Meditations

As Jesus started on His way, a man ran up to Him and fell on his knees before Him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’” “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.” Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” Mark 10:17-21

“If there be skilled workmen in the monastery, let them work at their art in all humility, if the Abbot giveth his permission. But if anyone of them should grow proud by reason of his art, in that he seemeth to confer a benefit on the monastery, let him be removed from that work and not return to it, unless after he hath humbled himself, the Abbot again ordereth him to do so. But if any of the work of the artists is to be sold, let them, through whose hands the transaction must pass, see to it, that they do not presume to practice any fraud on the monastery. Let them always be mindful of Ananias and Saphira, lest, perhaps, the death which these suffered in the body (cf. Acts 5:1-11), they and all who practice any fraud in things belonging to the monastery suffer in the soul. On the other hand, as regards the prices of these things, let not the vice of avarice creep in, but let it always be given a little cheaper than it can be given by seculars, that God may be glorified in all things (1 Pt 4:11).”

Benedict of Nursia (480-547) Founder of Twelve Communities and Author of the Rule that governed them. This excerpt is from The Rule of St. Benedict 57 entitled “Of the Artists of the Monastery.”

The Rule of St. Benedict is another one from the list in 25 Books Every Christian Should Read: A Guide to the Essential Spiritual Classics. It’s essentially an Italian discipleship manual from the late fifth and early sixth century.

Let’s lean into a powerful idea that wages war against generosity and surfaces in today’s Scripture and meditation. It’s fraud. As we see in today’s Scripture, it tarnishes even the most devout and diligent person. Notice the rich man in the Scripture reports keeping all the commandments.

And a look closer reveals that Jesus adds one that’s not part of the proverbial top ten list (cf. the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20), namely, do not defraud. Before digging further, let’s clarify definitions. To defraud is to commit fraud. So Jesus tells the rich man not to commit fraud.

So, what is fraud. In biblical terms it’s the wrong handling of God’s money for personal gain. Most people don’t think of bad stewardship as fraud, but that’s exactly what it is, and we are all guilty of it at one time or another in our lives.

So, now lean into the post from Benedict. Each gifted or talented person in the monastery was to do five things: use their talent, remain humble, avoid fraud, charge a less than competitive price for wares, and ensure God’s glory in their use of their giftedness.

What great advice for us! Don’t follow the economic rules of your society, but rather a rule like this one for disciples. And notice the benefits. It helps you avoid avarice and positions you to serve as a fruitful and generous servant as part of a community of faith.

One more thought from Paul. The purpose of work is not to amass wealth but to have resources to share. Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need. Ephesians 4:28

Why bring this up? Many think that the fruit of their labor belongs to them. Moses reminds us that even the ability to produce wealth comes from God (cf. Deuteronomy 8:18). These are powerful ideas so soak in the Scriptures if you sense any conviction from the Spirit.

To grow in generosity and avoid avarice, let’s all use giftedness, stay humble, avoid fraud, charge less than competitive rates, and ensure God’s glory in all we do. We can do this. God will take care of us. Anything else is fraud. Don’t go there.

You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Isaiah 26:3

“My dear friend in God, I beg you, stay alert and attentive to the way you are progressing in your vocation. And give thanks to God for this calling, so that with the help of His grace you may stand firm against all the subtle assaults of the enemies who will harass you from within and without and so that you may come to win the reward of life unending. Amen…

Be sure that if you are occupied with something less than God, you place it above you for the time being and create a barrier between yourself and God. Therefore, firmly reject all clear ideas however pious or thoughtful.

For I tell you this: one loving, blind desire for God alone is more valuable in itself, more pleasing to God and to the saints, more beneficial to your own growth, and more helpful to your friends, both living and dead, than anything else you could do.”

Excerpt from The Cloud of Unknowing in The Cloud of Unknowing and the Book of Privy Counseling (New York: Image, 1973) 36, 52.

The Cloud of Unknowing was written by an anonymous Christian mystic written in Middle English in the latter half of the 14th century. It’s another book on this list, 25 Books Every Christian Should Read: A Guide to the Essential Spiritual Classics.

The author wrote it to you and me as dear friends in God, so that’s how I reference the writer.

Notice our friend in God wants us to stay alert, focused on God, and not be occupied by anything else. We must not even think about generously doing things for God, but merely have “blind desire” for Him, reminding ourselves that this marks the best help we can give to ourselves and others.

God, we occupy ourselves with You, knowing this is the best and most generous thing we can do for ourselves and for our friends today and everyday. Amen.

If you point these things out to the brothers and sisters, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished on the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed. Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. 1 Timothy 4:6-8

“Every action has its quality, and this quality God has reserved to His own will and gift. In order that the dependence of man upon God, the will of God, may be shown the more clearly, and that he may be plunged more deeply into humility, God has assigned to the will and strength of man only the quantity of prayer. He has commanded unceasing prayer, always to pray, at all times and in every place.

By this the secret method of achieving true prayer, and at the same time faith, and the fulfillment of God’s commandments, and salvation, are revealed. Thus, it is quantity which is assigned to man, as his share; frequency of prayer is his own, and within the province of his will. This is exactly what the Fathers of the church teach.

St. Macarius the Great says truly to pray is the gift of grace. Isaiah the Solitary says that frequency of prayer becomes a habit and turns into second nature, and without frequent calling upon the name of Jesus Christ it is impossible to cleanse the heart. The venerable Callistus and Ignatius counsel frequent, continuous prayer in the name of Jesus Christ before all ascetic exercises and good works, because frequency brings even the imperfect prayer to perfection.

Blessed Diadochos asserts that if a man calls upon the name of God as often as possible, then he will not fall into sin. What experience and wisdom there are here, and how near to the heart these practical instructions of the Fathers are. In their experience and simplicity they throw much light upon the means of bringing the soul to perfection.”

The Way of a Pilgrim and The Pilgrim Continues His Way, translated from the Russian by E. French (New York: Harper, 1965) 168-169.

The Way of a Pilgrim and The Pilgrim Continues His Way is another great book on the must read list: 25 Books Every Christian Should Read: A Guide to the Essential Spiritual Classics. It’s the source of today’s post.

The relationship between Paul and Timothy in today’s Scripture mirrors the unnamed Russian Pilgrim and his interaction with the Fathers on his spiritual journey.

It reminds me of my journey with the ancients through Daily Meditations.

What insight from the Fathers struck you? Read their comments again, if necessary. For me, the counsel of the venerable Callistus stood out. It reminds me of the phrase, practice makes perfect.

Of course, in biblical terms, perfection means completeness or maturity. So, Callistus says, frequent and continuous prayer coupled with good works brings even the most broken person to maturity in their generosity.

Thank the LORD! That means there’s hope for all of us then.

Jesus help me, on this my 55th birthday to imitate your generosity. Through frequent and continuous prayer, help this humble pilgrim keep growing to maturity so my life brings you glory. Amen.

“The eye is the lamp of the body. So if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If, then, the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! “No one can serve two masters, for a slave will either hate the one and love the other or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth. Matthew 6:22-24

“Worldly possessions tend to turn the hearts of the disciples away from Jesus. What are we really devoted to? That is the question. Are our hearts set on earthly goods? Do we try to combine devotion to them with loyalty to Christ? Or are we devoted exclusively to him? The light of the body is the eye, and the light of the Christian is his heart. If the eye be dark, how great is the darkness of the body! But the heart is dark when it clings to earthly goods, for then, however urgently Jesus may call us, his call fails to find access to our hearts. Our hearts are closed, for they have already been given to another. As the light cannot penetrate the body when the eye is evil, so the word of Jesus cannot penetrate the disciple’s heart so long as it is closed against it. The word is choked like the seed which was sown among thorns, choked “with cares and riches and pleasures of this life” (Luke 8:14).

Dietrich Bonhoeffer in Cost of Discipleship (New York: Macmillan, 1979) 193.

Cost of Discipleship is another awesome book on the must read list: 25 Books Every Christian Should Read: A Guide to the Essential Spiritual Classics. It’s the source of today’s post.

At this time of year, the marketers work overtime to get our attention to purchase their wares. They used to focus on billboards and TV advertisements. Now we also get bombarded banner ads on the internet.

Like Santa in the songs knows everything what we want for Christmas, the search engines seem to know everything that will catch our attention and seek to convince us to buy.

Bonhoeffer would likely say in reply: protect your eye. This is not saying to put a patch on it but to guard it. It’s saying to be careful what captivates your view, because if your eye is unhealthy, everything will be unhealthy.

Rather than live, give, love, and serve generously, we will become consumed by the desire to acquire some consumer goods. What we think we need (apart from Christ) enslaves us. To avoid it, we protect our eye by fixing it on Christ.

Bonhoeffer rightly reminds us not to try to combine earthly stuff with Christ because it echos what our Lord said. We can’t serve two masters. What does your eye reveal about whom you serve?

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. Galatians 6:9-10

“As God has created all things for the common good of all men, so let that part of them which has fallen to your share be employed, as God would have all employed, for the common good of all. Do good, my son, first of all to those that most deserve it; but remember to do good to all. The greatest sinners receive daily instances of God’s goodness towards them; He nourishes and preserves them, that they may repent, and return to Him: do you therefore imitate God, and think no one too bad to receive your relief and kindness, when you see that he wants it.”

William Law (1686-1761) in A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life (Grand Rapids: CCEL, 2000) 135.

This is another book from the list of the 25 Books Every Christian Should Read: A Guide to the Essential Spiritual Classics. Where able, I will include a link for you to access the book freely on PDF.

This book aims to inspire readers to grow in their devotion to living out the Christian life. Or as the Apostle Paul put it in today’s Scripture, to not become weary but press on in doing good and showing kindness to all.

It’s important at Christmas and throughout the year to live this out. Our generosity must not just extend to those we think deserve our aid because we received grace and mercy from God when we were undeserving.

This also shows our faith to a watching world. When we do this, we imitate God. In Luke 6:35, when we are kind to even the undeserving, we are labeled, “children of the Most High.” See for yourself.

But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.

If He can be kind to them, so can we. And, it may lead them to repentance. In this light, our generosity to the undeserving may be the greatest form of evangelism: showing tangible love to the unworthy can soften the hardest hearts.

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Romans 12:9-13

“We do not content ourselves with the life we have in ourselves and in our own being; we desire to live an imaginary life in the mind of others, and for this purpose we endeavour to shine. We labour unceasingly to adorn and preserve this imaginary existence and neglect the real. And if we possess calmness, or generosity, or truthfulness, we are eager to make it known, so as to attach these virtues to that imaginary existence.

We would rather separate them from ourselves to join them to it; and we would willingly be cowards in order to acquire the reputation of being brave. A great proof of the nothingness of our being, not to be satisfied with the one without the other, and to renounce the one for the other! For he would be infamous who would not die to preserve his honour.

We are so presumptuous that we would wish to be known by all the world, even by people who shall come after, when we shall be no more; and we are so vain that the esteem of five or six neighbours delights and contents us. We do not trouble ourselves about being esteemed in the towns through which we pass. But if we are to remain a little while there, we are so concerned. How long is necessary? A time commensurate with our vain and paltry life.

Vanity is so anchored in the heart of man that a soldier, a soldier’s servant, a cook, a porter brags and wishes to have his admirers. Even philosophers wish for them. Those who write against it want to have the glory of having written well; and those who read it desire the glory of having read it. I who write this have perhaps this desire, and perhaps those who will read it.”

Pensées by Blaise Pascal, section 1:147-150.

In the Renovare resource book, 25 Books Every Christian Should Read: A Guide to the Essential Spiritual Classics, editor Julia L. Roller surveyed a prestigious board that came up with this list of must read books.

1. On the Incarnation by St. Athanasius (~AD 318)
2. Confessions by St. Augustine (~AD 398)
3. The Sayings of the Desert Fathers
4. The Rule of St. Benedict by St. Benedict (~AD 400)
5. The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri (~AD 1320)
6. The Cloud of Unknowing by Anonymous (~AD 1375)
7. Revelations of Divine Love by Julian of Norwich
8. The Imitation of Christ by Thomas à Kempis (~AD 1420)
9. The Philokalia (4th-15th Century)
10. Institutes of the Christian Religion by John Calvin
11. The Interior Castle by St. Teresa of Avila (AD 1577)
12. Dark Night of the Soul by St. John of the Cross
13. Pensées by Blaise Pascal (AD 1669)
14. The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan (AD 1678)
15. The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence
16. A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life by William Law (AD 1729)
17. The Way of a Pilgrim by Unknown Author
18. The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky
19. Orthodoxy by G. K. Chesterton
20. The Poetry of Gerard Manley Hopkins
21. The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
22. A Testament of Devotion by Thomas R. Kelly
23. The Seven Storey Mountain by Thomas Merton
24. Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis
25. The Return of the Prodigal Son by Henri J. M. Nouwen

I’ve read many of these classics and decided to use this list as a guide for my reading in the coming days. Perhaps pick one for your reading. That said, I started with Pascal. This post come from Pensées. Though written centuries ago, it rings with modern relevance.

Most people go about living imaginary lives. Just this week in my Pinehurst Bible Study we read today’s Scripture: Love must be sincere or real. We talked about how unreal many people are today. Real love is coupled with unselfish service, spiritual fervor, perseverance, and sharing.

Related to generosity, it’s giving not to get a reputation. If so, it just proves the “nothingness of our being” apart from Christ.  Instead it’s giving that flows through us because we are connected to Christ, as the divine source, and serving as a channel of His goodness for His glory.

As you reflect in the days leading up to Christmas, soak in this Scripture, abandon the imaginary, and ask the Spirit to show you how you might live, give, serve, and love in real ways.

Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. 1 Peter 3:8

John Agresto comments. “Accounts of those offering “help” to the homeless provide pleasant glows, but they end up harming the poor.”… “Unlike compassion, sentimentality makes us feel good. We feel warm all over and lumpy in the throat. We can get rid of it with a good cry. Through it we enjoy a glow of feeling without incurring a debt of obligation. Unlike compassion, sentimentality is often easy and pleasant.”…

Marvin Olasky adds. “They lead good-hearted citizens to offer medicine more likely to harm than help. Those who want to help the homeless often work hard, sometimes as volunteers, to open new shelters.”

But Gina Kolata notes. “Shelters only make the drug problem among the homeless worse. Al­though shelters are supposed to be drug free, drug use is often open and widespread… Many shelter residents actually have jobs, but they spend all their money on drugs.”

John Agresto in “Educating About Compassion” in American Education (Sum­mer, 1982: 20) and Gina Kolata, New York Times (22 May 1989: Al) as referenced by Marvin Olasky in The Tragedy of American Compassion by Marvin Olasky (Washington DC: Regnery, 2022) 213.

As I near the end of this book, I discovered an important distinction from Agresto.

We must avoid sentimentality and pursue compassion. The former makes us feel good but as little impact. The latter may be hard work that does not feel very good but promises long-term impact.

It feels good to set up a shelter and let someone else help the needy.

All over the world I see sentimental handouts creating unhealthy dependency. As Olasky and Kolata added pointedly, these handouts also promote abuse and the opposite behavior we hope to nurture.

Please only support ministries that give a compassionate hand up to build disciples.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:30-31

“William Diehl wrote that “even if all Christians had the commitment to care for the poor, how could I or my congregation possibly know where all the unmet needs were, and how could we be certain that there would be an equitable distribution of our benevolence? Some overall agency is needed for such a task, and it is obviously civil government.”

Diehl’s belief that government could and would cover all the bases equitably showed a faith in things unseen. Similarly, Ron Sider’s Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger survived heavy barrages and found readers throughout the 1980s; Sider proposed simple living but accepted conventional ideas of poverty-fighting through collective action rather than individual challenge.”

William E. Diehl in “A Guided Market Response,” in Robert G. Clouse, ed., Wealth and Poverty: Four Christian Views of Economics (Downers Grove: IVP, 1984) 68-69, and Ronald J. Sider, Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger (Downers Grove: IVP, 1977), as referenced by Marvin Olasky in The Tragedy of American Compassion by Marvin Olasky (Washington DC: Regnery, 2022) 195.

In my reading about the failure and destructive impact of social welfare programs in America in Olasky’s classic book, I found this section to be interesting.

Diehl’s thinking reveals what many believe about benevolence: that it should be the government’s job to sort the needs of the poor. His congregation seems disconnected from the greatest commandment, which is to love God and love your neighbor.

Sider called Christians to simple living to make margin for generous giving, but still saw benevolence as best worked out through collective action.

Repeatedly, however, Olasky makes the case for “individual challenge” as the answer for addressing poverty. While collective action can aim to teach people biblical ideas, he argues that there is no substitute for individual challenge. Understanding a person’s situation and calling them to take steps in the right direction.

This reminds me of the Good Samaritan story.

The Samaritan had compassion and extended benevolence in a personal and financial way. I am growing convinced that biblical teaching coupled with individual challenge affects the most change.

And it helps those we serve love God (biblical teaching) and their neighbor (individual challenge).

This year-end, please generously support ministries like GTP that promote biblical teaching. In addition to that, ask God if there is one person you can help in tangible ways like the Good Samaritan. With individual challenge, help them get back on their feet.

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Colossians 3:12-14

“Faith in God puts courage, compassion, and determination into the hearts of men. These are the qualities that conquer poverty and solve other social problems. It is the business of the Church to mobilize spiritual power. By doing so, it can solve our perplexing social and economic ills.”

Carl F. H. Henry in “Evangelicals in the Social Struggle,” Christianity Today 10 (8 October 1965: 3-11)  as recounted in The Tragedy of American Compassion by Marvin Olasky (Washington DC: Regnery, 2022) 172.

The Christmas season is a time for rich conversations. Sometimes people talk about the troubles of the world and suggest ways to solve the world’s problems.

Henry rightly notes that the best way to “solve” the world’s problems is to not try to solve the world’s problems but have faith in God.

We as Christians are the Church. By focusing together on clothing ourselves with virtues, we play our role as the Church and mobilize spiritual power that solves so many problems.

Many people (wrongly!) think generosity will solve the world’s problems. Generosity only flows out of deep faith in God. We only give when we know and believe God will care for us.

Perhaps the most rewarding part of the GTP Palmful of Maize work in Malawi is that we are not giving them anything material. The training grows their faith in God, and they are solving their own problems.

Glory to God in the highest!

We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies. Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the food they eat. And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good. 2 Thessalonians 3:11-13

“Discernment by volunteers, and organizational barriers against fraud, were important not only to prevent waste but to preserve morale among those who were working hard to remain independent. One charity worker noted, “nothing is more demoralizing to the struggling poor than successes of the indolent or vicious.” The St. Louis solution was to require volunteers to abide by a set of rules of giving:

– To give relief only after personal investigation of each case.
– To give necessary articles and only what is immediately necessary.
– To give what is least susceptible of abuse.
– To give only in small quantities in proportion to immediate need; and less than might be procured by labor, except in cases of sickness.
– To give assistance at the right moment; not to prolong it beyond duration of the necessity which calls for it. . . .
– To require of each beneficiary abstinence from intoxicating liquors. . . .
– To discontinue relieving all who manifest a purpose to depend on alms rather than their own exertions for support.”

Robert and Jeanette Lauer in “Will a Private War on Poverty Succeed? The Case of the St. Louis Provident Association,” Journal of Sociology and Social Welfare X (March 1983) 16-17.

The St. Louis Provident Association offers keen advice for those who want to generously help the poor. Read the Scripture and the list again. This surfaces for me.

To follow these rules is work. It requires diligence and discernment. It’s easier to give a handout, to offer aid to the masses. It’s a lot harder to understand each case.

But the Apostle Paul knows that if we take this approach, discernment weeds out the idle and disruptive. I urge you to do the same as you aim to give an account for your stewardship.

This morning I have a meeting with brothers administrating the Palmful of Maize effort in Malawi. We will discuss Scriptures like this one and the one cited yesterday.

As the plan to distribute maize to the needy gets underway, we plan to take the hard road requiring discernment and diligence. This will also help the morale of the whole effort.

God help us. I give thanks today for these seven rules to help guide us.