Meditations

Before I preached at Union Church this past Sunday on Hong Kong Island, we sang this song. The last two lines really touched Jenni and me as it sums up the faith of life in God’s economy: “I know I’m filled to be emptied again. The seed I’ve received I will sow.” Enjoy Desert Song on YouTube. Enjoy (while we make the long journey home).

This is my prayer in the desert
When all that’s within me feels dry
This is my prayer in my hunger and need
My God is the God who provides

And this is my prayer in the fire
In weakness or trial or pain
There is a faith proved
Of more worth than gold
So refine me, Lord, through the flame

Chorus
And I will bring praise, I will bring praise
No weapon formed against me shall remain
I will rejoice, I will declare
God is my victory and He is here

And this is my prayer in the battle
When triumph is still on its way
I am a conqueror and co-heir with Christ
So firm on His promise I’ll stand

Bridge
All of my life
In every season
You are still God
I have a reason to sing
I have a reason to worship

This is my prayer in the harvest
When favor and providence flow
I know I’m filled to be emptied again
The seed I’ve received I will sow

You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. Romans 8:9

“Christian joy and security is not about the absence of pain and sorrow, but about the presence of the Spirit. Our hope is not based on what we see, but on what is not yet visible. While circumstances in our lives may make us question God’s love and provision, the gift of His Spirit reframes our vision to include the future. While we continue to groan inwardly in anticipation of this future, we have received firstfruits from that future–the Spirit of Christ–who enables us to pray and rejoice in the midst of trouble and scarcity, fear and grief…To experience the Spirit as an abundant supply of nourishing water is to grow up and flourish in the freedom of giving one’s self away.”

Kelly Kapic in God So Loved, He Gave: Entering the Movement of Divine Generosity (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2010) 103-105. This book offers a good “theology of generosity” and required reading for my D.Min. students at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School this summer.

What a joy to serve church pastors, ministry administrators, and congregations in Hong Kong this week. Financial transparency will not only contribute to greater Christian generosity, it will also show people how to live in God’s economy, which is secure, abundant, trustworthy and dependable.

But do we live as if we are confident in God’s love and provision?

Because of the difficulties in our world, our tendency is to retreat to comfort rather than go forth with compassion. This is not an Eastern or Western crisis but part of the human condition: we conform to the culture. Those who are under the realm and reign of Christ will show it by our lives.

With the Spirit of Christ in us, giving ourselves away results not in emptiness, but enrichment!

No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. Luke 16:13

“Bountiful giving requires a willingness to talk about money–inside the church and from the pulpit. Daring to talk about money is one of the most challenging aspects of any successful stewardship program. Both pastors and lay leaders struggle to have open and honest conversations about this issue. Often, the pastor has been pressured to keep talk of money out of the pulpit, usually by people who don’t give, and has acquiesced. But when church leaders choose to keep silent about money, they allow money to hold their ministries hostage. Instead of addressing the topic head on, many churches back away, making money taboo and giving the issue an unhealthy measure of power. By talking about money and speaking clearly about its control of our lives, we can begin to put things back into perspective.”

Kristine Miller and Scott McKenzie in Bounty: Ten Ways To Increase Giving At Your Church (Nashville: Abingdon, 2013) 15. I shot this new header photo of the Central district of Hong Kong Island on our harbor cruise last night. The prominent building with the triangular white lights is the Bank of China Tower. This is the heart of the “Wall Street” in Asia, and a great place to preach about money from God’s Word!

I’d appreciate your prayers as I am preaching twice here on Sunday at Union Church and teaching through the Scriptures on generosity at Island Evangelical Community Church. I concur with Miller and Mckenzie that talking about money is vital. I plan to share truth with transparency from what I have learned in my own life. Pray with me for a fruitful response and for stamina as our long trip to Hong Kong nears its end.

But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Luke 6:35

“God wants us to understand how little control we have over the outcome. He reminds us throughout Scripture that although he allows us to plant and water, He controls the results. The sovereignty of God works with the freedom of humanity in order to establish the outcome. When an abused mother exploits the kindness of a church, the mission is not aborted as a failure. When a homeless man mistreats the love of God, the missional work of the church is not thwarted. When a greedy person walks away with the money of the church community, failure is not assumed. The elephant in the room that we should be concerned with is not failure to achieve statistical results but failure to walk in the way of Jesus.”

John Richardson in Giving Away the Collection Plate: Regifting God’s Love and Money (Mustang: Tate, 2012) 101.

Our Western culture is fascinated with statistical results we think we can control rather than faithful discipleship that leaves all the results to God. Perhaps its part of the sinful human condition to try to steal God’s glory as this perspective came into view in a dinner we had with Eastern business leaders in HK too. Sadly, it leads charity rankings not linked to consistency with the way of Jesus but the numbers for which they take credit. Furthermore, Richardson rightly notes in his book (and a recent email from Generous Church) that when generosity is misused, the mission is not a failure. As today’s Scripture reminds us, God is kind even to the most undeserving, because the overarching mission is not solving problems but showing lovingkindness!

Father in heaven, thank you that you are kind to me when I am undeserving. Thanks for teaching me that generosity that reflects your love for the world, happens when I extend your kindness to even the least deserving person who may even try to take advantage of me. Help me love like you love. Do this your Holy Spirit (because I cannot do it alone) I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

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

“North American Christians are seeing the retirement (and expiration) of a generation that was more financially committed and the subsequent transfer of wealth to a generation known for its greed rather than its generosity, to be followed by a generation of non-churchgoers…Rather than generosity or its lack, however, the core problem appears to be a scandal of the evangelical heart in North America, where it seems that God’s people increasingly love the world and seek its approval more than they love and seek the approval of the Savior.”

A. Scott Moreau and Gary R. Corwin in Introducing World Missions, Second Edition (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2015) 269-70.

Jenni and I are now in Sha Tin, New Territories. Early this morning I took some time to prepare my thoughts for preaching and teaching this Sunday in three settings at two prominent Hong Kong congregations. Pray with me that as I lead with transparency about the sins related to money in my own part of the world, that God’s Word will convict hearers of their sins linked to money here in Asia. And let us all resolve to “love and seek the approval of the Savior” in word and deed.

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. 2 Corinthians 5:10

“Before the judgment seat of Christ my service will be judged not by how much I have done but by how much I could have done. In God’s sight my giving is measured not by how much I have given but by how much I could have given and how much I had left after I made my gift. The needs of the world and my total ability to minister to those needs decide the worth of my service.”

A.W. Tower (1897-1963) in That Incredible Christian: How Heaven’s Children Live on Earth (Compiled by Anita M. Bailey) 34. Click above to read this classic work, and I hope you like the new header photo I shot last night from the Peak above the harbor and the city of Hong Kong.

After fruitful ECFA meetings, Jenni and I now shift our focus to spending time with special couples with whom I serve on the Pioneers Hong Kong board. These fellow saints minister according to their “total ability” and time spent with them strengthens our faith.

Are you ready to meet the Lord? Put the Master’s resources to work, give according to your “total ability” and don’t hold anything back! The time to decide to be faithful to our Lord Jesus Christ is now because someday you will have to give an account.

And having called him, he said to him, ‘What is this I hear concerning you? Give the account of your stewardship, for you are not able to manage any longer.’ Luke 16:2

“Measurements do have a purpose, but we must be led by the Spirit. Not market measures but God’s imperatives should legitimate our ministry. At the same time, we must weather public scrutiny of our effectiveness and efficiency. The purpose of measurement is to govern and improve our standards of performance, excellence, and the fulfillment of our stewardship and accountability to God, our constituents, and to one another.”

Carl F. H. Henry (1913-2003) as recounted in “Ministry and Measurement” (Atlanta, Triaxia Partners, Inc., 2013) 9. Thanks to my mentor and friend, Wes Willmer, for passing this article to me.

Measurements for ministries play a key role in stewardship and accountability, and they also influence generosity. Because the work of ministry administrators is God’s work, their behavior must withstand public scrutiny and preserve God’s honor. Ultimately, their faithfulness helps be sure that the institutions they serve fulfill “God’s imperatives” which is why they exist in the first place.

What moved me about this article I got this week is that leaders often use metrics to get people to give money when instead, obedience and faithfulness should be the things we champion to rally greater participation in God’s work. The meetings in Hong Kong with ministry administrators and finance professionals have exceeded our expectations for fruitfulness thanks to God’s favor. What will happen from here? God only knows. We have planted seeds and are already seeing some sprouts.

Father in heaven, cause truth to take root and bear fruit here for your glory, especially so that transparent churches and ministries can engage the millennial generation which is starting to leave the Chinese church in HK as in the USA. May obedience and faithfulness lead to fruitful ministry and draw people to Your imperatives I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen!

Taking precaution so that no one will discredit us in our administration of this generous gift; for we have regard for what is honorable, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men. 2 Corinthians 8:20-21

“Paul saw generous financial support for the poor, with careful administration of that gift, as an integral part of biblical mission, of gospel mission…financial administration of people’s giving is stewardship of grace and obedience.”

Christopher J.H. Wright in “Paul, a New Testament Model: His Collection for the Poor in Jerusalem” in Accountability in Missions: Korean and Western Case Studies, ed. Jonathan Bonk (Eugene: Wipf and Stock, 2011) 41-42.

Faithful gift administration was integral to gospel mission for the Apostle Paul. Today, many nations lack standards for financial integrity, which is why the formation of peer accountability groups is making a difference globally. Such faithful “stewardship of grace and obedience” enhances trust and gives God’s people confidence to participate in God’s work.

This is why ECFA (Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability) exists in the USA, and why I dedicate a quarter of my time serving as “ECFA International Liaison.” I have been privileged to help national leaders form CCFK (Christian Council for Financial Transparency, Korea) in South Korea and CCTA (Christian Council for Transparency and Accountability) in the Philippines.

This is also why I am facilitating meetings in Hong Kong today and tomorrow. Dr. Sas Conradie (UK) and Mr. Chi-Chung Keung (USA) have helped rally ministry and financial professionals together and Dr. Ho Chan Hwang (South Korea) and Mr. Anjji Gabriel (Philippines) will join me in making remarks. Pray for God’s favor so that these meetings bear much fruit.

If anyone is poor among your fellow Israelites in any of the towns of the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward them. Rather, be openhanded and freely lend them whatever they need. Deuteronomy 15:7-8

“The Bible presents only one behavior and attitude that can break the grip of greed: generosity…Greed is self-centered and selfish. Generosity is others-focused and selfless. Greed hoards. Generosity relinquishes. Greed holds a tight grip. Generosity shares freely. Greed is closefisted. Generosity is openhanded, with arms spread wide to embrace problems and people who have problems.”

Ed Young in Fatal Distractions: Seven Obstacles That Mess Up Our Lives (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2000) 178.

Today I am teaching a group of ministry leaders who serve across China and other parts of Asia. I have been asked to share about something that I see as a challenge for Christ-followers globally. I will teach on greed and generosity from Luke 12:13-21.

This quote by Ed Young is fitting. From the OT to the NT, we are instructed to be generous toward needy brothers, and the commands are not intended to bankrupt us but to help us. Wealth retained destroys its possessors, and when it is distributed, it ministers care and shows God’s love to the world. Let’s live openhanded!

“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” Luke 10:36-37

“Every day we face a choice to pursue the “me, me, me” mindset of the American dream or to pursue Christ. What if this generation was willing to trade in the pursuit of the American dream for a world that desperately needs Christ: to be traders. A “trader” is a new kind of missionary, not defined by geography. Where you live does not make you a missionary. The mission you are on makes you a missionary. Being a trader is a movement that requires us to live out our faith, not just talk about it. As a trader, we must choose daily to sacrifice and be intentional with our time, money, and skills. We can be like the good Samaritan in the parable.”

Today’s post comes from “Definition of a Trader” an absolutely wonderful 2.5 minute vimeo by Built for Life. Watch it. Jenni and I loved it when we logged on to wifi here in Hong Kong where our ECFA-related activities begin today.

This past weekend I had the privilege of speaking for Bobby Thomas and the Arkansas Baptist Foundation on my book, The Choice: The Christ-Centered Pursuit of Kingdom Outcomes. Special thanks to Bobby for sharing this vimeo with me.

If you liked it and you want personal ebook version of my book which celebrates the same choice every Christ-follower must make, I would be happy to share it freely with readers of my daily meditations. Reply and I will send it to you in PDF form.

Let’s all make the choice to be traders!