Meditations

The smooth tricks of scoundrels are evil. They plot crooked schemes. They lie to convict the poor, even when the cause of the poor is just. But generous people plan to do what is generous, and they stand firm in their generosity. Isaiah 32:7-8

“The Word tells us that there is no better way to improve our estates than to lay them out with a cheerful liberality for God; and that it will not be to our advantage to withhold our hands when God and duty call us to distribute. Consult providence now, and you will find that, in all respects, it is according to the report of the Word. O how true is the Scripture testimony in this respect!

Many thousands of witnesses now living can set their seals to both parts of this proposition. What men save (as they count saving) with one hand, providence scatters by another hand; and what they scatter abroad with a liberal hand and single eye for God, is surely repaid to them or theirs. No man ever lost by distributing for God. He that lends to the poor lends to the LORD, or as some expound that text, puts his money to interest to the LORD. Some have observed how providence has doubled all they have laid out for God, in ways they did not expect.”

John Flavel (1630-1691), an English Presbyterian Minister in The Mystery of Divine Providence (London: W. Baynes & Son, 1820) 71-72. Of course I loved reading through this ebook this morning as “providence” is my word for 2017.

Flavel included Isaiah 32:8 along with some other Scriptures in this section, but this particular text moved me. Our generosity, when flowing from a “a liberal hand and a single eye” stands firm. That expression reminds me of the words of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount.

Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light. But when your eye is unhealthy, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is! No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money. Matthew 6:19-24

Let us each work hard and may God bless us with abundant resources. Rather than storing them up on earth, let us put people to work in our businesses while exhibiting “cheerful liberality for God” knowing that we are following God’s firm pattern, which is fueled by providence.

Flavel would add: don’t let fear limit your liberality, for “no man ever lost by distributing for God.”

Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. 1 Timothy 4:12

“When you are studying what to say to your people, if you have any concern for their souls, you will oft be thinking with yourself, ‘How shall I get within them? and what shall I say that is most likely to convince them, and convert them, and promote their salvation!’ And should you not as diligently think with yourself, ‘How shall I live, and what shall I do, and how shall I dispose of all that I have, as may most who tend to the saving of men’s souls?’

Brethren, if the saving of souls be your end, you will certainly intend it out of the pulpit as well as in it! If it be your end, you will live for it, and contribute all your endeavors to attain it. You will ask concerning the money in your purse, as well as concerning the word of your mouth, ‘In what way shall I lay it out for the greatest good, especially to men’s souls?’ Oh that this were your daily study, how to use your wealth, your friends, and all you have for God, as well as your tongues!

Then should we see that fruit of your labors, which is never else like to be seen. If you intend the end of the ministry in the pulpit only, it would seem you take yourselves for ministers no longer than you are there. And, if so, I think you are unworthy to be esteemed ministers at all. Let me then entreat you, brethren, to do well, as well as say well. Be ‘zealous of good works.’ Spare not for any cost, if it may promote your Master’s work.”

Richard Baxter (1615-1691) in the must-read book for pastors and anyone serving in ministry oversight: The Reformed Pastor. Excerpt from chapter one “The Oversight of Ourselves, section 1 “The Nature of this Oversight” part 3.

Pastors often ask me how to encourage their congregations to grow in generosity. Since I have some pastor calls on the docket this week from home, one answer would be to take this page out of Baxter’s classic work. It’s fitting with all the focus on the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. Martin Luther nailed the 95 Theses on the Wittenberg Door in 1517.

With Baxter I counsel pastors to deploy themselves and the resources in their stewardship precisely how they want their disciples to do it. As more is caught than taught, with Baxter, this is my prayer for pastors everywhere: “Oh that this were your daily study, how to use your wealth, your friends, and all you have for God, as well as your tongues!”

He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Colossians 1:17

“God our Maker supports us by His power, rules us by His providence, fosters us by His goodness, and visits us with all kinds of blessings . . . We must be persuaded not only that as He once formed the world, so He sustains it by His boundless power, governs it by His wisdom, preserves it by His goodness, in particular, rules the human race with justice and judgment, bears with them in mercy, shields them by His protection; but also that not a particle of light, or wisdom, or justice, or power, or rectitude, or genuine truth, will anywhere be found, which does not flow from Him, and of which He is not the cause; in this way we must learn to expect and ask all things from Him, and thankfully ascribe to Him whatever we receive.”

John Calvin (1509-1564) in The Institutes of the Christian Religion 1.2.1.

Jenni and I made it safely home from Budapest last night. After three long flights traveling almost half way around the world, my body feels weary, but my mind and heart are moved again to consider God’s providence. I chose to look at John Calvin as I am having breakfast this morning with Sung Wook Chung, who did His doctoral work linked to John Calvin’s writings.

Saints through church history proclaim like a chorus of voices that God created everything, sustains everything, and “fosters us by His goodness.” He is generous by nature, which is why generosity is a fruit of the spirit (cf. Galatians 5:22-23). No matter what the media tells us about rulers or presidents, God “rules the human race with justice and judgment, bears with [us] in mercy, shields [us] by His protection.” What a great God we serve!

Even as Paul wanted the Colossians to remember that Christ cares for them, we must “learn to expect” that God will care for us, rather than fear or worry when troubles come. I think we show our faith best on such days. Let us not be independent people but ones who depend on God. Remember, we can never exhibit Christian generosity without learning how to receive first! God, help us learn to expect and ask for what we need and thankfully ascribe to You whatever we receive. Amen.

Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others. We own nothing, and yet we have everything. 2 Corinthians 6:10

“Faith maketh us truly rich; it is the open hand of the soul, to receive all the bounteous supplies of God. If we be empty and poor, it is not because God’s hand is straitened, but ours is not opened. A man may be poor notwithstanding the abundance of wealth: it putteth a difference between you and others for a while, but in the grave the poor and the rich meet together…that is, all are in the same estate without difference . . . It is grace alone that will make you to excel . . . Well, then, you that are poor, do not envy others’ plenty; you that are rich, do not please yourselves in these enjoyments. They are neither true riches, neither can you always call them your own.”

Thomas Manton (1620-1677) in The Complete Works of Thomas Manton, D.D.: With a Memoir of the Author, Volume 4 (London: Nisbet, 1871) Page 195, Observation 4.

We have had an amazing trip serving in Budapest, and we are flying home this morning. We have three flights. These flights provide a good word picture for the temporary nature of wealth. Some flights we get a bad seat, cramped between two people or with little leg room. Other times we get a great seat with much comfort and space. In neither case should we get too comfortable or call it our own because our situation is temporary. So where should our focus be? We are learning that we must open our hands to God for the bounteous supply of the true riches of faith. This shapes both how we experience the present, that is, our contentment and generosity, and how we will spend eternity.

Sometimes we even realize we have been placed in a seat to dispense true riches to others. Funny the adventure flights can be! Let us open our hands to the bounteous supplies of God so we are abundantly resourced for life as a journey of generosity.

“It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.'” Matthew 21:13

“62. The true treasure of the church is the most holy gospel of the glory and grace of God.”

Martin Luther (1483-1546) in Disputation of Doctor Martin Luther on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences by Dr. Martin Luther (1517) a.k.a. 95 Theses, #62 of 95 Theses.

This year marks the 500th Anniversary of Martin Luther nailing 95 Theses on the Wittenberg Door, which birthed the Protestant Reformation. A wrong view of money had corrupted the Church. Pope Leo X authorized the selling of “indulgences” to pay for the rebuilding of St. Peter’s Basilica.

A struggling associate pastor recently told me confidentially that his church was doing a campaign. The public message they were “selling” was that participation would help more people come to faith. It was, in reality, a campaign to pay for the renovation of the church building.

Many are quick to judge Leo X for his actions but pastors and ministry administrators can be guilty of the same sin today: misleading people to get more money in the coffers. When we do this we turn God’s house into a den of robbers. And we know what Jesus thought about this. God forgive us.

Might more ministry happen? Certainly. Might more people come to faith? Perhaps. What’s my point today and what does this have to do with generosity on my last full day in Europe? Let us treasure the gospel above all else in God’s house! Let’s make our churches houses of prayer.

Ironically, when we treasure the right thing, the gospel, as pastors and ministry administrators, people will likely follow suit, and participate in God’s work obediently. When we treasure money rather than the gospel, well, that’s when everything starts falling apart.

The Lord is your Keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand. The sun will not smite you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will protect you from all evil; He will keep your soul. The Lord will guard your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forever. Psalm 121:5-8

“He is our sure Keeper when we are ourselves in unpeace, and He continually worketh to bring us into endless peace. And thus when we, by the working of mercy and grace, be made meek and mild, we are fully safe; suddenly is the soul oned to God when it is truly peaced in itself: for in Him is found no wrath. And thus I saw when we are all in peace and in love, we find no contrariness, nor no manner of letting through that contrariness which is now in us; nay, our Lord of His Goodness maketh it to us full profitable. For that contrariness is cause of our tribulations and all our woe, and our Lord Jesus taketh them and sendeth them up to Heaven, and there are they made more sweet and delectable than heart may think or tongue may tell. And when we come thither we shall find them ready, all turned into very fair and endless worships. Thus is God our steadfast Ground: and He shall be our full bliss and make us unchangeable, as He is, when we are there.”

Julian of Norwich (1342-1416) in Showings, also known as, Revelations of Divine Love (CSD edition) excerpt from Chapter XLIX.

Norwich, of course, is a city in England. England has been on my mind since we had lunch with Zsolt Szalai, the president of CBMC Hungary, and his wife, Melinda, here in Budapest prior to the start of the summit. Their two daughters are studying in university over in England.

God’s providence comes into view as He is “our sure Keeper” who takes us from a place of unpeace to peace. Peace has been the theme of our devotions at the Budapest Summit. Peace only comes from God.

What does this have to do with generosity? A leading hindrance to generosity is unpeace. The fear that our giving will leave us empty. Julian echoes the Psalmist in todays Scripture and reminds us the Lord is our Keeper who “continually worketh to bring us into endless peace.”

Father, we resolve today to exchange our worry for worship. Move us from unpeace to peace. By your Holy Spirit, help us let go of our contrariness, which actually multiplies our fears, and stand firmly on You, our steadfast Ground. Move us from bother to bliss because of your goodness we pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Acts 1:8

“Await providence in the house of self-knowledge with the light of faith, as did the disciples. For the disciples remained in the house in perseverance, in watching, and in humble and continual prayer, awaiting the coming of the Holy Spirit. The soul should remain fasting and watching with the eye of its intellect fastened on the doctrine of my truth.”

Catherine of Siena (1347-1380) in Little Talks with God (Brewster: Paraclete, 2001) 116. This is a wonderful little book of thoughtful devotional readings.

Today’s Scripture is posted on the banners here at Budapest Summit hosted by IHS Global. My hope for attendees and everyone reading this daily meditation is that God will stir our hearts to await providence, that is, God’s generous gift of the Holy Spirit, the power of mission.

We often think, albeit wrongly, that people and money make things happen in mission. We can get ahead of God and try to do things on our own with that perspective. We, as people, participate in God’s work empowered by the Holy Spirit, but it never becomes our work. It’s always God’s work.

Persisting in prayer, watching with anticipation, and awaiting the Holy Spirit are key responsibilities of God’s people linked to mission. To “await providence” is to resolve to trust in God’s generous provision of that which ignites mission, namely, the work of the Holy Spirit.

Father in heaven, as we labor in prayer, pour out your Holy Spirit at this Budapest Summit and on all those reading this around the world. Help our minds remain fastened on You as the driving force of mission. Hear our prayer in the name of Jesus as we await providence. Amen.

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. Matthew 26:26-28

“Among all the memorable events of Christ’s life, the most worthy of remembrance is that last banquet, the most sacred supper. Here not only the pascal lamb was presented to be eaten but also the immaculate Lamb, who takes away the sins of the world…

In this banquet the marvelous sweetness of Christ’s goodness shone forth when he dined at the same table and on the same plates as those poor disciples and the traitor Judas. The marvelous example of his humility shone forth when, girt with a towel, the King of Glory diligently washed the feet of the fisherman and even his betrayer.

The marvelous richness of his generosity was manifest when he gave those first priests, and as a consequence to the whole Church and the world, his most sacred body and his true blood as food and drink so that what was soon to be a sacrifice pleasing to God and the priceless price of our redemption…”

Giovanni di Fidanza (1221-1274) known more commonly as Bonaventure, in The Tree of Life, 16 (Mahwah: Paulist Press, 1978) 139 (italics mine).

Jenni and I have arrived safely in Hungary. The header photo features the view from our room at the Budapest Hilton on our first morning (we are giving thanks to God as we paid the AAA rate and got a free upgrade to this river view room as a frequent stayer). The parliament building is on the right with the Danube River flowing around Margaret Island on the left. It’s a frosty 21 degrees here.

I found this reading on the trip as I continue reading excerpts of famous Christian writings through church history. Why read Bonaventure? As a close companion to Francis of Assisi, Bonaventure had come to know Christ and wanted the whole world to know him. That’s the common trait of each person attending this Budapest Summit.

This post is also fitting as the summit begins tonight with a banquet, a gathering of about 90 men and women from 30-40 countries that use a program called “International Saline” to equip medical professionals to serve as witnesses for Christ around the world as the salt of the earth. The group has convened to consider ways for greater missional collaboration. Jenni and I are here to wash their proverbial feet.

The word marvelous appears three times and struck me as I read this excerpt. Because of the “marvelous sweetness of Christ’s goodness,” the “marvelous example of his humility,” and the “marvelous richness of his generosity” a few ordinary people (the first disciples of Jesus) were redeemed from sin and would make known the good news of salvation in Christ to the whole world.

Francis and Bonaventure had a part in making Christ known in their day, and we get to do the same in ours. That’s what we are praying for at this Summit. Jenni and I pray the attendees experience the marvelous generosity of Christ and the marvelous unity of the Holy Spirit to work together on mission, so that the marvelous goodness of God may be made known to the whole world.

And then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said. Matthew 27:29

“How could I bear a crown of gold when the Lord bears a crown of thorns? And bears it for me!”

Elizabeth of Hungary (1207-1231) was born the daughter of Hungarian King Andrew II and Gertrude of Merania. Her mother was murdered in 1213 when she was just 6 years old. In 1221, at the age of 14, she was married to Ludwig. In 1223, she was inspired by the visit of Franciscan Friars, and resolved to follow Jesus like Francis of Assisi. Rather than live in splendor, she exchanged wealth and privilege for service the poor and the building of hospitals.

Another quote attributed to Elizabeth really moves Jenni and me as we travel to Budapest, Hungary, today (this post comes from London Heathrow en route): “We are made loveless by our possessions.” Think about it. When a person has abundance while many around them suffer, retaining what many need for survival is loveless. She learned to show God’s love through sharing and caring.

Elizabeth distributed the wealth of her family to care for the destitute when disease struck her region in 1226. Various sources note that she gave away the royal clothing and treasures to minister to many. Elizabeth set aside a crown of gold for Jesus, who wore a crown of thorns for her. One hospital she started cared for a thousand sick people. Sadly, her husband, Ludwig, died in 1227 of disease. She continued to minister to the sick and poor herself until 1231, when she died at the young age of 24. Her generous reputation is legendary because she imitated Jesus in her sacrificial living and giving.

What will people say about you and me? Will they report that we were made loveless or that we were generous with possessions?

Each of us is writing our own story through how we handle possessions.

As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him. While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Matthew 9:9-13

“Show favor not only to relations and kin, or to the most eminent, be they leaders or rich men or neighbors or fellow-countrymen, but also to foreigners and to all who come to you. By fulfilling your duty in this way you will reach the highest state of happiness. Be merciful to all who are suffering violence, keeping always in your heart the example of the Lord who said: “I desire mercy and not sacrifice.” Be patient with everyone, not only with the powerful, but also with the weak.

Finally be strong lest prosperity lift you up too much or adversity cast you down. Be humble in this life, that God may raise you up in the next. Be truly moderate and do not punish or condemn anyone immoderately. Be gentle so that you may never oppose justice. Be honorable so that you may never voluntarily bring disgrace upon anyone. Be chaste so that you may avoid all the foulness of lust like the pangs of death.”

Stephen of Hungary (969 – 1038) in Admonitions to His Son, Emeric as recounted in part in Witness of the Saints: Patristic Readings in the Liturgy of the Hours by Milton Walsh (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2012) 548.

This post is fitting as it both reminds me of the favor I experienced with the National Christian Foundation Colorado executive board over the past two days and because this afternoon Jenni and I are flying to Budapest, Hungary. We are scheduled to arrive tomorrow to attend the International Saline Partnership Leadership Summit and minister among some 90 representatives from 30-40 countries. Pray for safe travel and fruitful ministry.

Today’s post contains powerful words from a father to a son. If you have a son, perhaps share it with him, though it represents sound advice for all of us. Stephen of Hungary says to choose a pathway of humility and gentleness because both prosperity and adversity can destroy a person. He also wisely advises that we show favor to everyone. Such generosity of spirit is only possible with God’s help. Let’s ask for it together.

Father in heaven, whether at home or abroad, wherever you lead us, shape us by your Holy Spirit into people who show favor to everyone whether family or foreigner. May this be evident toward those who are sinners and not merely the righteous so that our lives exhibit your love and grace to the world. Hear my prayer in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus, who modeled this way of missional living for us. Amen.