Meditations

“What we do with money and possessions reveals more about our true identity and our commitments than anything else.”

Klyne Snodgrass in “Jesus and Money: No Place to Hide and No Easy Answers,” Word & World 30 (2010): 135.

Last night, I got an email from a friend and former student, Dave Rowland, with a paper he wrote for a class that contained this quote. Sammy and I discussed it and we concur. Snodgrass (and Rowland) are spot on.

Sammy and I resolve to work to bring glory to God and have resources to enjoy and share to send a message to the world that we love for God and are committed to stuff God cares about, regardless of what others are doing!

“There is an amazing freedom in knowing that we are under God’s protection and care. We need to live in a way that reflects the fact that we know we have a God who loves and cares for us, who, with all the resources in heaven and on earth at His disposal, is more than capable of meeting our every need. If we truly believe that, we won’t worry about living generously with our time, our money, and our possessions, and following God’s call wherever He may lead. We love others because we are so overwhelmed by His great love for us. We go to those who have nothing, knowing that as we pursue the kingdom of God, He will take care of our needs.”

Mike Pilavachi in When Necessary Use Words: Changing Lives Through Worship, Justice and Evangelism (Ventura: Regal, 2006) 110.

Last night our daughter, Sophie, took the stage for opening night of her school play, Miracle Worker, the Helen Keller story. She shines on stage. Today, I am heading out pheasant hunting with my son, Sammy, in St. Francis, KS, for the weekend. My wife, Jenni, told me that he just wrote a paper for his Colorado Christian University English composition class on what he discerns as God’s calling in his life. I can’t wait to hear about it and to encourage him to pursue it, trusting God to love and care for him each step of the way. For both of them, there’s nothing more fulfilling than to watch them children pursue their place in the Kingdom of God (cf. 3 John 1:4).

“What do you suppose is the trajectory of giving in the Bible? Is it stingy, grudging, and resentful? Is it rightly used to magically get something from God? Or is it generous and others-oriented, mimicking the sacrificial life of Jesus? This is a pretty easy question to answer, and we don’t even have to look for a proof text…The spiritual practice of generosity, which comes from simplicity of heart, moves us from mere legalisms, compassionless mechanisms, or stingy mathematical formulas of tithing, to an ever simpler life for the sake of others.”

Todd D. Hunter from “Giving an Offering: Simplicity of Life” in Giving Church Another Chance: Finding New Meaning in Spiritual Practices (Downers Grove: IVP, 2010) 134.

I had Beau Jo’s pizza in Idaho Springs, CO, last night with Jeff Anderson. He’s becoming a good friend. He’s the author of Plastic Donuts. Read it if you’ve never read it. Great book.

We talked about many topics linked to generosity. Among them, we discussed the teachings that prevent spirit-led generosity in America. Sadly, many are pounding the tithe, which when calling people to return to the OT Law, is producing grudging giving that returns people to slavery. Others are teaching OT promises out of context, leading many to think giving is all about getting and prosperity. Alternatively we shared stories about how God is leading our families down the spirit-led path of simplicity and generosity. It was sweet fellowship.

To my surprise, after reading Galatians 5 this morning, my research tools led me to read this chapter by Todd Hunter. Todd essentially came to the same conclusion. So my call this morning is this: let’s all abandon teachings that lead people to slavery and prosperity and instead promote simplicity and generosity. And let’s do this not because it’s the new legalism, or for what we will get in return, but because it reflects the trajectory of giving in the Bible. And it’s the others-oriented direction the Holy Spirit is leading us related to giving as we follow Jesus.

Today’s meditation is more than lyrics. It’s a practical pathway for showing love to the least of these.

Enjoy this “Kings & Queens” video by Audio Adrenaline, and then read below to learn how you too can love to the least of these.

“Kings & Queens”

Little hands, shoeless feet, lonely eyes looking back at me
Will we leave behind the innocent too brief
On their own, on the run when their lives have only begun
These could be our daughters and our sons
And just like a drum I can hear their hearts beating
I know my God won’t let them be defeated
Every child has a dream to belong and be loved

Boys become kings, girls will be queens
Wrapped in Your majesty
When we love, when we love the least of these
Then they will be brave and free
Shout your name in victory
When we love when we love the least of these
When we love the least of these

Break our hearts once again
Help us to remember when
We were only children hoping for a friend
Won’t you look around these are the lives that the world has forgotten
Waiting for doors of our hearts and our homes to open

If not us who will be like Jesus
To the least of these
If not us tell me who will be like Jesus
Like Jesus to the least of these

Boys become kings, girls will be queens
Wrapped in your majesty
When we love, when we love the least of these
Then they will be brave and free shout your name in victory
We will love we will love the least of these
We will love the least of these
We will love the least of these
We will love the least of these
We will love the least of these
We will love the least of these

My good friend, Michael Larson had a vision to put poor people to work. He not only gave them jobs in the name of Jesus, through Vineworks360 he provides hope in Haiti, a place of destitution. The blessing grows when we participate with him. Purchase gifts from Vineworks360 artisans and plan your holiday party today. Checkout their website for details or email him at vineworks360@gmail.com. Let us love the least of these!

“You can have it all, so don’t settle for less. That is what we are told. So we spend ourselves on life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Realization of the American Dream–the Western dream–lies at our fingertips. But that is largely the problem–so much of what we want remains just out of our reach…

Our unhappiness does not spring from what we lack. It springs from our desire for what we lack. We crave love, beauty, and comfort. We crave independence and peaceful surroundings. We crave self-esteem. We crave the smooth rhythm of a balanced life–a little of this, a bit of that, but not too much of either…

We refuse to accept that our prosperity isn’t going to make us happy…But just as prosperity does not lock in happiness, awful circumstances don’t have to lock it out. Do we believe that? …In such circumstances we can’t imagine anything but unhappiness. What choice do we have? We do have a choice actually. We can be happy, not necessarily in the American way, but in the biblical way.

It is all a matter of what we live for. If we live for the good times, even those given to us by God, we will never find happiness because seasons of wilderness, waiting, and withholding are just as much, if not more, a part of life on this earth as season of ease and peace. Happiness, or contentment, comes from where we look and what we believe, not from what we have.”

Lydia Brownbeck in Contentment: A Godly Woman’s Adornment (Wheaton: Crossway, 2008) 9-10.

It’s election day. Candidates will promise you life, liberty, and happiness if you give them your vote. Instead, today (and every day), vote “YES” to biblical contentment. My parents taught me this, and I am privileged to spend five hours with them this afternoon. What a gift!

When we vote “NO” to the American dream we avoid discontentment, and we position ourselves to take hold of life in God. Again, make the choice! Vote “YES” to biblical contentment! And as the commercials say: I am Gary Hoag, and I approved this message.

“It may not seem that we have much, but when we give from what we have, something sacred happens. God uses the small things that we bring to Him and multiplies them into a miracle in someone else’s life…When you give what you have, even if it’s a minute, God can make a miracle. He can work with very little and turn it into something that no one could have imagined…

When you give away what you have, Jesus will give you more to give. Even if what you have isn’t enough to solve the whole problem, just do what you can in the moment–give it anyway. Trust that God will fill you up with enough to supply the need that’s right in front of you, and assume He will do it again for the next need as well. If you don’t give, you don’t get a chance to see God do a miracle.”

Jay Pathak and Dave Runyon in The Art of Neighboring: Building Genuine Relationships Right Outside Your Door (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2012) 87-89.

My wife is reading this book and shared this quote with me because it sums what we have experienced. God has placed in our hearts the desire to get to know and love our neighbors here at Cattails. We are close with one of them, who moved in after we did, so out of 72 units that leaves 70 on our radar.

As I travel a lot, Jenni has learned the names of many of them, and teaching them to me. Sometimes she shares banana bread, but mostly it’s a smile and 2-5 minutes. Our relationships with our Eagle View friends are still intact because it’s only about 1.5 miles away so we feel like we are getting a double blessing.

So what’s does generosity have to do with our neighborhood?

Ever since we determined to either put to work what we have or give it away, we’ve seen God do miracles one after another. We have not ended up empty. Quite the opposite. We’ve never been more full, because as Pathak and Runyon put it, God supplies or does a miracle. Sometimes those miracles have touched our neighbors, and even drawn them to faith.

Check out this book. Jenni can’t put it down. It’s a primer for fulfilling the great commandment. Do what it says and you too may see miracles happen. That’s what we are learning.

“What should we do then?” the crowd asked. John answered, “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.” Even tax collectors came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?” “Don’t collect any more than you are required to,” he told them. Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?” He replied, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely—be content with your pay.” Luke 3:10-14

“Performance matters; forgiveness that comes with repentance must lead to action. John instructs the crowds to share clothing and food with those who lack these necessities (v. 11). Tax collectors and soldiers receive similar charges: they are to deal honestly and justly with others when they might be expected instead to exploit their positions (vv. 13, 14). A community of persons who have received John’s baptism will be marked by compassionate care for the needy and by justice. John may preach in the wilderness, but his message of forgiveness and repentance directs the people back to their homes and villages, restoring authentic community.”

John T. Carroll in Luke: A Commentary (The NT Library; Louisville: WJKP, 2012) 93.

The Greek verb translated “to do” or “to perform” appears seven times in this text. Repentance leads to restorative action. What we believe in Christ shapes our lives and leads to the restoration of community around us.

I am flying to Chicago today to celebrate God’s work through Alpha Chicago at a dinner and for meetings at their Bannockburn office tomorrow. I love how Alpha points people to repentance and their Relationship Central programs help people experience authentic Christian community.

John answered, “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.” John 3:11

“Be charitable. He that has two coats, and, consequently, one to spare, let him give, or lend at least, to him that has none, to keep him warm. Perhaps he saw among his hearers some that were overloaded with clothes, while others were ready to perish in rags, and he puts those who had superfluities upon contributing to the relief of those that had not necessaries.

The gospel requires mercy, and not sacrifice; and the design of it is to engage us to do all the good we can. Food and raiment are the two supports of life; he that hath meat to spare, let him give to him that is destitute of daily food, as well as he that hath clothes to spare: what we have we are but stewards of, and must use it, accordingly, as our Master directs.”

Matthew Henry (1662-1712) in Matthew Henry’s Complete Bible Commentary notes on Luke 3:11.

Our faith should show through care for people and their basic needs. My family is learning that sharing our superfluities not only meets the necessaries of others, it actually frees us from the burden of the space they take up in our townhouse. Perhaps let’s start by sharing an extra coat with the local shelter today. Winter is coming.

“What should we do then?” the crowd asked. John answered, “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.” Even tax collectors came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?” “Don’t collect any more than you are required to,” he told them. Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?” He replied, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely—be content with your pay.” Luke 3:10-14

“John’s message…began by demanding that people should share with one another. It was a social gospel which laid it down that God would never absolve anyone who is content to have too much while others have too little. It [also] ordered people, not to leave their jobs, but to work out their salvation by doing those jobs as they should be done. Let the tax-collector be a good tax-collector; let the soldier be a good soldier. People had a duty to serve God where God had set them…it was John’s conviction that there is nowhere we can serve God better than in our daily work.”

William Barclay in The Gospel of Luke (NDSB; Louisville: WJKP, 2001) 40-41.

The gospel calls us to care for others and to do our work with care. Today I have a phone conference with administrators of the Kern Foundation, which helps servants of Christ connect their faith, work, and economics through a series of initiatives for pastors. Their work echoes the aim of John’s exhortations: Let’s show God’s love today through our sharing with those in need and do our jobs in a manner that reflects John’s instructions and the very heart of Jesus.

“The greatest motivation for giving is love. God’s love for the world motivated Him to give Jesus, His only Son, to bring salvation and healing to the world. What motivates you to do what you do? Is it unconditional love? How much are you willing to do or give in the name of love? True love will motivate us to make sacrifices that might even cost us our lives.”

John Jusu, supervising editor of the Africa Study Bible (Carol Stream: Tyndale, 2012) application notes for John 3:16-21.

Recently, I received a trial copy of the Africa Study Bible (the gospel of John) in the mail. I read a few passages of Scripture and some of the application notes on a flight this week. This reading caught my attention.

Over the years I have learned that my motivation for giving reflects what’s in my heart. If I want love to motivate my generosity then I must contemplate God’s love for me. When I do, I have found that my giving begins to reflect God’s giving to the world.

So let’s all pause today and consider What motivates our generosity? Or perhaps we must ask ourselves what we want to motivate our generosity? Why? The condition of our hearts, that is, what motivates us, is the stuff God cares about.