Meditations

“It commonly happeneth that those men which enjoy most wealth are most vexed with the avaricious desire of getting more, and mightily molested with fear, lest they should lose what they have already gotten.”

Augustine (354-430) Bishop of Hippo in Day’s Collacon compiled and arranged by Edward Parsons Day (New York: IPPO, 1884) 55.

If you enjoy wealth sometimes more than you should, if are occasionally “vexed” with the desire for more, and if you would admit to feeling “mightily molested with fear”, then Lent is coming at just the right time.

There’s nothing like a season of focusing on prayer, fasting, and giving to help us grow beyond our worldly ways, our avarice and the fears that accompany it (cf. Romans 12:1-2). Whether you’ve embarked on the Lenten journey before or not, give it a go in 2015!

And regardless of whether you need inspiration or not, check out this wonderful three-minute video which chronicles some cool highlights from Lent last year. It was produced by the folks at Stewardship: 40acts 2014

“Avaricious men are the greatest lovers of generosity–in everybody but themselves.”

George D. Prentice (1802-1870) American journalist in Day’s Collacon compiled and arranged by Edward Parsons Day (New York: IPPO, 1884) 316.

In less than a week we will enter the season of Lent.

Lent is the time the Church makes space to grow in our understanding and practice of the disciplines of prayer, fasting, and sharing with the poor. We do this not to get brownie points with God but so that these traits become a way of life. What sacrifices will you make? What will you say “no” to so that you can say “yes” to these disciplines?

Father, if there are avaricious areas of our lives, by your Holy Spirit, convict us this Lenten season. Uproot the weeds of greed and selfishness and produce the fruits of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control in each of our lives for your glory (cf. Galatians 5:22-23)!

“Seeing with the eyes of Christ, I can give to others much more than their outward necessities; I can give them the look of love which they crave.”

Pope Benedict XVI in God is Love–Deus Caritas Est: Encyclical Letter (Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2006) 22.

As we have explored life for the wealthy, another phenomenon is the way they often view the poor: as a problem to be solved. Christ treated the poor as people in need of love.

Father, thank you for the love you have extended to each of us in Jesus. Give us the eyes of Christ to see others (rich or poor) the way you see them, by your Holy Spirit, we pray. Amen.

“What we call liberality is seldom more than the vanity of giving; we are fonder of the vanity than the generosity of the action.”

François de La Rochefoucauld (1613-1680) in Day’s Collacon compiled and arranged by Edward Parsons Day (New York: IPPO, 1884) 505.

Another issue the wealthy face is vanity. The Greeks described it as “love of glory” and in antiquity (NT times) it was the primary motivation for giving. It’s the praise associated with acts of generosity. With this statement, the wealthy are challenged to consider what motivates their generosity and forewarned lest vanity become the driving force.

Why warn the wealthy of the danger of vanity linked to generosity? The heart of the matter is all that matters to God.

Does vanity motivate our generosity? We must neither give to receive the praise of men (cf. Matthew 6:1-4), nor think that the good we do for God wins us any favor with God (cf. Matthew 7:21-23). Our generosity must be motivated by humble obedience, not glory-seeking vanity.

Simultaneously, those in ministry must not shower praises on people for their giving. In other words, don’t add fuel to vanity’s fire! Instead, correspondence from ministry leaders must inform people that generous giving results in needs being met and thanks and praise going toward God (cf. 2 Corinthians 9:12-15). For more on this, check out my recent Christian Leadership Alliance blogpost: Watch Your Language!

“Temperance is love taking exercise, love enduring hardness, love seeking to become healthful and athletic, love striving for the mastery of all things, and bringing the body under. It is superior to sensual delights, and it is the power of applying resolutely to irksome duties for the Master’s sake. It is self-denial and self-control.”

James Hamilton (1814-1867) British author and Presbyterian minister in Day’s Collacon compiled and arranged by Edward Parsons Day (New York: IPPO, 1884) 932.

In recent days, we have found that wealth often comes to faithful stewards, though they must possess other traits as well lest their own intoxication with material blessings shift from enjoyment and sharing to self-indulgence and destruction (cf. Galatians 5:13-26). The opposite of self-indulgence is temperance. It’s synonymous with simplicity and self-control.

The person who exhibits temperance does what needs to be done, not just what he/she wants to do. They love, serve, toil, and persevere because they live and work for God, not for themselves. Such living is otherworldly, which is why temperance is among the traits known widely as the fruit of the Spirit (cf. Galatians 5:23).

Father in heaven, fill us with your Holy Spirit and through us produce beautiful fruit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and temperance. Do this, so that our lives foster life and flourishing rather than death and destruction. Do this for your glory we pray in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

“Excessive wealth is neither glory nor happiness; the cold and sordid wretch who thinks only of himself; who draws his head within his shell and never puts it out but for the purpose of lucre or ostentation; who looks upon his fellow-creatures not only without sympathy but with arrogance and insolence, as if they were made to be his vassals, and he be their lord; as if they were made for no other purpose than to pamper his avarice; such a man may be rich, but trust me, he can never be happy, nor virtuous, nor great.”

William Wirt (1772-1834) U.S. Attorney General and statesman, in Day’s Collacon compiled and arranged by Edward Parsons Day (New York: IPPO, 1884) 1013.

Wirt’s words point us toward the radically countercultural pathway that our Lord Jesus Christ instructs us to take! The wealthy must abandon the benefactor model and adopt instead a service model. Our greatness must be rooted in our sympathy, our generosity, our love.

Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. Luke 22:25-26

“If wealth is the obedient and laborious slave of virtue and of public honor, then wealth is in its place and has its use, but if this order is changed, and honor is to be sacrificed to the conservation of riches, riches–which have neither eyes nor hands, nor anything truly vital in them–cannot long survive the being of vivifying power, their legitimate masters and their potent protectors. If we command our wealth, we shall be rich and free; if our wealth commands us, we are poor indeed.”

Edmund Burke (1729-1797) Irish stateman in Day’s Collacon compiled and arranged by Edward Parsons Day (New York: IPPO, 1884) 1013.

Burke makes it clear that there’s no middle ground with wealth. In his thinking, we can’t hold on to it (conserve it) without it ruining us (cf. 1 Timothy 6:9-10). So what must those who possess wealth do? We must command wealth, that is, make it our slave. If we don’t, it will enslave us.

The paradox of wealth, as we have seen in recent days, is that it is often the fruit of faithful stewardship, but it can cause even the most faithful steward to stumble. Lest we trip! We are commanded to enjoy it, do good with it, be generous and ready to share it (cf. 1 Timothy 6:17-19), for when we do, we store up treasures in heaven and take hold of real life!

“A too great disproportion of wealth among citizens weakens any state; every person, if possible ought to enjoy the fruits of his labor, in a full possession of all the necessaries and many of the conveniences of life. No one can doubt but such an equality is more suitable to human nature, and diminishes much less from the happiness of the rich than it adds to that of the poor.”

David Hume (1711-1776) an historian from Edinburgh, Scotland, in Day’s Collacon compiled and arranged by Edward Parsons Day (New York: IPPO, 1884) 1013.

Hume draws on biblical language in his assessment of the wealthy and the poor. For example, he echoes 1 Timothy 6:17 in saying that people should “enjoy” the fruit of their labor. Also, in stating that “equality” is more suitable, he employs the same terminology that Paul uses in 2 Corinthians 8:13 with regard to the voluntary collection for the starving saints in Jerusalem.

We must not misinterpret Hume as advocating for socialism. Socialism is a dreadful and oppressive ideology, because while it calls for sharing, the redistribution is dictated by fallen humans and required by law. Alternatively, the social flourishing that results from Christian community is driven by voluntary sharing that is motivated by love. That’s the pathway we must take!

Let us work hard, enjoy the fruit of our labor (including “necessaries” and “conveniences”), and rather than self-indulge in destructive luxury, let’s lovingly help the weak around us following the example and instructions of our Lord (cf. Acts 20:35). When we do, we will strengthen the social fabric of wherever it is that God has us living!

“Wealth is not acquired as many persons suppose, by fortunate speculation and splendid enterprises, but by the daily practice of industry, frugality, and economy; he who relies upon these means will rarely be found destitute, and he who relies upon any other, will generally become bankrupt.”

Francis Wayland (1796-1865) minister, educator, social reformer in Day’s Collacon compiled and arranged by Edward Parsons Day (New York: IPPO, 1884) 1013.

Ironic, isn’t it, that the world’s way of thinking with regard to wealth, leaves everyone trying to get rich quick and most everyone ends up bankrupt. Look at our society. The negative savings rate proclaims that we are collectively broke. Is there another path? If we look into God’s Word, we find God gives us the ability to produce wealth (cf. Deuteronomy 8:18).

Not all have bought into the world’s lies! Many Christ followers around the globe are doing what the Word says. Through hard work and faithful stewardship God has filled their homes with good things and caused them to be conduits of blessing, material as well as spiritual! Which path have you chosen? Is it time to make a u-turn? What do you want to model for your children and grandchildren?

“A wealthy man who obtains his wealth honestly and uses it rightly is a great blessing to the community.”

Hubbard Winslow (1800-1864) was a Vermont Congregationalist. This quote comes from Day’s Collacon compiled and arranged by Edward Parsons Day (New York: IPPO, 1884) 1012. Winslow lived during the Industrial Revolution when the temptation of many was to cut corners to gain wealth or amass it for personal gain. As a minister he proclaimed a clear message that is still relevant today.

To obtain wealth honestly is to not go after it, but rather let it come to us as a result of faithful stewardship. When it does, we must put it to work. Like the old saying goes, “Money is like manure, it’s only good if you spread it around.” It’s right use will result in blessing to the whole community where God has placed us (cf. Jeremiah 29:7).