Meditations

“Fly avarice, the Queen of all the vices, who never enters the human heart alone, but always brings a flattering and deceiving train along with her. Show yourself zealous for the public good; do more by reason than by terror. Let your person be a refuge for the oppressed, a defense of the weak, a stronghold for him who is stricken down by any calamity.”

Flavius Magnus Aurelius Cassiodorus Senator (485-585) known commonly as Cassiodorus and closely associated with the Monastery at Vivarium in his letter “To the Various Cancellarii of the Several Provinces” as Praetorian Prefect.

Yesterday was a tough day. Long day of travel to Florida then spoke with a couple leaders who had been mistreated by avaricious and deceiving employers. In the dark ages when times were tough Cassiodurus called leaders to avoid the sin that was the root of all kinds of evil (cf. 1 Timothy 6:10).

His words were relevant then and ring true today! Christian leaders must lead by “reason” not “terror” and must be “zealous for the public good” all the time! Let us be a “refuge for the oppressed, a defense of the weak, a stronghold” for the stricken. God help us do this and do it with generosity and love!

Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” No, “if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:19-21

Then the Lord goes on: Eat this book and go speak to the children of Israel. And I opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat that book. Ezekiel 3:1-2

“Whatever is found in Scripture is to be eaten; even its least words bring calm and order to simple men, and it’s higher teachings instruct the minds of the more discerning…it is for this reason we must understand them: that they may be a means of help to ourselves, and that they may, by our spiritual effort, be also bestowed on others…Eat, and be fed. Be filled, and give forth. Receive my word, and spread it among others. Be strengthened and labor.”

Gregory the Great (540-604), pope and doctor of the church, in Sermon entitled “Hearing the Word of God” PL 76, Homily 10.

Gregory lived and ministered during the timeframe known widely as “the dark ages” (from the fall of Rome in 476 to around the year 1000) when civilization shifted from imperial rule to feudal structures, when regions were overrun by barbarians, and monastic communities attempted to preserve Christianity in localized settings.

In a world filled with disarray, Gregory reminds God’s people to nourish themselves on God’s Word and to share it richly with others. Though this message was proclaimed fourteen centuries ago, it rings true and applies today. Let us be people who eat the Scriptures and spread it among others. This requires intentional activity. Are you feeding on God’s Word and giving it forth?

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:3

“Let us have no resource but in God, so that we may be poor in spirit, of whom it is added: ‘I will satisfy her poor with bread’ [Psalm 132:15]. On the other hand, the Apostle [Paul] says of the rich: ‘Charge the rich of this world not to be proud, or to trust in the uncertainty of their riches, but in the living God’ [1 Timothy 6:17].” What, then, should they do with their riches? That follows: ‘Let them be rich in good works, giving readily, sharing with others, and thus providing for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, in order that they may lay hold of the true life’ [1 Timothy 6:18-19]. As long as they do not seize the true life, they are poor; as soon as they do, they will be rich…

Blessed Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, even Joseph, David, and many other saints of the Old Testament were rich, and their riches did not harm them. In the New Testament, too, Zachaeus was rich, as well as Cornelius a centurion; also wealthy was that other centurion of whom the Lord said: ‘I have not found so great a faith in Israel’ [Matthew 8:10]. Although these men were rich, they deserved to be counted among God’s poor and blessed and to receive eternal happiness, because they did not place their hopes in their riches but in the living God.”

Caesarius of Arles (c. 470-542), bishop, in Sermon 49 “How the Widows, Orphans, and the Poor in Scripture are to be Interpreted.”

Every Memorial Day I look for meditations that remember the lives of the saints who have gone before us and grasped our role to serve as generous conduits of God’s rich blessings. Caesarius of Arles celebrates an all star cast of them in this sermon excerpt. They are real people who did not place their hopes in their riches but in the living God: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, David, Zachaeus, and Cornelius. Let us not only remember them, let us join them in being poor in spirit, and in so doing, we seize the true life!

“No one in creation is rich but he that fears God; no one is truly poor but he that lacks the truth. How needy is he, and not rich, whose need witnesses against him that even from the abject and the beggars he needs to receive a gift. He is truly a bondman, and many are his masters: he renders service to money, to riches, and possessions. His lords are void of mercy, for they grant him no repose…

Sufficient for thee is thy daily bread, that comes of the sweat of thy face. Let this be the measure of thy need, that which the day gives thee; and if thou findest for thyself a feast, take of it that which thou needest. Thou shalt not take in a day (the provision) of days, for the belly keeps no treasure. Praise and give thanks when thou art satisfied, that therein thou provoke not the Giver to anger…In everything give thanks and praise unto God as the Redeemer, that He may grant thee by His grace, that we may hear and do His will.”

Ephraim the Syrian (c. 306-373), hymnographer and theologian, in “On Admonition and Repentance” 21.

On this Lord’s Day, let us heed Ephraim’s reminder to fear God, for that is the pathway to true riches. Let us work hard, live simply, and give thanks for God’s loving care. That means eat only what we need for the “belly keeps no treasure.” To provoke the Giver would be to fail to handle God’s gifts as He intends.

Yesterday was our daughter’s high school graduation. I felt a deep sense of gratitude toward the teachers that have shaped Sophie’s life so I thanked each one I saw. As for Sophie’s valedictory address, it revealed her rich fear of God and deep desire to glorify Him. Hearing it was like receiving a precious gift. You can watch it here.

“Be stedfast, Christian giver. Give what you may receive, sow what you may reap, scatter what you may gather. Fear not to spend, sigh not over the doubtfulness of the gain. Your substance grows when it is wisely dispensed. Set your heart on the profits due to mercy, and traffic in eternal gains. Your Recompenser wishes you to be munificent, and He who gives that you may have, commands you to spend, saying, “Give, and it shall be given to you.”

You must thankfully embrace the conditions of this promise. For although you have nothing that you did not receive, yet you cannot fail to have what you give. He therefore that loves money, and wishes to multiply his wealth by immoderate profits, should rather practice this holy usury and grow rich by such money-lending, in order not to catch men hampered with difficulties, and by treacherous assistance entangle them in debts which they can never pay, but to be His creditor and His money-lender, who says, “Give, and it shall be given to you,” and “with what measure ye measure, it shall be measured again to you [Luke 6:38].”

But he is unfaithful and unfair even to himself, who does not wish to have for ever what he esteems desirable. Let him amass what he may, let him hoard and store what he may, he will leave this world empty and needy, as David the prophet says, “for when he dieth he shall take nothing away, nor shall his glory descend with him [Psalm 49:17].”

Whereas if he were considerate of his own soul, he would trust his good to Him, who is both the proper surety for the poor and the generous Repayer of loans. But unrighteous and shameless avarice, which promises to do some kind act but eludes it, trusts not God, whose promises never fail, and trusts man, who makes such hasty bargains; and while he reckons the present more certain than the future, often deservedly finds that his greed for unjust gain is the cause of by no means unjust loss.”

Leo the Great (c. 400-461) pope and doctor of the church, in Sermon XVII. “On the Fast of the Tenth Month, VI.”

Leo inspired me today and I pray his wise words encourage you to “scatter what you may gather.” Why? Leo sums it up best: “For although you have nothing that you did not receive, yet you cannot fail to have what you give.”

“Give, and it shall be given to you!” The question for each of us remains: Will we “embrace the conditions of this promise” from our Lord? As Sophie graduates today, I believe and pray that she will, and I pray you do too!

“How we should understand these words: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” [Acts 20:35]

And he says that this is a command of the Lord: “For He Himself,” namely the Lord Jesus, said he, “said it is more blessed to give than to receive.” That is, the bounty of the giver is more blessed than the need of the receiver, where the gift is not supplied from money that has been kept back through unbelief or faithlessness, nor from the stored-up treasures of avarice, but is produced from the fruits of our own labour and honest toil.

And so “it is more blessed to give than to receive,” because while the giver shares the poverty of the receiver, yet still he is diligent in providing with pious care by his own toil, not merely enough for his own needs, but also what he can give to one in want; and so he is adorned with a double grace, since by giving away all his goods he secures the perfect abnegation of Christ, and yet by his labour and thought displays the generosity of the rich; thus honouring God by his honest labours, and plucking for him the fruits of his righteousness, while another, enervated by sloth and indolent laziness, proves himself by the saying of the Apostle unworthy of food, as in defiance of his command he takes it in idleness, not without the guilt of sin and of obstinacy.”

John Cassian (c. 360-435) monk and theologian in The Twelve Books of John Cassian on the Institutes of the Cœnobia, and the Remedies for the Eight Principal Faults, Book X, Chapter XIX, “How we should understand these words: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

When we live in obedience to the teachings of Jesus, we exhibit God’s design. Or in plain terms, we take the better way. And what is the better way regarding handling riches? Cassian notes rightly that we must not keep back for ourselves that which God supplies richly or store up treasures in avarice but rather to share freely the fruit of our own labor. When we learn to live on enough and share the rest, we arrive at “the perfect abnegation of Christ” (cf. Philippians 2:1-11).

“Abnegation” is a word brought to life in the recent “Divergent” novels by Veronica Roth and the corresponding movies that have been produced. Abnegation means “selfless”. Roth divides society into five factions, one of which is “abnegation” or the “selfless” ones. Cassian contrasts the selfless with the selfish who are lazy and idle, the ones to which the Apostle Paul said, “Anyone unwilling to work should not eat” (2 Thessalonians 3:10).

In mentioning “the perfect abnegation of Christ” today, my mind goes to my daughter Sophie who will deliver her valedictory address tomorrow. I do not know what she will share in her speech by I know her life has already proclaimed the message of the selflessness of Jesus. Sophie, thank you for your generous love and kindness, for perpetually emptying yourself as a generous giver because you daily fill your cup with the fullness of Christ. I love you. Dad.

“God demands the affection of the heart, which is in our own power…For what would the giving of one’s whole property benefit without charity?

There are some who aim at the credit of generosity for pride alone, because they wish thereby to gain the good opinion of the multitude for leaving nothing to themselves; but whilst they are seeking rewards in this life, they are laying up none for the life to come, and having received their reward here they cannot hope for it there.

Some again, having, through impulsive excitement and not after long consideration, given their possessions to the Church, think that they can claim them back. These gain neither the first nor the second reward, for the gift was made thoughtlessly, its recall sacrilegiously.”

Aurelius Ambrosius (340-397), or Ambrose of Milan, was a bishop and doctor of the church. This excerpt comes from his work, Concerning Repentance, Book II, Chapter IX.

Ambrose announces that our giving must be accompanied with charity, that is, grace-filled love (cf. 1 Corinthians 13:3). Without this “affection of the heart” our giving in meaningless. Remember, we don’t give because the God we serve has deficiencies. God does not need our money; He wants our hearts.

I greatly distain letters from ministries that overemphasize how needs won’t be met unless I give. They exhibit a frazzled trust in people as the source of support. Conversely, I love letters that challenge me to think about God’s generosity toward me and the grace I have received. When I reflect on God’s abundance, the “affection of my heart” grows, and with it, my gratitude and generosity.

If you send such letters, please direct your audience to consider on God’s abundant grace rather than your temporal needs, and ask them to pray with you for God’s provision, thus exhibiting your trust in God as your Provider.

Our giving must also be accompanied with humility rather than the pride. Those who give to get recognition, have received their reward in full (cf. Matthew 6:1-4). Simultaneously, let us resolve not to give thoughtlessly or sacrilegiously. There must be an intentionality and a sincerity to our giving. How we handle money is important to Jesus because where our treasure is, there our heart will be also (cf. Matthew 6:21). He wants our hearts!

If you, or perhaps more specifically, your heart needs help with this, call your local National Christian Foundation office. I had the privilege of speaking at a luncheon yesterday for their Colorado office and was reminded afresh by Bryan Chrisman of the wonderful services, support, and spiritual insight they offer from their offices around the country.

“For the method of godliness consists of these two things, pious doctrines and virtuous practice: and neither are the doctrines acceptable to God apart from good works, nor does God accept the works which are not perfected with pious doctrines. For what profit is it, to know well the doctrines concerning God, and yet to be a vile fornicator? And again, what profit is it, to be nobly temperate, and an impious blasphemer?”

Cyril of Jerusalem (c. 313-386) was an early church theologian, bishop, and one the doctors of the church. Here he is recounted in Lecture IV. “On the Ten Points of Doctrine”.

Constantine stationed bishops in the various regions of the Roman Empire. Cyril presided as bishop over Caesarea Maritima (modern day Israel and Palestine). He taught “pious doctrine coupled with virtuous practice” passionately. You can’t have one without the other! No more impious blaspheming and vile fornication. He echoed the Apostle Paul who announced: we were dead, but God made alive in Christ by His grace, and our good works are the way of life that God designed for us.

You were dead through the trespasses and sins in which you once lived, following the course of this world, following the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work among those who are disobedient. All of us once lived among them in the passions of our flesh, following the desires of flesh and senses, and we were by nature children of wrath, like everyone else. But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God—not the result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life. Ephesians 2:1-10.

“For thy stewardship of these corruptible things thy reward shall be glory everlasting, a crown of righteousness, the heavenly kingdom…Thy heart is so fixed on the present that thou despisest what is waited for in hope. Come then; dispose of thy wealth in various directions. Be generous and liberal in thy expenditure on the poor. Let it be said of thee, He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever.

Do not press heavily on necessity and sell for great prices. Do not wait for a famine before thou openest thy barns. He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him. Watch not for a time of want for gold’s sake — for public scarcity to promote thy private profit…Thou keepest thine eye on thy gold, and wilt not look at thy brother…Thou canst not tell who is thy brother in the day of distress.”

Basil of Caesarea (330-379) bishop of Caesarea Mazaca in Cappadocia, also known as one of the Cappadocian Fathers, in Homily VI on Luke 12:18 on selfish wealth and greed.

A generous person will be enriched, and one who gives water will get water. The people curse those who hold back grain, but a blessing is on the head of those who sell it. Proverbs 11:25-26

In reading Basil’s homily and related Scriptures this morning this phrase stuck with me: “Do not wait for a famine before thou openest thy barns.” Basil exhorts us to be generous at all times, not just in crisis, and to shift our eyes off gold and on to people. What do you possess that you could be generous with toward people today?

“Do not put your wages into a bag with holes, but you lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven.”

You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it. Haggai 1:6

Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Matthew 6:20

Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus, a.k.a. St. Jerome (c. 347-420) priest, monk, and doctor of the church. He wrote this letter to a blind church leader to encourage him. This excerpt comes from Letter LXXVI. To Abigaus.

In the larger letter Jerome exhorts Abigaus to adopt a posture of repentance for sin, to not grieve because he is blind but pray for eyes to see the spiritual harvest (cf. John 4:35), to resist temptations, to care for a widow, and of course, to handle money as the Master instructs us.

In plain terms, we should buy the food and clothes we need, and beyond that, direct the resources in our stewardship to God’s eternal kingdom rather than just buy more and more earthly things. Also, when we work and store up money for ourselves, ironically, we actually put it in a purse with holes.

This ancient correspondence between an early church doctor and an early church leader exhibits both a knowledge of the Scriptures and a call to obedience. Jerome was known for short quips, which tweet well today. Share his wisdom through your social network!