Meditations

Do not be overawed when others grow rich, when the splendor of their houses increases; for they will take nothing with them when they die, their splendor will not descend with them. Psalm 49:16-17

“A rich man drove me out to his fine estate in the country. After we had gone over its splendid acres, he turned to me and said, ‘Does that place belong to me?’ I said, ‘Ask me that a hundred years from now and I will tell you whether it does or not.’ The fact of divine ownership never changes — only the circumstances differ. One hundred years from tonight none of us will own any bank stock; the angel of death will pry open our hands; we shall return unto God His own. God is the great Evictor. When we stand and sing, “We give Thee but Thine own,” we are stating a solemn truth. God never signs any quit-claim deeds; He only says, “Another steward to test.”

Edwin H. Hughes as quoted in “Study Three” of The New Christian: Studies in Stewardship by Ralph S. Cushman (New York: Centenary Conservation Committee, Methodist Episcopal Church, 1919) 48-49.

I can think of no greater witness in a world captivated by the myth of human ownership than humble obedient stewardship. In this lesson, Hughes reports that in addition to sharing this “one hundred years” illustration he also recounts the parable of the rich fool in Luke 12:13-21. In that text, we hear Jesus pointedly say: “Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?” to the person who stores up treasures for himself because he does not understand divine ownership.

Psalm 49 contains the understanding that must accompany anyone with riches. They can’t save us, satisfy us, or give us the security we seek; only God can. This is why we must be rich toward God. Likewise Jesus in the parable of the rich fool reveals that He is watching each of us. Will you pass the test? I am asking not because of what I want from you, but what I want for you. Don’t just say with your lips that you understand divine ownership; show it with your life.

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:21

“My definition of money for my purpose is simply this: Money is myself. I am a laboring man, we will say, and can handle a pickaxe, and I hire myself out for a week at $2.00 a day. At the close of the week I get $12.00, and I put it in my pocket. What is that $12.00? It is a week’s worth of my muscle put into greenbacks and pocketed; that is, I have got a week’s worth of myself in my pocket.

Now the moment you understand this, you begin to understand that money in your pocket is not merely silver and gold, but is something human, something that is instinct with power expended. Now, money is like electricity; it is stored power, and it is only a question as to where that power is to be loosed. What am I coming to is this — that this matter of the stored potentiality of myself in my pocket is so very serious that I need God’s Holy Spirit to guide me in it.

Do you see what a blessed, what a solemn thing this giving is, this giving of my stored self to my Master? Surely we need, in the matter of giving, consecrated thought as to where to loose ourselves; earnest prayer in the guidance of the choice of where to loose our stored power, and earnest prayer to God to add His blessing to the loosed personality in this money we have sent abroad, that there may come a tenfold increase because of the personal power we have sent.

When we think of money that way, and pray about it that way, and give it that way, and tell others of it, then we will have the Church of God saying: ‘Hasten the collection in the church. Quick! Let the ushers pass down that we may loose ourselves for Jesus’ sake, and send out stored power the world around for the sake of Him who gave Himself for us.’ That is consecrated use of money.”

A. F. Schauffler as quoted in “Study Two” of The New Christian: Studies in Stewardship by Ralph S. Cushman (New York: Centenary Conservation Committee, Methodist Episcopal Church, 1919) 25-26.

As I read through this stewardship series that’s nearly a century old, I resonate with the unashamed zeal of the writers who communicate with clarity and candor. For example, I love the expression “stored power” referring to money. Money does not define us, but connects with the deepest parts of us. When we store it up on earth, our heart remains here with it. When we store it up in heaven, our heart goes there with it. When we realize it is stored power and consecrate it to God, we become eager to put it to work in a manner that pleases our Master, the Owner of it.

What about your stored power? Does it need to be loosed and put in play?

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. 11 So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? Luke 16:10-11

“We hear a great deal these days along the line that when the church gets right spiritually, there will be no trouble about the money. My experience clearly teaches me that when Christians get right with reference to money, there will be no question about the spirituality of the church. Selfishness and devotion to Christian service will never be found in the same life. There is no room for the prayer life in a heart filled with selfishness, and no possibility of Christian growth without the prayer life.”

E. M. Runyan as quoted in “Study One” of The New Christian: Studies in Stewardship by Ralph S. Cushman (New York: Centenary Conservation Committee, Methodist Episcopal Church, 1919) 22.

Runyan gets it right! We must steward money faithfully before we can expect to be entrusted with true riches. Nearly a century ago he voiced concerns of selfishness as a competitor to Christian service. He also astutely connects the state of a person’s prayer life to their level of selfishness. How would you rate on such a scale?

When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments. 2 Timothy 4:13

“If the stewardship revival is to lift the Church to a new and permanent level of spiritual life, it must be steered between the bald legalism, which can see in Christian stewardship nothing larger than the tithe, and the sophistry of the really insincere man who is ready to acknowledge only with words “All that I have belongs to God.” Of course, the stewardship of the entire life must be the end of the vision…”

Ralph S. Cushman in The New Christian: Studies in Stewardship (New York: Centenary Conservation Committee, Methodist Episcopal Church, 1919) 5.

Today’s Scripture reveals that the Apostle Paul likely shared his scrolls and parchments with Timothy. As one who fancies books and happily shares them, I appreciate texts like this one. Speaking of books, I just acquired this classic for under $10 (shipping included). It’s 98 years old and contains seven stewardship studies. I can’t wait to read them. Today’s post comes from the foreword section of the book.

With eloquence, Cushman calls us to abandon the “bald legalism” of the tithe and the sophistry of the insincere person who acknowledges only with words “All that I have belongs to God.” Alternatively, he exhorts readers to embrace the vision of “stewardship of the entire life.” What about you? Does stewardship touch only a percentage of your life? Are you all talk and no action? Or are you prepared to give an account for the stewardship of your entire life?

Regardless of how each of us started this life, what matters is how we finish. Resolve to finish strong. Perhaps meditate on Psalm 24 today, which starts with the proclamation that God owns everything and maps the pathway to ascending to the mountain of the Lord. Make stewardship of your entire life your vision. Invite others to join you and bring renewal to your church. Like Paul, share books with others on the journey. Prepare together to give an account for your lives to God!

On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made. 1 Corinthians 16:2

“That the liturgical act of offering is properly placed after the proclamation of the Word points to this: receiving the Word excites the desire to serve, to give, to share the divine abundance. Likewise the formal service of Christian worship ordinarily concludes with a sending forth in love and service to the world. Such a sending forth to give is not premised in one’s acquisitive power or capital holdings. Rather, it is expected that all will give because all — rich and poor, able bodied and otherwise, the young and old — have received of God’s abundance and so have more than enough to give and serve, be it in the form of material wealth, time, wisdom, strength, compassion, presence, prayers…

Care should be taken, however not to mistake the character of God’s abundance. The opposite of scarcity is not “unlimited” in the sense that God will satisfy our avarice, gluttony, and all the cravings of our disordered or fallen desire. Rather, the abundance that God gives is a matter of enough. God graciously gives all we need for flourishing. Therefore, God’s abundant provision should not be confused with a “prosperity gospel.” God’s abundance is not about meeting our wildest consumer dreams. Rather, God’s abundance takes form in the disciplines that heal our desire so that it moves in accord with its true end, so that we desire what and how we should desire.”

Daniel M. Bell Jr. in The Economy of Desire: Christianity and Capitalism in a Postmodern World (The Church and Postmodern Culture; Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2012) 179-180. Special thanks this morning to my friend Philip Eubanks, who is working on his PhD in the UK, for reminding me of the richness of Bell’s research this week.

In today’s Scripture, the Apostle Paul outlines the biblical definition of saving. It’s living on less than we make, so we can share from that which we have received from God. Search for yourself, you won’t find any biblical support for stockpiling treasures on earth. That’s the world’s definition of saving. In God’s economy, saving helps us avoid debt, make purchases with cash, and live intentionally with margin so we can give when we gather to worship.

Pastors often ask me when the “liturgical act of offering” should take place in a worship gathering. I echo Bell’s answer: invite people share in response to receiving the Word, after feeding them spiritually. And then send the gathered church forth as the scattered church to generously share more than just finances. Send everyone forth to live, give, serve, and love wherever God takes them each week as workers for Him.

Why do this? We get to help those we serve have their desires rightly ordered, their role in God’s economy properly understood, and their relationship to resources biblically oriented, so that they are not slaves to money, but rather, slaves to God. When we have done that, then they will be generous, regardless of their “acquisitive power or capital holdings” as Bell so keenly puts it. God help us to this end!

Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” Mark 6:31

“The number one enemy of Christian spiritual formation today is exhaustion. We are living beyond our means, both financially and physically. As a result, one of the primary activities (or anti-activities) of human life is being neglected: sleep.”

James Bryan Smith in The Good and Beautiful God: Falling in Love with the God Jesus Knows (Downers Grove: IVP, 2009) 33.

It’s the weekend. Hopefully we can all get some rest.

For years, when our children were at home, we had to plan diligently so that we would eat meals together and get a decent amount of sleep. Too many families are “coming and going” with so many activities that they don’t have time for meals together, and they don’t get adequate rest.

Jesus invites us to slow down, to cut out the noise, and find rest with Him.

For some of you, this might mean that it’s time to unplug the cable or satellite TV pumping into your home. We did that a few years ago. There’s plenty to watch on the internet for free. For others, it means limiting kids to one extra-curricular activity at a time so that the nights and weekends are not all washed out with rehearsals and productions or practices and games.

What does this have to do with generosity?

If you are living beyond your means physically, you are likely doing it financially too. It’s not just hard, it’s impossible to live generously if you are over-extended in many areas of life. It does not mean you can’t have a full schedule. Generous people have very full schedules. It’s about having priorities in line. Do you?

If you are weary, perhaps it’s time to reassess your priorities. Start with getting some sleep this weekend. Then find a quiet place, spend some time with Jesus, and ask Him about your priorities.

We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this liberal gift. For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of man. 2 Corinthians 8:20-21

“Here Paul further explains the rationale behind the procedures in place for this fund-raising campaign, which amount to complete transparency before everyone involved. When other people’s money was at stake, it was not enough for Paul to be confident before the Lord of his own good intentions and the appropriate distribution of funds. Paul understood that others needed to be confident as well, and so he instituted measures to ensure openness and accountability.

First, he assembled a team of individuals, rather than simply having Titus handle matters on his own. Second, he made sure each of the individuals were men of experience and proven character. Third, this team did not consist simply of Paul’s handpicked cronies, but included delegates selected and approved by “the churches.” These measures were designed both to safeguard the collection from misuse and to avert criticism, by openly demonstrating to everyone intentional and determined accountability.”

Moyer V. Hubbard in 2 Corinthians, Teach the Text Commentary Series, ed. Mark Strauss (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2017) 139.

Complete transparency builds confidence to participate in collections, but it takes hard work. The Apostle Paul testified that they took “great pains” to put such structures in place. Hubbard smartly summarizes the procedures that were implemented, and shows how the effort engaged numerous proven people. Many don’t realize that this collection spanned churches in many nations across the Mediterranean world and took six years to orchestrate (A.D. 53-58). Doing the hard work of putting accountability structures in place undoubtedly increased giving and participation, but more importantly, made sure everything was handled with integrity before God and man.

As you may know, I serve about four days per month as ECFA International Liaison helping establish peer accountability groups around the world. I have a ministry much like the Apostle Paul working with Christian leaders in various countries to help them form coalitions of Christ-centered churches and ministries committed to following standards of faithful stewardship (doing what is right before God and man) regardless of what others are doing. It’s been a privilege to help catalyze CCFK (South Korea), CCTA (Philippines), CMASC (Australia), and AfCAA (Kenya).

Good news! God has worked in local Christian leaders in Guatemala to form CONFIABLE. CONFIABLE means “trustworthy” in Spanish and is an acronym that stands for “Concilio de Organizaciones no-lucrativas, Financieramente Integras, Auditables, Bíblica y Legalmente Establecidas” or “Council of nonprofit organizations, financially integrated, auditable, biblically and legally established.” Please pray with me for the newly-formed board and general assembly of CONFIABLE to have wisdom and strength as they “take great pains” to draft standards for Christ-centered churches and ministries in Guatemala to exhibit “complete transparency.”

Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. Romans 5:3-5

“The tendency of this or that novelist or poet may represent suffering as wholly bad in it’s effects, as producing, and justifying, every kind of malice and brutality in the sufferer. And, of course, pain, like pleasure, can be so received: all that is given to a creature with free will must be two-edged, not by the nature of the giver or of the gift, but by the nature of the recipient. And, again, the evil results of pain can be multiplied if sufferers are persistently taught by the bystanders that such results are the proper and manly results for them to exhibit. Indignation at others’ sufferings, though a generous passion, needs to be well managed lest it steal away patience and humanity from those who suffer and plant anger and cynicism in their stead.

But I am not convinced that suffering, if spared such officious vicarious indignation, has any natural tendency to produce such evils. I did not find the front-line trenches or the C.C.S. [battlefield Casualty Clearing Stations] more full than any other place of hatred, selfishness, rebellion, and dishonesty. I have seen great beauty of spirit in some who were great sufferers. I have seen men, for the most part, grow better not worse with advancing years, and I have seen the last illness produce treasures of fortitude and meekness from most unpromising subjects. I see in loved and revered historical figures, such as Johnson and Cowper, trait’s which might scarcely have been tolerable if the men had been happier. If the world is indeed a ‘vale of soul making’ it seems on the whole to be doing it’s work.”

C.S. Lewis (1898-1963) in The Problem of Pain (New York: HarperCollins, 1996) 108-109.

This has been a rough week.

My wife has been quite ill with sinus and ear infections and my back pain resurfaced with some magnitude. I decided to welcome suffering as a gift and explore the thinking of Lewis on the topic. I’m glad I did. So many people who suffer have had their “patience and humanity” replaced with “anger and cynicism” because they have bought the line that suffering is bad. It’s certainly not comfortable, but it is not bad either.

Then suffering came up on Tuesday during Bible study with my neighbor, Ken.

“Gary, since we’ve been studying the Scriptures with you, it seems like my suffering has gotten worse.” He was not exaggerating as his wife, Carol, has had a difficult year with numerous physical ailments in addition to his own aches and pains. “But in trusting in Christ through it all I have changed. I have hope, and hope is the second greatest gift next to God’s love.” I’ve seen hope replace anger in Ken’s heart. It’s been beautiful to watch.

Ken echoed the Apostle Paul. Character, hope and love are generous gifts Christ gives those who suffer.

Father in heaven, produce character and hope within us through our suffering because of your love poured out on us by your Holy Spirit. Form “great beauty of spirit” and help us “grow better not worse with advancing years” so that our last illnesses produce “treasures of fortitude and meekness” in us by your grace and Spirit working within us. Thanks that despite the pain, we have hope because of your great love. Amen.

Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. 1 Corinthians 11:1

“In confession the breakthrough to community takes place. Sin demands to have a man by himself. It withdraws him from the community. The more isolated a person is, the more destructive will be the power of sin over him, and the more deeply he becomes involved in it, the more disastrous is his isolation. Sin wants to remain unknown. It shuns the light. In the darkness of the unexpressed it poisons the whole being of a person. This can happen even in the midst of a pious community. In confession the light of the gospel breaks into the darkness and seclusion of the heart. The sin must be brought into the light. The unexpressed must be openly spoken and acknowledged. All that is secret and hidden is made manifest. It is a hard struggle until the sin is openly admitted.”

Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945) in Life Together (New York: Harper One, 1954) 112.

As I teach on generosity and speak about what the Bible says on the handling of money, I have come to realize that the most significant things I share are not linked to theology but rather, confession. People say the testimonies help them understand the instruction. For example, when I admit that we stored up treasures on earth for years, which is the opposite location where Jesus told us to put them, my confession helps set others free from this sin. People, who are experiencing the “hard struggle” of letting go, find freedom.

When I testify to other things my family has learned about life in God’s economy, people resonate with the illustrations because our confession helps show them the way. We don’t have this all figured out, but it’s how we grow in community. Money is a topic that few people like to talk about, and I believe it is because darkness has a stronghold in many lives. Sin loses its power through confession. To grow from greed to generosity, let the light of the gospel shine on your financial situation. Confess what God is teaching you, and see what God does among you.

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:11-13

Our son, Sammy, got a puppy. It’s a German Shorthair Pointer, just like our nine-year old dog, Joy St. Clare. When we asked him her name, he said, “Hope St. Teresa.” With the name, Hope, our minds went to one of his favorite Bible passages, which is today’s Scripture, Jeremiah 29:11-13. We are thankful his hope is in the Lord and that dog will be a reminder of that. Then we inquired further, “Which Teresa?” Mother Teresa and Teresa of Avila are two of our favorite saints who have inspired us through their lives and writings as followers of Jesus Christ. After telling us it was Mother Teresa, he shared this quote with us, know widely with the title, “Do it anyway!”

“People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered.
Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.
Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies.
Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you.
Be honest and sincere anyway.
What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight.
Create anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous.
Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, will often be forgotten.
Do good anyway.
Give the best you have, and it will never be enough.
Give your best anyway.
In the final analysis, it is between you and God.
It was never between you and them anyway.”

Mother Teresa (1910-1997) had this written on the wall of the home for children in Calcutta, India. She likely adapted it from “The Paradoxical Commandments” by Kent Keith.

No matter what anyone else says or does related to their giving, living, serving and loving.
Give, live, serve, and love generously anyway!