Meditations

“Many church leaders fear that releasing congregants to agencies outside the congregation will leave the church itself bereft of the human and financial resources it requires. Leaders must conquer this fear…They will need to grow in trusting that God is able to ensure that all His work—inside and outside the four walls of the church—gets done when leaders are faithful to the equipping mandate he has given them in Ephesians 4:11-12.

Clergy must believe that God will bless them for being open-handed with the talents resident in their congregation. It’s a matter of banking on the promise Ecclesiastes 11:1 offers: “Cast your bread upon the waters, for after many days you will find it again.” This text encourages generosity in the confidence that, by God’s gracious design, it will produce a return blessing.”

Amy Sherman in Kingdom Calling: Vocational Stewardship for the Common Good (Downers Grove: IVP, 2011) 180.

God’s Word calls pastors to equip and deploy their people to do good work, in the places God has planted them to serve with the majority of their time and energy: their jobs. When we do this, there is always the fear on their part: Will the needs of the church be met?

In the conversations on faith and work in God’s economy that are concluding this morning in New Hampshire, I am thankful the pastors have come to embrace “God’s gracious design” to equip and deploy people, all the while trusting God to provide for the needs of the church. Make it so, I pray for each pastor here and all who read this!

“We are not to choose jobs and conduct our work to fulfill ourselves and accrue power, for being called by God to do something is empowering enough. We are to see work as a way of service to God and our neighbor, and so we should both choose and conduct our work in accordance with that purpose.

The question regarding our choice of work is no longer “What will make me the most money and give me the most status?” The question must now be “How, with my existing abilities and opportunities, can I be of greatest service to other people, knowing what I do of God’s will and human need?”

Tim Keller in Every Good Endeavor: Connecting Your Work to God’s Work (New York: Penguin, 2012) 67.

In addition to “What will make me the most money and give me the most status?” I have often heard “What will enable me to give the most money to ministry?” Don’t take a job for that reason either! God will provide the resources for your generosity. Let Him take care of that.

I believe what God desires for each of us is that we to use the gifts He has given us to serve others. In this light, our generosity will flow from our work in whatever field in which we feel called to serve. What matters not to Him is the amount of our giving but our heart. When we are doing what we believe He has wired us to do, it will make it easy to do it in a way that blesses others generously.

Pray for Jenni as she facilitates a spiritual retreat for the staff of the Denver Institute for Faith and Work. Pray for me as well as I teach on the intersection of faith and work in God’s economy today with a group of EFCA pastors at Camp Spofford in NH. Thanks!

“In Ecclesiastes 5:10, Solomon writes, “He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity.” The man who had it all said that money is “vanity.” Why? Money never satisfies. No matter how much you have, you’ll still want more.

That’s why the abundant life isn’t found in things. It’s found in a relationship with God through Christ. The abundant life has more to do with the fullness that comes from a relationship with God than with anything material. The life Christ gives is so much more than anything the world offers. It’s a relationship with a loving God, who cares for us and takes care of us.”

Joel Bruce in Our Generous God: Discover God’s Generosity to You in Christ (Bloomington: WestBow, 2011) 20-21.

Peter Fiorello and I had a great time at the World Series game last night. One of the MLB slogans we often hear is “I live for this” referring to Major League Baseball. Sadly, many Mets fans went home dejected because “they live for baseball” and the only thing that mattered was “lifting the trophy.” All hopes were dashed with their defeat. Walking out of the park I heard two men say they wanted to go to the tavern to drink it off. They wanted to try to drown their sorrows with more drinking.

Alternatively, something worth living for is a “relationship with a loving God, who cares for us and takes care of us.” Peter added this comment on our drive to the hotel last night through wealthy NYC bedroom communities in Southern CT: “To put it bluntly, most people aren’t generous because they think they have to look out for themselves because no one else will.” Friends, the only way we can live generously is if we live like we we really believe that God cares for us and takes care of us!

Would others say you live like you believe that?

Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4

“God knows us so well. In His infinite wisdom He knew that even noble, believing humans would attempt to use Him as a means of getting ahead. Our motive for seeking God is often self-centered. Ideally, He enjoys being sought for the pleasure of His presence. He then delights in allowing the seeker to discover wonderful gains, but, because He knows us so well, He has methods for making the most of our sometimes questionable motives. He allows our greed to lead us on a treasure hunt where we ultimately discover the greatest treasure of all…

We begin to question, “How can I delight myself in the Lord?” We can almost hear Him whisper, “I’m so glad you asked.” As we make ourselves available to delight in God, He slowly revolutionizes our approach to finding fulfillment. those who seek to delight in the Lord will ultimately develop a delightful relationship with Him; however, by the time God makes Himself the seeker’s delight, the once self-seeking treasure hunter has been transformed.”

Beth Moore in “Day Nineteen” of Whispers of Hope: Ten Weeks of Devotional Prayer (Nashville: B & H, 2013).

I love the game of Major League Baseball. When I was growing up, my dream for my life was to be a season ticket holder. Call me crazy but that was one of my aspirations. I remember the day I chose to follow God’s calling into ministry. I thought to myself, “I am willing to give up that dream, Lord.” And I did. The more I “delighted myself in the Lord” the less precious baseball was to me.

Years later I got something from God I never dreamed: access to World Series. The irony is that came to me from my ministry in the life of the (now deceased) founder of the Colorado Rockies. It was like God winked at me and said, “I am enjoying your presence, Gary, now go enjoy a game.”

Long story short. Jesus is my greatest treasure, and because He is a hilariously generous Giver, He gives me gifts to enjoy and share. Yet again, I’ve had the privilege of sharing World Series tickets this year and tonight I will go to my 18th World Series game. I don’t go if I have already been to see the team in their home ballpark, so I gave my Kansas City tickets away this year, but I can’t wait to see the Fall Classic at Mets ballpark tonight.

“Before God becomes satisfied with us, He will take everything of our so-called wealth, until we learn that He is our Source; as the psalmist said, “All my springs are in You” (Psalm 87:7). If the majesty, grace, and power of God are not being exhibited in us, God holds us responsible. “God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you…may have an abundance…” (2 Corinthians 9:8) — then learn to lavish the grace of God on others, generously giving of yourself. Be marked and identified with God’s nature, and His blessing will flow through you all the time.”

Oswald Chambers (1874-1917), Scottish author and pastor, in “The Habit of Recognizing God’s Provision” in My Utmost for His Highest reading for 16 May.

Today I will wrap up my teaching with the CBMC group highlighting ten workers in the New Testament who were known for their work and for their engagement in God’s work. My prayer for them when they head down the mountain is that each person will exhibit God’s generosity through their work.

I’d appreciate your prayers for safe travel too as I head to the East Coast on a late flight tonight.

“We serve a generous God. In fact our Heavenly Father demonstrates His generosity to us in this: while we were sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). The most generous act the universe has ever known and will ever know is God’s love through Christ’s sacrifice.

If we are to be His ambassadors who live a life of generosity, we will invest in the lives of others in many ways. An acrostic based on the word LIFE illustrates areas we can be generous: Through our Labor, Influence, Finances, and Expertise.

At any given time, God may provide resources that allow us to demonstrate His love to others that involve giving a helping hand (labor), using our position of authority (influence), blessing others with gifts (finances), or sharing a skill set or knowledge (expertise), all expressed lovingly for the benefit of those around us.”

Lee Truax serves as the President of CBMC. This quote comes from his letter in The Connector Fall Newsletter 2015, page 2.

Today I will explore this paradigm — LIFE — in the teachings of Jesus in the Gospels at the CBMC retreat. Thanks for your prayers, but don’t stop there.

Take five minutes today to consider how this acronym “LIFE” may shape your generosity. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you in deploying your labor, influence, finances, and expertise, for God’s glory.

“As Christian workers who seek to empower others, especially the poor and marginalized, let us not forget to point out and live out that the real source of power is God. This is what differentiates Christian community organizing from other types of organizing. It recognizes that although they are real and substantial, individual power — personal gifts and positions of responsibility — as well as collective power — people acting together — are nevertheless derivative power. They are made possible only by the grace of the Creator and Redeemer God.”

Athena Evelyn Gorospe in “A Biblical Model of Empowerment” in The Church and Poverty in Asia (Quezon City/Manila: Asian Theological Seminary/OMF Literature, 2008) 72.

As I continue to explore modern perspectives on generosity, this Filipino perspective rightly reminds the world that our gracious God, not our gifts or positions is the power for mission, and that God works through people acting together by the grace of God. It is important to understand this because “empowerment” is buzz word for many Christ followers who seek to serve the poor. There can be no empowerment apart from His power (cf. John 15:5).

Today I head to Vail, CO with my wife to speak tomorrow and Saturday at the CBMC President’s Retreat. Pray for receptive hearts and for the Holy Spirit to minister through Jenni and me. I also want to tip my cap to my mother! She turns “75” today! Thanks Mom for the way in which you have modeled service to the poor and marginalized relying on the grace of God. Whenever people compliment her, she always says: “The good you see in me is Jesus!” Happy Birthday Mom!

“Stewardship emerges out of a heart of faith that confesses Christ…A good steward, like Christ, humbly puts the interests of others before his/her own…Good stewards rejoice in their freedom in Christ and embrace their slavery to their neighbor through a bond of love. Stewards are motivated by grace, rather than law, and freely chose to bind themselves in service to their neighbor…

Good stewards are not greedy with their possessions. Rather, they realize that everything belongs to God and God has called them to share their abundance with the needy…All that we are and all that we have belongs to God. God has claimed us and promised to be with us, thus we are not alone in our work of stewarding God’s creation…Good stewards give exuberantly in response to all that God has done for them.”

Mary Sue Dreier and Grace Duddy in excerpts from “Top Ten Little Known Stewardship Verses” from the Anglican Church of Canada Resources for Mission website.

Today’s contemporary perspective comes from Canada. It’s a refreshing example of stewardship in the context of discipleship based on ten Scripture verses (find them in the article). Dreier and Duddy remind us that our stewardship is rooted in Christ, lived out alongside our neighbors, and always with our abundant God.

Do you confess Christ? Do you realize the freedom you have from the Law, and that you are a slave with a new master who has given you one command? To love! To love God and one another, that is! Because God is love and because He has given us Himself, we will never run out of love. He’s the abundance that fuels our exuberant generosity!

“Christian Stewardship is not a programme, nor is about raising money. Instead, it is part of our lifelong discipleship journey.

Stewardship is a way of life in which we regard ourselves and our possessions as being held on trust from God, to be used in His service. God has made us His stewards or managers of everything He has given to us: our time, our abilities, our possessions, our money, our whole lives.

Stewardship for Christians is not about giving so that the church can “make ends meet” but, rather acknowledging how generously God has given to us and then generously giving back to God and seeing His church grow as it is resourced for mission and ministry.”

Stephanie Rankin of the Diocese of Blackburn, the Church of England in Lancashire. For more on their Giving in Grace resources, visit their website.

Today’s perspective on stewardship in the local church comes from the UK.

Rankin rightly places stewardship in the context of discipleship, while helping people realize that it’s not about the money, but about realizing your role and the purpose for resources linked to mission and ministry.

What about your church? Do you teach stewardship as part of lifelong discipleship?

“Stewardship is defined as “the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one’s care.” A steward is one entrusted with managing the property of another. He [or She] is only a manager or caretaker, not the owner…Good stewardship leads to surplus, bad stewardship results in debt. When people are assigned to manage resources, they are expected to bring about increase, not decrease. Applied to money, the good steward must ensure that income is greater than expenses…

I believe that God wants believers to practice but stewardship and generosity. These two are linked together. If one is a faithful, competent steward, he will generate surplus. A major part of this surplus can then be given away…To be a good steward, a person must be frugal and wise in this lifestyle so that he [or she] can engage in a lot of good works. The theologian John R. W. Stott wrote, “We should travel light and live simply. Our enemy is not possessions but excess.”

Rene Resurreccion in “Practical Applications of Stewardship” article in The Earth is the Lord’s: Reflections on Stewardship in the Asian Context (Quezon City/Manila: Asian Theological Seminary/OMF Literature, 2011) 146-150.

Yesterday a Canadian urged us to teach and preach stewardship, and today a Filipino urges is to practice stewardship and generosity. When we live within our means and put God’s resources to work, it results in surplus for sharing. What about you? Does your stewardship result in surplus or are you enslaved to debt? Are you engaging in good works or overcome by excess? Resolve today to travel light and live simply so you can be found both faithful and generous.

Jenni and I are heading home from San Diego today. Since Sophie loves coffee and often studies at her favorite coffee shop, we left her with a gift card. Her response blessed us. She said, “Thanks,” and added, “And I hope it’s okay, since I am living within my budget, every chance I get, I buy coffee for my friends, just like you guys taught me.” Priceless! Good stewardship leads to surplus and generous sharing!