Meditations

“God feeds the fowls, and daily sustenance is furnished the sparrows, and to those creatures who have no sense of things Christian, do you think that to a servant of God, do think that to one devoted to good works, do you think that one dear to the Lord anything will be lacking?”

Cyprian (c. 200-258), bishop of Carthage in Works and Almsgiving as recounted in The Quotable Saint ed. Rosemary Ellen Guiley (New York: Visionary Living, 2002) 1.

Often we as human beings psych ourselves out. We think of all the “what if” questions and rationalize behavior that is contrary to Scripture.

Cyprian uses questions, conversely, to note that the God who supplies the needs of the birds, and all creatures who have no sense of things Christian, can be trusted to make good to His promise to supply our needs and the resources for our generosity.

Do you think people would say we live like you and I believe this?

Do not toil to acquire wealth; be discerning enough to desist. When your eyes light on it, it is gone, for suddenly it sprouts wings, flying like an eagle toward heaven. Proverbs 23:4-5

“I can imagine that many wished they had learned this truth before the economy started to decline [in recent years]. If only more Christians would see that their future is not secure in investments, 401Ks, or even in silver and gold, but in storing up treasures in heaven.

I was recently speaking at a conference in one of the more affluent areas of our nation. Yet even in this wealthy community I saw fear and insecurity. I learned that one multi-millionaire had lost millions of dollars and had only eight million remaining. Thinking he had no hope, he took his life.

My heart goes out to his family, but can you see how his reality had become distorted? He viewed his money as his god, and when his god began to dwindle, so also did his hope. That is why the Scriptures teach us not to trust in the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly gives us all things to enjoy.

It is certain that we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out–except for people. Let us invest our lives in our families and in endeavors that influence others to store up treasures in heaven.”

Mark Hamby in Lamplighter Moment daily email for 16 July 2014.

As Hamby notes, the only right activities linked to money are enjoyment, sharing, and trusting in God to provide it. Any other way of life leads to fear, insecurity, and hopelessness. May God help us “be discerning enough to detest” as the writer of this proverb notes. Together we can show the world that the alternative to fear-filled insecurity is hope-filled trust in God.

“This Is All I Need…”

A donor invited me to visit with him to discuss his estate, so we set up a time to meet at his farm.

I drove up to the nice two-story home and knocked on the door. A lady answered, and when I asked for the donor, she said he lived next door – in a trailer.

A dilapidated trailer house, to be more specific. The screen in the door was torn out so his dogs could run in and out. “Simple” hardly describes the interior.

In the course of my visit, the donor told me the two-story farmhouse was occupied by his hired man and his family.

Why does the donor live in the trailer?

He explained, “This is all I need.”

A man of considerable wealth, living simply so he can give.

Quite a lesson.

Bruce L. Blumer of the Dakotas United Methodist Foundation shared this story, and a friend of mine, Steve Regner, Director for Media Advancement for Life 97.9 and Faith 1200 KFNW, was kind to share it with me, and I am passing it along to you.

This story has significance for me today for two reasons! First, it’s a vivid, inspiring, real life example of a person choosing to live simply in order to give generously. Second, this afternoon is the inspection on the townhouse my wife and I are purchasing having sold our home this Spring. We pray all goes well between now and our closing date of August 12.

We are not saying everyone needs to sell their house and downsize. We, along with “the donor” in this story, have taken steps to answer the question: “How much do we need?” so as to position ourselves to live, give, serve, and love generously because someday we will have to give an account for our stewardship. To that end, that is, to prepare to give an account for your stewardship, we urge everyone to go and do likewise!

“We live in an extremely consumeristic culture, and the pressure to live a particular kind of lifestyle is tremendous. From this perspective, then, Christians may have a faith-based conviction to give, but the larger consumer-oriented society and culture tempts people to live to purchase ever increasing goods for themselves, so that generous giving becomes impossible.”

Michael Emerson, Christian Smith, and Patricia Snell in Passing the Plate: Why American Christians Don’t Give Away More Money (New York: Oxford University Press, 2008) 126.

The research of Emerson, Smith, and Snell communicates that generous giving in the American culture is virtually impossible. No wonder Jesus of the rich man in Mark 10 that to “go, sell, give, come and follow” was only possible with God’s help. May God help us do the impossible!

“Simplicity is the only thing that can sufficiently reorient our lives so that possessions can be genuinely enjoyed without destroying us.”

Richard J. Foster in Quaker Life vol. 20 (Friends Publication Board, 1979) 20.

My prayer is that the American Church will wake up and abandon consumerism for simplicity. I am learning that life does not consist in the abundance of possessions (Luke 12:15) but rather in enjoyment and sharing (1 Tim 6:17-19).

“Our possessions are not our own; God has given them to us that we may cultivate them, and it is His will that we should render them useful and fruitful. By our care thereof we render to him an acceptable service.”

Francis de Sales (1567-1622) from The Devout Life as recounted in The Quotable Saint ed. Rosemary Ellen Guiley (New York: Visionary Living, 2002) 204.

It’s interesting to explore the idea of service and sharing that is acceptable to God in the writings of the saints.

When we, along with de Sales, start with the reality that God owns everything, our acceptable service will always be linked to rendering back to Him that which He provides in a manner that is both useful and fruitful for His glory.

Today I want to honor my wife for 22 years of marriage, and frankly, for joining me in embracing truths like this one by one of her favorite spiritual formation writers. I love you, Jenni! Happy Anniversary!

1. Is my spending marked by Christian generosity?
2. What does my spending say about what makes me most happy?
3. Does my spending suggest I’m collecting for this life?
4. Is my spending explicitly supporting the spread of the gospel?

Marshall Segal in Four Questions to Keep Close to Your Wallet blogpost on 3 July 2014.

These reflection questions seek to increase our self-awareness linked to how we are spending the money as part of our personal stewardship. Let us each consider them thoughtfully as we prepare to give an account of our stewardship to God.

“May God pour down every blessing on you, your family, your children. He (Christ) who emptied himself with such generosity so as to enrich men and comfort them in every need will not do less for one who loves and serves Him from the depths of his (or her) being. Wait patiently for His consolation.”

Placid Riccardi (1844-1915) in “letter to his brother, 1906” as recounted in The Quotable Saint ed. Rosemary Ellen Guiley (New York: Visionary Living, 2002) 85.

Where do you find consolation? We are learning that the culture calls us to find comfort and consolation in things rather than God and His generosity. But when our consolation is appropriately rooted in God, often He pours out spiritual and material blessings that are better than anything we could sort for ourselves.

“Do you not know that God entrusted you with that money (all above what buys necessities for your families) to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, to help the stranger, the widow, the fatherless; and, indeed, as far as it will go, to relieve the wants of all mankind? How can you, how dare you, defraud the Lord, by applying it to any other purpose?”

John Wesley (1703-1791) as recounted by Charles Edward White in “Four Lessons on Money from One of the World’s Richest Preachers,” Christian History (Summer 1988) 22.

This week I have the privilege of spending time with a brilliant brother who walks in the footsteps of Wesley: J.D. Walt, chief sower at seedbed.com where their mission is resourcing individuals, communities, and movements to love the whole world with the whole gospel.

I echo Wesley’s sentiment: when we keep for ourselves that which is intended for the good of all, we are defrauding the LORD, because gifts to the naked, the stranger, the widow, and the fatherless are gifts to the LORD. May God help us discern the differences between necessities and luxuries!

“The primary purpose of Relationship Development Ministry is not to achieve full prayer and financial support. Rather the primary purposes are to encourage faithful stewardship and participation in the Great Commission. Getting to full support is the byproduct and a secondary goal…

Christ-followers should be faithful stewards of the resources that God has entrusted to us. We should be good managers, not greedy or have undisciplined debt. We should be generous and rich towards God with our giving. Before we ask others to pray for us and support us in ministry, we should be doing the same for others…

How can you practice and teach sharing and generosity? If you are not yet supporting another missionary, please ask God for discernment. Ask SIM country directors or treasurers if there is someone lacking support. There are special needs among missionaries from new sending contexts where you could make a difference.

If you have excess support or ministry funds, please consider sharing with others who have needs. Many SIM missionaries and retirees are already doing this. If you are struggling with money management or debt, seek counsel from a trusted friend or counselor. Once you become a joyful giver, it is easier to encourage others to be rich toward God and invest in the ministries that God has called you to do.”

Doug Christensen, Director of Relationship Development Ministry and Missionary Budgets for SIM in “RDM Tips: Encouraging Generosity and Stewardship while Doing RDM” in July/August SIM US Family News email dated 1 July 2014.

I met Doug at the Christian Leadership Alliance conference in Dallas in April 2014, and it is exciting to see how he is inspiring the missionaries of SIM. This excerpt from their internal family communication was a blessing for me to read. It provides a model for leaders of other mission agencies or anyone engaging in ministry partner development.

Rather than encouraging staff to exhibit possessive attitudes linked to “their” supporters or saying nothing when they urge people to support “their” ministry, he’s following a higher course. He is urging missionaries to model generous sharing with other missionaries in need while inspiring everyone to grow as givers who are rich toward God. Well done, Doug!