Meditations

“Jubilee, as “no needy persons” [Acts 4:34] is a unifying theme for Christian generosity…The practice of Jubilee understands that, left to ourselves, disparities between wealth and poverty, and lack of economic means to thrive, will destroy the life of the community of the people of God, exhaust the land and the other economic means of support, and allow the practice of idolatry to creep back in. Therefore, Jubilee is a necessary, intentional practice, not to make sure that everything is economically shared and equal down to the last penny, but that everyone has an equal share in the inheritance of God’s people, and enough of an economic base to thrive.”

Matthew M. Thomas in a paper entitled: “’There were no needy persons among them’ as a Theology of Generosity: A Jubilee Vision” (Stewardship Summit 2015) 8-9.

In light of my recent research on OT Jubilee in relationship to NT Christian generosity (cf. Leviticus 25:8-55), I found this paper both interesting and informative. Thomas suggests that OT Jubilee foreshadows the NT generosity in that God’s people overturn the economic tables to make room for anyone and everyone in the family of God.

Rather than waiting every 50 years to practice jubilee, NT generosity exhibits God’s radical love to the world every day, making sure everyone has opportunity and provision to grasp life. And this life is abundant because it’s source is the God of abundance. In other words, we can share with jubilee or with radically abundant generosity everyday because that’s how God supplies.

“In the ministry of fundraising, we need to be ready to teach the correlation of faith and finances in difficult places so that disciples can learn to trust in God’s supply, not the supply of the West. As they reach further into their own territories and language groups where Western people and money cannot go, we can see the Great Commission accomplished as an “Acts 1:6-8 strategy” – no matter where the steward lives – turning fundraising into more worship in stewardship, Christian belief into deeper discipleship and an increase of cross-cultural ministry to more unreached people groups.”

Barbara Shantz, TWR Global Development Liaison, in a paper entitled: “The Power of “Cross-Cultural” in Stewardship and Fundraising” (Stewardship Summit 2015) 9-10.

Having just completed my first draft of a curriculum entitled, Faith and Finances, this comment from Barbara’s paper struck a chord with me. I wholeheartedly concur that disciples around the world must be taught to trust in God’s supply! We in the West have been largely to blame for the spreading the erroneous thinking that money fuels mission globally, when in reality, God does!

This year I am sensing God leading me to serve the global Church for two reasons. First, He has opened doors for teaching and service in places like Hong Kong, Thailand, Korea, and Guatemala. Second, I was recently appointed as the International Liaison for the ECFA to help rally Christ-followers around the world to faithfully administrate God’s work.

I am sensing that I when speak in these settings, I must lead with an apology on behalf of the West with regard to this problem while exhorting students to learn to trust in God’s supply. As stewards in rich and poor nations alike understand that the foundation for fruitful ministry is faithful stewardship, God’s work will flourish, not dependent on money, but on God as it did in the days of the NT.

“Jesus told a story about a rich man who made a fool of himself by the way he handled his money…Luke 12:16-21…

The first mistake a fool makes with his money is relying on man’s reason and not God’s revelation. Verse 17 tells us the man “began reasoning to himself.” He looked around at his bumper crop and began considering what he should do with his excess. I give him credit for asking the question, “What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?” The problem is that he never sought the wisdom and counsel of God on the matter…

The second mistake a fool makes with his money is hoarding his surplus rather than sharing it with others. The most surprising twist in the parable comes when the prosperous landowner decides to implode his old grain silos and build new and bigger ones to make room for his surplus. Maybe he thought it was good business to tear down the old and build new and bigger barns…Good business decision or not, greed motivated the man’s actions in Jesus’ story…

The third mistake a fool makes with his money is acting like an owner and not a steward. Read Luke 12:17-19 again. This time circle the words “I”, “me”, and “mine”. Now count the number of times the man uses one of those personal pronouns. If your math is like mine, you will come up with eleven times in three sentences. Whew! Have you ever seen the likes of somebody whose whole world revolves around himself? The overuse of personal pronouns is always a dead giveaway to this malady…

The fourth mistake a fool makes with his money is living with time and not eternity in view. The rich man in this parable boasts about living the Epicurean lifestyle of instant gratification. “Soul,” he says with unbridled confidence, “you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink, and be merry” (v. 19). Tragically, what he did not factor into his self-centered, materialistic philosophy of life was the “for tomorrow you die” part…It is too easy to live your life and spend what you think is your money with no reference or thought of eternity.”

Ron L. Jones in Jesus, Money, and Me: Discovering the Link Between Your Money and Your Faith (Lincoln: iUniverse, 2004) 8-13.

In 2015 and beyond, let us be sure not to make the four mistakes fools make. Instead may we seek God’s wisdom on handling money, share financial surplus with others in need, act like stewards, and live with eternity in view.

I am off to Florida today to share thoughts like these with fellow believers. I am meeting with leaders and friends of Alpha South Florida. Undoubtedly, some of them think I am coming to talk about fundraising.

On the contrary, my aim is to aid them as stewards to avoid making foolish decisions, and instead, use what they have to participate in God’s work while rallying others to join them…not because of what they want from them, but what they want for them.

“Jesus challenges “those who have” to trust God to care for their needs by sharing what the have with those who don’t have…John Nolland writes, “To be poor, hungry, and weeping is not at all the situation that Luke envisages in the ideal state of Christian existence” (Acts 2:43-47; 4:4). Poverty is not idealized in Luke, but the reversal of it is called for (Luke 1:48, 52-53; 16:25). This is evidenced in early Christian lifestyle choices that resulted in none being needy among the fellowship of the early church because generosity prevailed (Acts 4:34)…

Luke 4:18-19 alludes to the sabbatical year of Jubilee when the afflicted will be shown generosity, when all slaves are freed, debts canceled, the blind see, and prisoners are released…The Jubilee good news Jesus speaks of in Luke 4:19 is the “year of the Lord’s favor” and is an allusion to Isaiah 61:1-2 in which God’s promises to show his favor to the afflicted through Jubilee generosity. The good news of Isaiah 61:1-2 meant the restoration of land and livelihood to the afflicted–bad news to those who had plenty unless they embraced the message and shared material wealth…

Jesus calls for generous sharing as a form of countercultural witness to the human urge to compete, acquire, and consume…Jesus challenged his audience to think more deeply about the truly “afflicted” and so consider their own responsibility for the existence of real affliction in their own land.”

Mark Bredin in The Ecology of the New Testament: Creation, Re-Creation, and the Environment (Colorado Springs: Biblica, 2010) 47-48.

Today I am celebrating God’s jubilee generosity.

For me personally, today also marks the end of 50 days with minimal travel. The family time has been priceless. I’ve also enjoyed the gift of time to reflect on God’s generosity to us in Jesus and the jubilee generosity that He desires to make known through us, His followers. Candidly, this season of reflection has been simultaneously refreshing and convicting for me. I have come to realize that as a recipient of God’s generosity, my participation with God in His work bears fruit when I live like Christ and does not bear fruit when I live like the culture.

I came to this awareness through blocks of time set aside for solitude and writing. During my jubilee, by God’s grace I wrote a 122-page biblical stewardship curriculum for use in colleges and seminaries entitled, Faith and Finances. In this curriculum I repeatedly contrast what the Word teaches vs. what the world teaches to help Christ-followers understand Jesus’ teachings and do what He says. In doing the research for this project, the Spirit showed me areas in my own life where there was work to be done, so I conclude my jubilee with this prayer for myself and readers of these daily mediations:

Father in heaven, work in our lives by your Holy Spirit so that through us, your jubilee generosity will flow richly and represent a countercultural witness for Christ. Make it so in our lives in 2015 and beyond, we pray. Amen.

“Generosity involves more than money…The measure is a loving attitude and the willingness to pay a price, whether in money, time, or the subtle willingness to think the best when our lesser selves might very well take secret pleasure in another person’s discomfort.”

E. Carver McGriff in Lectionary Preaching Workbook, Series VI, Cycle C (Lima: CSS Publishing, 2000) 248.

God, help us to exhibit generosity that involves more than money. By your Holy Spirit, develop loving hearts within us that are willing to pay the price to minister to the needs of others. Thank you Jesus for doing this for each of us.

“This call – to “purity of heart,” simplicity of life, and single-minded focus on God and God’s Kingdom – is much needed today. We are overwhelmed and inundated with too much of everything: too many possessions, too much food, too much stimulation, too many activities, too much work, too much information, too many choices. As a consequence, most of us live scattered, hectic lives, racing from one task to another, juggling too many commitments, always living on the surface and never really knowing ourselves, or others. Nor have we the time and space to truly know God.

The simplicity we need has both an inward dimension and an outward expression. Inwardly it seeks an integration of the self that is rooted in our identity as beloved children of God. When we know ourselves to be children of God above all else, we find the freedom to let go of the need to compete for status, success and popularity. We can let go of jealousy, envy and pride. Our hearts are fixed on one thing – knowing and loving and serving God. Everything else then assumes its rightful place and order in our lives.

As our hearts become pure, others will notice changes in the way we speak, the way we dress, the way we work, the way we conduct ourselves. We will grow in appreciation for ordinary things, and will be content with less. Our hearts will fill with gratitude for the beauty and wonder of creation, for the gift of life, and for the loving kindness of God. We will grow in concern for the world and its peoples, and for our environment. We will be increasingly skeptical of our consumerist culture, and will grow in compassion for the poor. Our lives will become simpler, more generous, more authentic.”

David Vryhof, Selah Faculty, in “The Gift of Simplicity: To Will One Thing” in SILENCIO, a resource of Leadership Transformations, January 2015, twenty-fifth edition.

Father in heaven, purify our hearts. We will one thing this new year – to seek you first (cf. Matthew 6:33). For your namesake lead and guide us on this inward and outward journey wherever it leads us. Amen.

Two days ago I posted an excerpt of the ECC 2012 statement. Here’s part of their 2013 resolution.

“God calls us to live as generous stewards in response to God’s abundance and sustenance. Christ’s life, death, and resurrection free us to see wealth and possessions differently, to seek first God’s kingdom and righteousness (Matthew 6:33). The Holy Spirit reminds us that our identity is secure because of our relationship with God in Christ, not from what we own and control (Romans 8:16).

God calls the church to be the primary formational community that shapes disciples for lives of stewardship and generosity. Whether we have much or little, we are all called to put our hope and trust in God, be content and thankful, and to give abundantly and cheerfully (Luke 12:16-21; 16:10-13; Philippians 4:11-13; 2 Corinthians 9:7).”

2013 Stewardship and Generosity in the Church. This resolution was adopted by the delegates to the 128th Covenant Annual Meeting, June 2013.

Father in heaven, form us into a community of disciples that generously shows your love to the world each and every day of 2015. Do this by the power of the Holy Spirit for your glory we pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“The generosity challenge: Spend the start of the New Year in prayer. Ask God to show you how you can show His love in your community, with the aim of creating lasting transformation not only in your life, but in the lives of those around you.”

Darrell Tunningley in blogpost entitled “The Generosity of our Resolutions” posted on 1 January 2012.

I like this generosity challenge because it’s simply a resolution to pray and follow God’s leading to show His love to the those around us. I’m thinking about this while fly fishing again today on the San Juan River with Sammy.

One thing I love about fly fishing is the solitude it affords for prayers like this one. If you have always wanted to learn about fly fishing and need a guide to teach you, my son is the licensed outfitter for you: www.sammysflyshop.com

If you are the kind of person who likes New Year’s Resolutions, here’s one for you to consider…

“While we serve a God of abundance, we live in a world of great hunger, poverty, and injustice. Therefore Christ has called us to be stewards of God’s abundance, so that all of humanity may experience life in its fullness (John 10:10). The Stewardship and Generosity Resolution invites Christ followers to live as generous stewards of God’s material and spiritual gifts and calls the church to be a formational, witnessing community that counter-culturally embraces stewardship and generosity. God calls all of us to put our hope and trust in God, to be content and thankful, and to give sacrificially, generously, and cheerfully (Luke 12:16-21; 16:9-13; Phil. 4:11-13). By answering this call, we will reflect God’s abundant provision and make it a reality for a world in need.”

Evangelical Covenant Church, “Stewardship and Generosity Resolution” 2012.

I am thankful for the gift of time off this week with my son, Sammy. We are enjoying the beauty of God’s creation, and fly fishing together on the San Juan River in Navajo Dam, NM. We are also praising God for the privilege of doing this with two of our closest fly fishing buddies (and brothers in Christ), Clay and Charlie Jones.

“Goodness is love in action, love with its hand at the plow, love with the burden on its back; it is love carrying medicine to the sick, and food to the famished; it is love reading the Bible to the blind, and explaining the Gospel to the felon in his cell; it is love at the Sunday-class, or in the Ragged School; it is love at the hovel-door, or sailing far away in the missionary ship; but whatever task it undertakes, it is still the same–love following His footsteps, “who went about continually doing good” [Acts 10:38].”

James Hamilton (1814-1867) Scottish minister, in Day’s Collacon compiled and arranged by Edward Parsons Day (New York: IPPO, 1884) 336.

Back in the 1800’s a “Ragged School” was a school for destitute poor children. “Goodness” also known as “generosity” is love in action, and love is the commandment of Jesus that encompasses all others (cf. John 13:34-35). Let us follow in His footsteps empowered by the Holy Spirit.