best way people can help me (and the best way we can all serve our pastor) is to rally others to join in the work by giving.

Be a good compatriot and rally others to rich generosity, with you!

And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own? Luke 16:12

“Stewardship is spiritual before it is financial. Stewardship is about our faith before it is about our finances.”

Joel Mikell in Crafting a Theology of Stewardship (Horizons Stewardship, 2013).

The thought of fishing for men has me thinking about the connection between generosity and discipleship.

In this book, Mikell states seven perspectives to help readers build a theology of stewardship. This is his first and foundational point. Ponder it.

Before we focus on money, we must determine where we place our trust. Once we anchor that in Jesus, we are positioned to obey His teachings.

As we do it leads us down a path to generosity, where God is the Supplier, and we are distributors. But it starts with faith then the finances follow.

“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” Matthew 4:19

“Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and you’ll be looking for a new fishing spot.”

Irish Proverb quoted by Carl Safina at Nobel Conference at Gustavus Adolphus College in 2012-2013. See his notes here on Overfishing.

Jesus taught the disciples to fish for people. Let’s see how this relates to the “give a man a fish” proverb we have been exploring.

Many people say “education” is the cure to solving the issue of “poverty” and then they cite the “give a man a fish” proverb. This Irish variation tells us that some will use the skill for selfish reasons and take the very spot where you fished.

This explains why instruction must be taught in the context of stewardship with standards and sustainability in view. Without the latter, the former will result in overfishing. The person will use the skill seeking their own good rather than the good of others, both now and into the future.

Those who know me know that I like fly fishing. I have visited Colorado mountain lakes or streams yet this year . There was heavy snow all winter and, as a result, there is lots of runoff right now.

Soon I will go practice”catch and release” fly fishing. Why do that? Each fish I catch is a gift from God, and each on I release is a gift to the next angler. In between I may snap photos like this one taken a few years back.

With this knowledge, let’s go catch people and release them to catch others following the example of Jesus. Find receptive people, teach them everything Jesus commanded (which includes generosity) and release them to catch others.

And if you want to see videos of my son, Sammy, and I fly fishing, visit his SammysFlyShop YouTube page.

And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 1 Thessalonians 5:14

“You give a poor man a fish and you feed him for a day. You teach him to fish and you give him an occupation that will feed him for a lifetime.”

Jack Nelson in Rockford Register-Republic on 11 November 1961 on Page 4, Column 4, Rockford, Illinois.

As I look at historical variations of this famous quote, I am also exploring related biblical texts. The idea of occupation surfaces in today’s post and Scripture.

Some in Thessalonica were being lazy and not working and expecting handouts. Here, the Apostle Paul would say, don’t give these people anything!

Instead our generosity must be in the form of encouraging and helping the weak. This implies giving them the hand up as we have been seeing in other passages.

Again this relates to the work of GTP as “occupation” comes into view. Helping the poor build local capacity is hard work, but it bears fruit in the long run.

Include GTP in your giving. We are praying for $37,000 for trainings and translation of materials into Arabic, Bahasa, Chinese, French, and Portuguese by 30 June 2021.

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act. Proverbs 3:27

“If you give a man a fish he is hungry again in an hour. If you teach him to catch a fish you do him a good turn.”

Anne Isabella Thackeray Ritchie in Macmillan’s Magazine, Mrs. Dymond written in August 1885.

Did some research on the current theme of shifting our generosity from handouts that create dependencies to hand ups that build disciples. I like this expression that dates back to 1885. We can take a person from hungry to doing “him a good turn” by teaching him a skill.

How could your generosity teach people skills so they can contribute to the flourishing of others? Think about that. Most people who struggle have made a wrong turn. We all have! But when we help such folks, as Christ as helped us, we do them a good turn. For sure!

Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Acts 3:6

“In ministering to the economically poor, we must not make them dependent on our giving but rather help them to be self-sufficient. The church is a channel of love, understanding, and encouragement, as well as a source of diverse opportunities to learn and work and experience new avenues of service and cooperation.

There is a blessing in the partnership in the ministry but let us not forget that we have our own resources. Freely we have received, let us freely give what we have. We may be economically limited, but we can take the message to the “lame men” of the world: “We have no money at all, but we give you what we have in the name of Jesus Christ…”

As Christians, poverty is not a handicap to serving the Lord. He uses our experience to minister to the poor and all men as well..”

Edna Lee de Gutierrez in “Good News For the Poor” in Lausanne Content Library post dated 21 May 2018.

Gutierrez offers two good reminders regarding ministering to the economically poor.

Firstly, they have something to offer. It may not be financial, but it can provide rich blessing to others. Don’t think that because of their physical poverty that they have nothing to offer.

Secondly, the best way to assist the economically poor is to help them become self-sufficient. Again, don’t give them a fish and feed them for a day, teach them to fish and feed them for a lifetime.

When the economically rich do this they realize how poor they are in some areas of life.

Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. Luke 16:10

“As Christians, poverty is not a handicap to serving the Lord. We should not wait for help from the wealthy to do our work. We have spiritual, human, and material resources at hand and must learn to be good stewards of them.”

Edna Lee de Gutierrez in “Good News For the Poor” in Lausanne Content Library post dated 21 May 2018.

Edna is a voice from Mexico proclaiming a profound truth. The majority world may experience poverty, but it is “not a handicap” and they must “not wait for help” but must learn to be good stewards of the little they have.

As Jesus says in today’s Scripture, when they are faithful with little, God will supply more. This relates to “spiritual, human, and material resources.” If this post resonates with you, join the work we are doing at GTP.

We like to say, don’t give handouts to the poor which create dependencies. Instead, give a hand up to build disciples. Again, if you are saying “Amen!” to this, then join the GTP prayer team and make a financial gift.

This is generosity that keeps on giving because when gifts are used to help grow faithful stewards the impact multiplies. GTP is contextualizing and translating resources into many languages right now.

We are doing trainings stewards this month with online work in East Asia and across Southern Africa. We are praying for $65,000 by 30 June 2021 for these and related efforts. Get our prayer journal and make a gift today.

Edna does not need your handout so much as a hand up.

Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all His benefits. Psalm 103:1-2

“Psalm 103 is one of the favorites among the hymns of praise; its opening words are familiar to worshipers. The psalm incorporates elements of praise and individual songs of thanksgiving. The praise follows the classic form of the Psalter, with the call to praise followed by the resons for the praise. The summons to praise in Psalm 103 is unusual in that it is a self-exhortation, but the context is still that of corporate worship. The psalm would fit well in a worship context in which the congregation offers praise and thanksgiving as a setting for individuals to express gratitude for deliverance from crises and for the bringing of offerings.”

Walter Brueggemann in Psalms (NCBC: New York; Cambridge University Press, 2014) 440.

In challenging times, we must remember all the blessings we have from the LORD or as the psalmist put it, “forget not His benefits.”

Psalm 103 is a hymn of praise that fits for individuals and groups. Brueggemann notes that it also fits well linked to the bringing of offerings.

This kind of remembering for individuals and groups nurtures a heart of gratitude in us. It also helps nurture greater generosity in our lives.

Wherever you are at today. Pause to read it. Did a word or phrase minister to you? What message might God be sending to you?

Regardless of your challenges, needs, worries, successes, failures, fears, or concerns. Stop to lift up this hymn of praise. Praise the LORD, my soul.

But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Luke 10:29

“Jesus’ answer to the lawyer’s question turns out to be a negation of the question’s premise that there are boundaries to the definition of neighbor. The question “Who is my neighbor?” ought not to be asked. No thought is allowed that a human can be a non-neighbor. Franz Leenhardt’s often used statement is compelling: One cannot define one’s neighbor: one can only be a neighbor. We cannot say in advance who the neighbor is; rather, nearness and need define “neighbor.”

Klyne Snodgrass in Stories with Intent: A Comprehensive Guide to the Parables of Jesus (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2008) 357.

Yesterday morning my daily office was thrown off by a set of urgent emails from Africa needing my attention. As a result, I went to church with anticipation that maybe I would hear thoughts worth sharing. That’s what happened.

In the Good Samaritan story, whilst the lawyer answered Jesus’ first question correctly, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” with loving God and neighbor, his follow up revealed his heart. He was trying to justify himself.

With Jesus’ reply we discover there are no boundaries or limits to the answer. Every human must see other humans as his or her neighbor. Leenhardt further defines it by nearness and need. Here are the implications for our generosity.

We get to serve the needs of neighbors that God brings near to our awareness. We do this not to justify ourselves but to show the love and care of God that is within us. Our role is merely to reflect God’s love to a watching world.

Two twists surface in the process. We cannot justify ourselves, and every person comes into view as a neighbor. So, loving God and neighbor appears as our reason for existence. God, help us reflect your love with no boundaries and rich generosity.

In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. James 2:17

“You can live opposite of what you profess, but you cannot live opposite of what you believe.”

Dallas Willard as cited in Sarafina by Jenna Marasco (Baesic, 2011) 79.

Our actions reveal what we believe.

If we store up treasures on earth, we show our trust is in ourselves rather than God. If we give generously as a conduit of blessing, we reveal our dependence on God to supply.

What do your actions demonstrate?