Meditations

“Man misunderstands the true nature of the kingdom of God. Salvation is not a reward [in] a Christian view of salvation. Salvation is the generosity of God.”

Martyn Lloyd-Jones in “The Free Gift of God’s Grace” sermon on Matthew 20:1-16. The parable of the workers in the vineyard makes clear that salvation is not a reward for our work but a gift from our generous God.

I am in Charleston today serving the regional director and board of Alpha South Carolina. I thank God for Alpha USA servants across the country whose efforts point people to the free gift of God’s grace.

“If you are dependent on money, you’re never going to have enough. If you’re dependent on God, you will always have enough.”

Ron Blue made this remark on August 26 event at the Acton Institute “Persistent Generosity” event. Presently, I have the privilege of serving on a curriculum development team at Indiana Wesleyan University with Ron. I appreciate his passion for integrating faith and finances.

Ron added that “biblical wisdom is timeless…and it speaks to every financial situation anybody has in their life.” The issue for each of us with regard to timeless biblical wisdom is will we do with it? Will we depend on God or money?

“God could provide everyone’s needs without us, but He chooses to allow us to participate in His generosity. He provides for our needs, and then He “enriches” us for the sake of generosity. And if we remain generous, he will continue to enrich us so that there will be much fruit from our giving.”

Austin Becton is treasurer of City Life Church. This is an excerpt from his message on 2 Corinthians 9:6-15. Click to read “Pinched by Generosity” in its entirety.

For the Apostle Paul, the privilege of giving is not intended to be a burden on us but a blessing. God’s work will continue regardless of our participation. If we don’t give, we are the one’s who miss out. This enrichment must not be understood as the pathway to personal prosperity, but rather enrichment to share God’s generosity.

“God is not merely the bounteous Bestower of my life, the generous Provider for all my needs, the pitiful Consoler of all my sorrows, the wise Guide of my course: but that He is far more than all that. He saves me with an abundant deliverance: He is my eternal Preserver, the portion of my inheritance, my glory.”

Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153) excerpt from Chapter Five of his classic work: On Loving God.

The root of Christian generosity is acting daily on the belief that God is our generous Provider and eternal Preserver.

God, thank you that we can trust you to provide our daily bread, and to preserve us in the future, despite the uncertainties of life today and for all eternity. With full confidence in You, may our lives reflect this belief so that You receive all glory.

“God, the wise Creator and just Ordainer of all natures, has made the mortal race of man the loveliest of all lovely things on earth. He has given to men good gifts suited to their existence here below. Among these is temporal peace, according to the poor limits of mortal life, in health, security, and human fellowship; and other gifts, too, needed to preserve this peace or regain it, once lost–for instance, the blessings that lie all around us, so perfectly adapted to our senses: daylight, speech, air to breathe, water to drink, everything that goes to feed, clothe, cure, and beautify the body. These good gifts are granted, however, with the perfectly just understanding that whomever uses the goods which are meant for the mortal peace of mortal men, as these goods should be used, will receive more abundant and better goods–nothing less than immortal peace and all that goes with it, namely, the glory and honor of enjoying God and one’s neighbor in God everlastingly; but that whoever misuses his gifts on earth will both lose what he has and never receive the better gifts of heaven.

Augustine (354-430), Bishop of Hippo, in City of God (New York: Doubleday, 1958) 458.

Preserving the gift of peace or regaining it once lost often comes at a high cost but consider the gain! But how do we steward the gift of peace? Today at the Peacemaker Ministries conference in Colorado Springs, I will I offer a New Testament perspective on peacemaking. My prayer is inspire everyone make every effort to preserve this gift!

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:2-4

In the words of Augustine, when we steward this peace rightly and put to work the goods entrusted to us “as these goods should be used,” we get “more abundant and better goods” in return, including the enjoyment of the fullness of God’s generosity now and in the eternal state with Him and our neighbors.

“Neither wealth, nor honors, nor vanity can make a man happy during his life on earth, but only attachment to the service of God, when we are fortunate enough to realize that and to carry it out.”

John Baptiste Marie Vianney (c. 380-465) excerpt from a sermon recounted in The Quotable Saint, ed. R.E. Guiley (New York: Visionary Living, 2002) 113.

As followers of Christ our greatest joy comes not from profitable ventures or public accolades but rather knowing that our work, whatever it may be, is done for God.

Vianney notes that not everyone is fortunate to make this connection. May our generous service of God, regardless of the occupations in which we find ourselves, bring glory to Him.

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him…Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters. Colossians 3:17, 23

“Whoever craves money loses the faith. Whoever collects money squanders the grace.”

Maximus of Turin (c. 380-465) excerpt from a sermon recounted in The Quotable Saint, ed. R.E. Guiley (New York: Visionary Living, 2002) 111.

This fifth century sermon excerpt echoes the thrust of the two commands in 1 Tim 6:9-10 and 17-19. The former statement calls those who crave riches to instead seek after God. The latter accurately depicts what happens when those who have riches fail to enjoy and share them: they “squander the grace” by collecting them.

“I’ve heard a lot of talk in recent years–you probably have too–about people preparing for disaster laying up stores of water and food in their homes, bracing for impending doom by gathering all the provisions and nonperishables they can put away…it strikes me that we don’t hear as many people talking about how they can meet the needs of others in times of crisis. Frequently, the concern seems to be more about self-preservation…

A downturn in the economy can cause people to wring their hands and get in a dither over how dire the outlook appears. Yet as followers of Christ–confident in His ample promises and providence–we should view such difficult times as opportunities to showcase to the world the goodness and grace of God. And few things make this statement more profoundly than she we are generous givers, especially when seen against the backdrop of conditions that make self-preservation such a natural reflex.”

Nancy Leigh DeMoss in The Quiet Place: Daily Devotional Readings (Chicago: Moody, 2012) reading for September 21.

Few things are more rewarding than when one of my children comes to me and suggests a meditation from their daily devotional reading. Special thanks to Sophie (17) for suggesting this post. She blessed me with it and I am passing it on. Let’s be people who think of others while trusting in the “ample promises and providence” of God. Thanks Sophie!

“Jesus picked up the theme of our treatment of the poor being equated with our treatment of God when he taught that if we feed the hungry, clothe the needy, visit the sick, and minister to the imprisoned, we are doing it to Him (Matt. 25:31-46). Jesus also addressed the believer’s responsibility to the poor. He told the rich young man that to be complete, he needed to sell his possessions and give to the poor (Matt. 19:21). Jesus also taught that when we give a party, we should not invite the kind of people who can return the favor, but the poor who cannot (Luke 14:12-14).

Paul was also concerned for the poor (Gal. 2:10) and took special offerings for them (Rom. 15:25-26; 1 Cor. 16:1-3). James teaches that true faith is evidenced by our treatment of the poor (James 2:14-20). John teaches that Christian love results in helping the poor and needy (1 John 3:17-18).

There are two passages of Scripture dealing with the poor that are often misunderstood. The first is Matthew 26:11: “The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me.” The context concerns the story of the woman who anointed Jesus with expensive perfume (Matt. 26:6-13). The disciples thought the perfume should have been sold and the money given to the poor, but Jesus responded, “The poor you will always have with you.”

Some have underwood Jesus to mean that there will always be poor people; so Christians should not worry about them but concentrate on spiritual ministries. However, the Lord actually was saying that the woman had performed an act of worship and that there were many opportunities to help the poor–and by implication that they should do so. Jesus alluded to the phrase, “where will always be poor people” in Deuteronomy 15:11. The whole verse reads, “There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land.”

The second misunderstood passage is 2 Thessalonians 3:10: “For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: ‘If a man will not work, he shall not eat.'” Actually this verse does not even refer to the poor, although some try to apply it to them. In this context (2 Thess. 3:6-12), this rule governing working and eating refers to busybodies in the church community and not to the poor.

It should be noted that although this verse is not addressing the poor, it does reaffirm the Scripture’s emphasis on the dignity of work (cf. Gen. 2:15; Prov. 10:4; Eccl. 3:13; Eph. 4:28). The Scripture does not condone laziness or the poverty resulting from it. The evidence from God’s work is clear: the Christian is to have a concern for the poor and to reach out and help the poor.”

Stephen A. Grunlan, “Economics” in Christian Perspectives on Sociology ed. Stephen A. Grunlan & Milton Reimer (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1982) 194-195.

Grunlan sums aptly the biblical message regarding poverty: we should “have a concern for the poor and to reach out and help the poor.” So whether we are writing a paper, working with rich people, or concerned with our own application of biblical teaching, care of the poor starts in our hearts. Are we concerned for others or just worried about ourselves?

Akin to this concern is openhanded action. It’s not just writing a check. It’s reaching out to assist like Jesus. When we do it, we find that we meet Christ in the poor (cf. Matt. 25:31-46). Few get this like my brother David, who is “51” today! Uncle Dave, as he’s affectionately known in our home, has a heart for noticing needs and he’s openhanded to meet them. Happy Birthday, David!

“What should be the Christian response to poverty? Christians look to the Bible for directions and instruction concerning the issues of life. The Word of God is not silent on the issue of poverty, but rather addresses the issue head-on.

The Old Testament teaches that food should be provided for the poor (Exod. 23:11; Lev. 19:9-10). In fact part of the tithe was to be used for this purpose (Deut. 14:28-29). The Old Testament also teaches that those who help the poor will be blessed (Ps. 41:1, KJV; Prov. 14:21; 22:9).

Another Old Testament teaching equates one’s treatment of the poor with one’s treatment of God; the one who oppresses the poor is reproaching God, while the one who is generous to the poor honors God (Prov. 14:31). Also, being kind to the poor is lending to God (Prov. 19:17). Caring for the poor is seen as evidence of righteous living (Ezek. 18:5-9). Also, true fasting and true worship are equated with care for the poor (Isa. 58:5-11; Jer. 7:2-7; Amos 5:21-24).

The Old Testament goes on to teach that if people shut their ears to the cries of the poor, God will shut His ears when these people call on Him (Prov. 21:13). The Scriptures also teach that the righteous are concerned for the rights of the poor, but that the wicked lack such concern (Prov. 29:7).

The prophet Jeremiah condemned God’s people for being fat and well fed but lacking in concern for the poor (5:28). He went on to command the people of God to practice justice and help those being oppressed (22:3) and pronounced a woe on kings who did not pay for labor (22:13-17). Oppression of aliens, orphans, and widows is also condemned by Ezekiel (22:7) and is equated with the sin of adultery by Malachi (3:5).”

“Stephen A. Grunlan, “Economics” in Christian Perspectives on Sociology ed. Stephen A. Grunlan & Milton Reimer (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1982) 194.

One of my former students emailed me this week about paper he’s writing on “the poor who are always with us” (cf. Matthew 26:11), so I have been doing some research on the Christian response to poverty. Another Meditations reader asked how to connect the rich and the poor because many rich say they don’t know any poor people.

To write the paper or connect the rich and poor, we must start by opening the Word. The Scriptures reveal who the poor are so we can both see them and know how God wants us to relate to them. Grunlan’s survey of OT themes is not a resource for readers but paints the backdrop for Jesus’ teachings in the NT which we will examine tomorrow.