Meditations

“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).

“A man of wealth is but a steward for the good of mankind.”

Peter Cooper (1791-1883) was a generous Christian businessman who promoted Christian solutions to social injustices. This quote comes from Day’s Collacon compiled and arranged by Edward Parsons Day (New York: IPPO, 1884) 1012.

In a day when most people were choosing a life of luxury, he chose the path of simplicity and doing good with the wealth God entrusted to him. How will you steward the wealth God has entrusted to you for the good of mankind? What story will people say about your life?

“Wealth, after which you run with so much ardor, is like the shadow that walks about you: if you run after it, it flies from you; if you fly from it, it follows you.”

Robert Morris (1734-1806) in Day’s Collacon compiled and arranged by Edward Parsons Day (New York: IPPO, 1884) 1012. I want to explore wealth and poverty in the days leading up to Lent.

Morris sums clearly the paradox of wealth. It’s elusive, like grasping for a shadow. So whatever we do, we must not chase after wealth (cf. 1 Timothy 6:9)! If we instead seek God first, it is then that we often are entrusted with it (cf. Psalm 112:3).

“Jesus warned his followers that they could not serve both God and Mammon. And yet, while millions of Americans claim to be seriously religious, they steadfastly worship the almighty dollar as well. How have we come to combine these two passions? Does religious faith, in fact, influence our attitudes toward work and money? Does it curb our material appetites?

Drawing on a new national survey of more than 2,000 working Americans, plus in-depth interviews with a large sample of respondents, Robert Wuthnow demonstrates how religious commitments connect–or often fail to connect–with our work, our money, and our attitudes toward material possessions.

He definitively shows that there is a stronger relationship between religious values and the pursuit of money than has been assumed; however, it is not one that curbs America’s noted materialism. Rather, in many respects, religious values support more materialism both by helping employees be more satisfied with their work and by helping to justify our materially privileged lives. In his survey, We condemn it, on the one hand, and yet clearly manifest a desire for more money and goods.

Finally, Withnow found that people are looking for a more consistent and solid set of values, and he concludes by addressing both lay leaders and religious leaders on ways in which we can transcend the materialism that governs our lives.”

Robert Wuthnow in God and Mammon in America (New York: Macmillan, 1994) front matter.

This research reveals that we as God’s people are looking for clear instructions for finding freedom from the bonds of materialism. It also demonstrates that what we think we possess actually has us firmly in its grip. May God help us learn to use temporal things without trying to own them (cf. 1 Corinthians 7:31).

“He who is in any degree possessed by avarice will never make any progress in virtue. He who wishes for money will never be a spiritual man. It is far easier to convert to God the sensual than the covetous…Give me only ten men truly detached, and I feel sure I could convert the world…God will never fail to give you money; only take good care that, when you have money, you don’t lose spirituality.

Philip Neri (1515-1585) known as the Apostle of Rome from his work “School of Christian Perfection” in The Life of Saint Philip Neri: Apostle of Rome ed. Alfonso Capecelatro (London: Burns & Oates, 1894) 393.

Neri believed, and I concur, that a person’s relationship with money influences their spirituality. What inspires me is his notion if that there were just a few, say ten who were detached and not controlled by money’s power, such a group could win the world. No wonder the disciples of Jesus made such an impact, they had “left everything to follow” (Mark 10:28). Today’s mediation must lead each of us to ask: Am I in danger of losing my spirituality at the hands of money?

“For a possession which is not diminished by being shared with others, if it is possessed and not shared, is not yet possessed as it ought to be possessed. The Lord saith “Whosoever hath, to him shall be given” [Matt. 13:12]

He will give, then, to those who have; that is to say, if they use freely and cheerfully what they have received, He will add to and perfect His gifts. The loaves in the miracle were only five [Luke 9:10-17] and seven [Matt. 15:29-39] in number before the disciples began to divide them among the hungry people. But when once they began to distribute them, though the wants of so many thousands were satisfied, they filled baskets with the fragments that were left.

Now, just as that bread increased in the very act of breaking it, so those thoughts which the Lord has already vouchsafed to me with a view to undertaking this work will, as soon as I begin to impart them to others, be multiplied by His grace, so that, in this very work of distribution in which I have engaged, so far from incurring loss and poverty, I shall be made to rejoice in a marvellous increase of wealth.”

Augustine (354-430) Bishop of Hippo in 397 A.D. in Christian Doctrine 1.1. Today I chose to read one of my favorite thinkers in church history and one who was mentioned often at the EFCA theology conference, Augustine.

Let us celebrate this idea he puts forth that the God of abundance calls us to enjoy and share His blessings not for His good but for ours. When we do, we are perpetually enriched, not impoverished! May this also sober us with regard to our stewardship, for when we fail to steward possessions with generosity, we actually fail to possess them following the Master’s instructions (cf. 1 Timothy 6:17-19).

“Churches wanting to discourage their people from incurring debt should not incur debt, churches wanting to encourage giving should give. Giving shouldn’t just be something churches talk about, but something they do.”

Randy Alcorn in “Financial Stewardship 101: How Pastors Can Model and Teach God’s Word” in the Fall 2014 issue of Western Magazine (Quarterly Publication of Western Seminary) 13. Alcorn offers great advice for pastors such as those I will see today at the EFCA theology conference at Trinity in Deerfield, IL.

Our church budgets should model the way for our people. But might they actual encourage the opposite? Do our churches avoid debt and increase giving annually? Or are our churches saddled with debt and consequently giving a smaller percentage of the budget to the poor and missions each year? What message do you want your church budget to send?

“Isn’t it ironic that we enthusiastically proclaim a gospel that magnifies God’s generous and sacrificial gift of His Son for our behalf, but apparently don’t seem to have much enthusiasm for practicing that same kind of giving ourselves (even though transforming us into generous givers is one of the purposes of His gift to us)?

In biblical terms, the problem can be framed in terms of myopic and unfaithful stewardship. We fail to recognize that all we have is an expression of God’s entrustment to us that should be used in a manner consistent with His purposes and values.

If we fulfill our stewardship responsibilities faithfully, we see His work prosper and we experience the unique joy of being a generous and strategic investor whose investments bless others, now and throughout eternity. If we are derelict in this duty, then all that is squandered and a lose/lose situation results.”

Randy Roberts in “Transformational Generosity” Fall 2014 issue of Western Magazine (Quarterly Publication of Western Seminary) 2. Special thanks to my colleague at Western, Greg Moon, for forwarding this issue to me.

All of us will someday give account for our stewardship. For this reason, now is the time that each of us must ask how we will prepare for that day. Will we be found myopic and unfaithful stewards? Or will we exhibit gospel generosity while we can?

As I was only home from Asia a day and now I am off to Chicago for three days, today I want to honor my beloved wife, Jenni, for her support to model generosity to the best of our ability and her encouragement to exhort God’s people to obedient stewardship!