Meditations

Those who walk righteously and speak what is right, who reject gain from extortion and keep their hands from accepting bribes, who stop their ears against plots of murder and shut their eyes against contemplating evil — they are the ones who will dwell on the heights, whose refuge will be the mountain fortress. Their bread will be supplied, and water will not fail them. Isaiah 33:15-16

“Before people can hear the word of forgiveness, they must face the rigor of God’s law for only those who meet the law’s demands can enter the new Zion. The verbs throughout are singular: the demand is individual and, first, comprehensive: walk covers a person’s whole outward lifestyle, characteristic behavior; righteously is a plural of amplitude, righteousness in all its aspects and in all life. Secondly, there is straightforward truth in speech: right means ‘straight’. Thirdly comes finance, with particular reference to how money is gained: extortion, refusal to subordinate people to profit; bribes, refusal to subordinate truth to profit. Fourthly, there is the mind: the ears receive what other say, the eyes look where the observer directs. They are both channels of the thought-life. Plots of murder is literally ‘hearing of blood-guilt’, which is listening either to what will bring guilt before God on the hearer, or to that which tells of guilt incurred by others. For the one who is thus righteous immense privileges open up: fellowship with the Lord, i.e. dwell on the heights (of Zion); security: refuge is ‘top security’, to be set on an inaccessible height; and provision (bread and water).”

J. Alec Motyer in Isaiah (TOTC; Downers Grove: IVP, 1999) 237.

There’s a lot going on in today’s text. As it comes from the Old Testament, we must start by giving thanks that Christ fulfilled the requirements of the God’s law for us. In plain terms, we study it to learn about God’s heart and desires for His people, individually and collectively, but thankfully we do not follow it to win God’s favor as that was won for us by Christ.

Regarding gain, this text teaches us explicitly that God cares how we earn money. He despises it when we subordinate people to profit (extortion) or truth to profit (bribes). In modern times, business owners may think that if they obey government laws that they are not guilty of extortion or bribery, but notice that God has a higher standard.

Making money must never become more important than caring for the needs of workers or communicating truth. If you are an employer, do more than comply with laws, be generous to your employees and be honest in all your dealings. God sees all you do. I am talking ‘straight’ like the prophet Isaiah to remind us all that God will look us when we do rightly.

Wisdom is supreme; therefore acquire wisdom. And whatever else you obtain, gain understanding. Proverbs 4:7

“Knowledge is not simply information but what one needs to live wisely. Such knowledge is gained dialectically through conversation with others by reproof. One must give up one’s preconceived ideas and undergo discipline in order to gain wisdom.”

Richard J. Clifford in Proverbs: A Commentary (Louisville: WJKP, 1999) 129.

While “gain” is commonly used as a noun, it also appears as a verb in many occurrences in Proverbs. In this instance we see the value of wisdom and applied knowledge, also known as understanding. It’s the possession to go after!

At Family Camp at Black Rock Retreat this week people said they appreciated our Bible teaching, but most of all, they were grateful that we also shared formational practices and application ideas for families.

How does this relate to generosity? Proverbs tells us that if we go after anything, aim at wisdom. The world says to gain it to “get ahead” of everyone else. The Word suggest we would do this not to get ahead but help the weak.

When we gain wisdom, it transforms us, but the key is to not let the transformation stop with us. Generosity is sharing the wisdom we gain with others so they too know how to live. What wisdom have you gained that you could share generously?

Better a little with righteousness than much gain with injustice. Proverbs 16:8

“Unjust social systems are often the cause of poverty. Examples include unjustly low wages (Jeremiah 22:13), loans with excessive interest (Exodus 22:25-27), a legal system in which the wealthy get far better outcomes than the poor (Leviticus 19:15), and social prejudice against immigrants or minorities (Exodus 22:21, 23:9). There are few societies in which these conditions have not existed. And while there is poverty caused by foolishness, Proverbs insists that poverty is not always shameful. In every poor population there are many of strong, even blameless (19:1) moral character who have been swept up in the complex forces that create poverty. These “better than” proverbs show that it is quite possible to be poor and still a man or woman of love rather than hatred (15:17), of humility rather than pride (16:19) of righteousness rather than injustice (16:8), and of honesty rather than lying (19:22).”

Timothy & Kathy Keller in God’s Wisdom for Navigating Life: A Year of Daily Devotions in the Book of Proverbs (New York: Penguin, 2017) Reading for November 30.

As we drill down on the idea of “gain” in the Scriptures we start to realize that God’s Word calls us to live differently than the financial systems around us. That might even mean that by choosing not to participate in “what everyone else is doing” we might come to a place of suffering rather than flourishing.

This “better than” proverb reminds us that it is better to have a little and follow God’s design for life and living than to have gain with injustice. The world cares how much we make. God cares how we make it. Think about how you earn income. If Jesus went to work with you, would He find your gain comes as a result of just systems or injustice?

Today we wrap up the week at Family Camp with “The Mission Every Family Must Choose to Accept” teaching from the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats (Matthew 25:31-46). While the world aims to get great gain for selfish purposes, good and faithful families use all they gain to show their faith in loving service of the least deserving.

The wages of the righteous leads to life, the gain of the wicked to sin. Proverbs 10:16

“The contrast in this proverb is between the consequences of the gain of the righteous and the wicked respectively. The righteous and the wicked are the wise and the fool, described by their ethics. The term “wages” is a noun form of the verb, “to act, do, make, accomplish”; but in it’s nominal form (here) it can mean wages or payment. This verse assumes that both the righteous and the wicked may gain some material substance, but contrasts the value that it has for them. Money in the hand of the righteous person is a positive thing, but money in the hand of a wicked person is a negative thing. The contrast in consequences is interesting and somewhat unexpected.”

Tremper Longman III in Proverbs (BCOTWP; Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2006) 236.

Consider the message of this proverb. For the righteous (think: those who follow God’s design for life and living), gain becomes a positive thing. For the wicked (think: those who do not follow God’s design for life and living), money contributes to their destruction. It resources the virtues or vices present in their lives.

How does this relate to generosity? Those who follow God’s design for life and living will exhibit the fruit of the spirit of generosity. Those who don’t will not. Essentially, the proverb shows that our fruits reveal our roots. That leads those who desire to live generous lives to aim only at to aim at being rightly rooted in Christ. Hear and do what He says.

Today at Family Camp we are teaching on “The Trap Every Family Must Avoid” from the Parable of the Rich Fool in Luke 12:13-21. Are you blessed with abundance? Steer clear of the trap of greed by serving as a distributor. Jesus calls it being “rich toward God.” In the parable, the fool pridefully failed to play his part with gain and was relieved of his distribution duties.

Does your life reveal that gain a positive or negative for you? 

But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ — the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. Philippians 3:7-9

“Paul has abandoned or renounced any gains connected with his previous benefits and assets, whether the privileges of birth, family honors, personal achievements, family, or material possessions. Like a liquidation sale at an expensive furniture warehouse, Paul concluded that all the valuable stuff was expendable and had to go if it got in the way of gaining Christ and being found in him…Paul can no longer profitably use those good things (cf. Isaiah 64:6). They no longer nourish his life. In any event, Paul is saying that such earthly things have been totally eclipsed by the value of knowing Christ and the benefits one has in Him.”

Ben Witherington III in Paul’s Letter to the Philippians: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2011) 202.

Today’s look at gain in God’s Word directs our attention to choices we must make. Paul considered “whatever were gains” as loss. Why? Their worth was far less than knowing and gaining Christ. Do you have these things? Paul would say to let go of them. As Witherington writes, “they no longer nourish” you. You’ve tasted something better.

This renunciation echoes the call of Jesus to the rich man in Mark 10:17-31. There, the call to let go of wealth and status comes with promise of one hundredfold gain. That’s the paradox of gaining Christ! It costs us everything and yet, the gain is one hundred times better than the cost. The reality is, however, that we can’t have both.

By calling the rich to let go of gain and consider it loss, Jesus and Paul are not trying to rob the rich but help them. Please hear that! With them, I am not telling you that you are bad if you have wealth. God often richly supplies material resources to faithful servants. I am saying that if you have wealth, don’t hold on to it lest it get it’s hold on to you!

Today at Family Camp we are teaching on “The Choices Every Family Must Make” and the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). Notice that a rich person does not save the day in that story. The last person anyone would expect to show love, to share resources, and to offer help becomes the role model for the rest of us. That’s how it works with Jesus.

For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and for the gospel will save it. What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Mark 8:35-36

“In developing the thought of the supreme value of life in its deepest sense, Jesus employed language drawn from commercial life: profit, gain, loss, give in exchange. A comparison of values is the proper setting for a consideration of profit and loss. Corresponding to the advantage gained — the whole world — is the payment which must be forfeited — authentic life. But the ledger involves values which cannot really be compared. The loss even of ordinary human life is in no way compensated by winning the world; how much more is this true of eternal life.”

William L. Lane in The Gospel According to Mark (NICNT; Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1974) 309.

Today our exploration of “gain” takes us to a famous saying of Jesus. As Lane notes, Jesus uses the language of everyday business and exchange to describe the priceless value of the life Christ offers. In short, this abundant life exceeds everything the world offers, but one must abandon the latter to grasp the former.

How does this use of “gain” relate to generosity? If we pursue all the world offers with the aim of using the earthly gain for good, we miss the mark altogether. We may think we are doing good things, but all our “righteous acts” are meaningless to God; they are like “filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6).

Jesus flatly states that such people will miss the kingdom. Though in the last day they will remind Him of all the things they did in His name, they will be sent away. He will say, “I never knew you” (cf. Matthew 7:21-23). Only those who know Christ and abandon all the world offers, will end up living (and giving) abundantly.

Today Jenni and I teach on the Parable of the Watchful Workers (Mark 13:32-37) in our lesson entitled, “The Task Every Family Must Undertake.” Having taken hold of abundant life, watchful workers live in a state of readiness for Christ’s return, avoid the temptations of the world, and do the work God made them to do.

We are at Black Rock Retreat near Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Amish Country (pictured above)! Of course, the Amish have a reputation for their work. What about you? Have you lost yourself for Christ’s sake? Are you ready for His return? Do you avoid the temptations of the world? Are you a watchful worker?

These are the things you are to teach and insist on. If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain. But godliness with contentment is great gain. 1 Timothy 6:2b-6

“As indicated by the repetition of the two key terms “gain” and “godliness” and the linking “to be” verb (now moved to emphatic position), Paul turns the negative assessment just made inside out to correct (and further condemn) the heretical distortion of values. While the repetition of thoughts is rhetorically significant, it is the expansions he introduces, and the implicit redefinition of “godliness” that results, that shift the direction of meaning.

First, Paul takes the discussion to a higher level than the heretical understanding is able to reach. The “great gain” he associates with “godliness” exceeds the limited material “gain” sought by the opponents.

Second, his repetition the term “godliness,” bearing the profound meaning of authentic Christian existence, also seeks a higher, spiritual level of meaning. The further qualification of it as “godliness with contentment [or self-sufficiency]” removes godliness from the material limitations of the false teachers’ motives and substantiates Paul’s spiritual thrust. The qualifying phrase contains a term that was essential to Stoic philosophy (and present also in Cynic and Epicurean teaching), where it expressed the notion of “self-sufficiency,” emphasized detachment from things or outside possessions, and stressed independence. Paul was clearly in touch with this theme (2 Corinthians 9:8; Philippians 4:11-12), but supplied a Christian basis for it. By introducing the counter-materialistic concept of self-sufficiency as an element of “godliness,” he left no room for the acquisitiveness and financial implications attached to the false teachers. With a slight shift, the term comes to mean the satisfaction or contentment with what one already has. In the present context, the two ideas converge. Godliness is not about acquiring better and more material things; it is instead an active life of faith, a living out of covenant faithfulness in relation to God, that finds sufficiency and contentment in Christ alone whatever one’s outward circumstances might be.”

Philip H. Towner in The Letters to Timothy and Titus (NICNT; Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2006) 398-399.

When Towner was my doctoral advisor, I marveled at his brilliant grasp of the biblical text as evidenced by his profound comments here. “Godliness is not about acquiring better and more material things; it is instead an active life of faith, a living out of covenant faithfulness in relation to God, that finds sufficiency and contentment in Christ alone whatever one’s outward circumstances might be.”

We live in a world that bombards us with messages to the contrary. The world equates gain with getting the money and things that it says you need to live. That’s the part Towner pins down for us. “With a slight shift, the term comes to mean the satisfaction or contentment with what one already has.” Or in plain terms, when we have Christ, we have everything we need, we have ever needed, and will ever need.

Many, wrongly, fall into the trap of thinking that they need Christ and money or material possessions. What’s wrong with this thinking? It creates two masters in our lives and Christ tells us that we can only serve one, so we end up slaves to the wrong master. This is a common pitfall for many professing Christians in modernity. Those who fall into it might live what the world describes as “the good life” but in so doing they miss out on grasping the abundant life that Christ offers.

This week at Black Rock Retreat, the theme for Family Camp is “Mission: Improbable.” Jenni and I will teach on “Building Good and Faithful Families.” This is not likely to happen, but it’s possible, and even probable, with Jesus! We plan to go through five parables and teach five spiritual practices this week. Our lesson today is entitled “The Secret Every Family Must Know” based on the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25:14-30. We will discover together that the secret to entering eternal joy is knowing the Master.

Father, open the eyes and ears of the couples we will speak to this week, and all readers of these daily meditations, to grasp authentic Christian existence. Forgive us for thinking we need anything but You. Forgive us for holding on to money in fear. By your Holy Spirit, empower us to show the world that we have found everything we need in You by how we obediently put to work all the money You have entrusted to us. Hear our prayer in the name of Jesus, in Whom we have everything we need. Amen.

For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. Philippians 1:21

“Gaining Christ more than covers any loss incurred for the sake of Christ, even the loss of life itself. If to live is Christ, then to die is gain. The word gain means something advantageous, a profit. Since Paul uses the same word for gain here in 1:21 (to die is gain) as he does in 3:8 (that I may gain Christ), he appears to be saying that the gain of dying is Christ. He says as much in verse 23: I desire to depart and be with Christ. According to one common interpretation of this expression in verse 23, Paul’s aspiration of knowing Christ more fully in the process of living would be completely fulfilled when he enjoyed the immediate presence of Christ after death.

Another way of interpreting the word gain builds on the use of this word in classical literature to express the relief that death brings from the pain of living. In Sophocles’ play, Antigone says, “Whoever lives has many ills as I — how does this one not get gain by dying?” Paul’s life was so marked by suffering that he might be expected to view death as a way to escape the agony of life. That was a common view of death in his Hellenistic culture… But to view death as an escape from a painful life does not seem to be the perspective of Paul. He constantly asserts in this letter that his painful life is a joyful life since it’s centered in Christ. Dying is gain, not because it is an escape from life, but because it leads to union with Christ, the goal of life.”

G. Walter Hansen in The Letter to the Philippians (PNTC; Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2009) 82-83.

I want to dedicate today’s post to a friend, Bill Hamel, because he shares the perspective of Paul that to live is Christ, and to die is gain. I got to work with him on a part-time basis when he served as president of the Evangelical Free Church of America and my role was to help pastors nurture a culture of generosity in their churches. Though his health and strength is failing, his perspective remains fixed on the fact that soon his life will be “completely fulfilled” for in death he will experience union with our Lord Jesus Christ. Pure joy.

Many in the tabloids today, however, follow the classical Greek view of dying as an “escape from life” and “the pain of living,” as Hansen puts it. Too often, celebrities that make us laugh (or cry) one day, are in the obituaries the next day because they did not taste joy while living or anticipate the gain of union with Christ in the future. For them, life is emptiness so ending their lives is about ending their pain. Sadly, rather than ending their pain, for eternity they will experience endless torment as numerous biblical texts note.

So, to think about gain in the most positive way, gain is union with Christ. It was true for Paul and it’s true for Bill and me, but what about you and those around you? I have said this before, but I say it again, in honor of Bill. Our greatest act of generosity is sharing the abundant life of Jesus Christ with others. It’s the most generous gift, because it’s priceless. Today, I fly to the east coast with Jenni to speak at Black Rock Retreat this week. I plan to share this good news at family camp because I want everyone to take hold of it.

One who oppresses the poor to increase his wealth and one who gives gifts to the rich — both come to poverty. Proverbs 22:16

“We take the verse as a typical dispassionate observation on the rich and the poor. [The first part of the verse] observes that one can enrich oneself by taking from the poor, a fairly obvious conclusion in view of the defenselessness of the poor against tax farmers, debt collectors, and bandits. [The next part of the verse] makes precisely the opposite statement, which seems at first reading to be ridiculous: giving to the wealthy makes one poor. Who in their right mind would give to the wealthy? On reflection however, [that part] makes sense. Many people try to bribe the wealthy or ingratiate themselves with them by means of presents. The rich may accept the money and presents but are sufficiently cunning not to be fooled or coerced. The rich will always do what they want. Those who curry favor with them end up the poorer. The seemingly absurd antithesis memorably expresses the great gulf between the poor and the rich.”

Richard J. Clifford in Proverbs: A Commentary (Louisville: WJKP, 1999) 199.

As we continue on the theme of gain, don’t try to “curry favor” from the rich to get it or your plans will blow up on you. Today’s proverb appears, at first glance, merely as a “typical dispassionate observation on the rich and the poor” ends up providing a wealth of wisdom. God sees everything that happens under the sun. He watches those who attain gain from the poor and those who give gifts to “curry favor” from rich friends. Both will end up in poverty.

Who are the tax farmers, debt collectors, and bandits today? Again, since the ancient economy was so different from modern economies, we must instead ask, who oppresses the poor. Most point to human traffickers or sweat shop owners. Sure, those are obvious candidates. But what about many wealthy business owners, and check-cashing shops, and gambling operations? From God’s perspective, these come into view as practicing oppression, extortion, and theft.

In countries like Hong Kong, I understand that gambling is big business and that the gambling circuit has become a leading philanthropic channel. Basically they are taking from the poor and funneling it back to the privileged in society. One friend has asked me if Christian charities in Hong Kong should accept gambling money. I think not. Receiving their gifts reflects support of their system. You may win in the short run but, in the end, you will lose with them and end up in poverty.

Lest you think I hold a negative view on “gain” in relation to generosity, we will turn to a few positive texts in the days ahead. Hear these posts as me simply reporting findings from fresh biblical study. So, on gain, let us start with the understanding that God sees and cares about how we earn whatever gain we attain. If we choose nefarious avenues that prey on the poor, even if we have generous motives, we with the corrupt, we too will end up impoverished in the end.

Whoever increases wealth by taking interest or profit from the poor amasses it for another, who will be kind to the poor. Proverbs 28:8

“It is the responsibility of the wealthy to share their excess resources with the poor…The wealthy who do not share their excess goods with the poor or who gain their wealth by oppression or other dishonest means fall under the condemnation of the sages, who argue that these wicked people are subject to divine punishment. Retribution is believed to include the means by which the wicked or foolish rich receive their just punishment, whereas the righteous or wise poor will be sustained.”

Leo G. Perdue in Proverbs (Interpretation; Louisville: WJKP, 2012) 231-232.

I am turning my attention to a new topic: gain. Some gain is defined as “honest” and other gain is “dishonest” in the biblical record. Anytime you talk about gain, people start thinking in modern economic terms. Don’t do it! It’s an anachronism (that is, nonsense) to argue that the biblical record supports capitalism or socialism in their present forms. Think of it this way: God cares about how we earn gain and what we do with it.

God’s design for His people and their interaction with others does not follow worldly patterns and today’s Scripture makes that clear. God sees the behavior of those who aim at making money from (or charging interest to) poor brothers and sisters. Don’t do it! He desires His people to show care and share and those who choose not to follow this pattern will likely be relieved of their distribution duties for their unfaithfulness.

A possible picture of this “divine punishment” is the rich fool in the New Testament. He likely had many workers in his fields and amassed great gain, having a bumper crop, and rather than listen to Scripture and share, he listened to self-talk and keep it all for himself. “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?’ Luke 12:20

So our first lesson on gain coming out of our deep-dive looking at debt is not to prey on the poor or needy by taking interest from them, but rather, to create contexts where everyone can flourish. This requires us to think of the needs of others, which is the heart of the gospel of Jesus Christ: love God and love your neighbor. Is your love for God and neighbor evident in how you earn gain and what you do with it?