Selwyn Hughes: Stretch

I pray that out of His glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being. Ephesians 3:16

“I invite you to make a faith promise to God now. Start by asking God to help you work out the right amount…that will stretch your faith a little.

Some months before writing this booklet, I sat down and made my faith promise for the year ahead. I asked the Lord how much I should give. The amount that came into my mind in answer to that prayer seemed astonishing. My reaction was to say, ‘Lord, are you sure?’ I went ahead and made my commitment. Within a few weeks of making that commitment, I was offered a writing contract that gave me much more than I had planned to give.

Many of my friends and colleagues tell similar stories following their commitment in the making of a faith promise. It seems God delights to enter into partnership with us in relation to giving by faith, as we work God works. So make a start. Give God an opportunity to multiply your ability to give and increase your faith by first committing yourself to give a certain amount to Him.”

Selwyn Hughes in Divine Mathematics: A Biblical Perspective on Investing in God’s Kingdom (Surrey, UK: CWR, 2004) 51.

I have needed to do more stretching than normal. I am home writing and sitting too much. Despite walking 10,000 steps per day (on average) with Grace (our German Shorthair Pointer dog), I have had stiff muscles and back pain.

Stretching is good. It brings relief. It helps our muscles and our body function in a more healthy way. The same is true for our spirit when we stretch ourselves with our giving. The immaterial part of us grows stronger.

The apostle Paul calls this our “inner being” in today’s Scripture. Read it in the context of Ephesians 3:14-21. As Hughes writes, “God delights to enter into partnership with us in relation to giving by faith, as we work God works.”

He desires to strengthen us with heavenly riches. Though everyone around us may appear weary from life, we can find new strength in partnering with God. What would it look like for you to stretch your giving this year?

As Jesus looked up, He saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.” Luke 21:1-4

“A faith promise provides you with a purpose to give and a purpose to pray and stimulates your faith towards bigger and greater things and opens the blocked channels of your life that fear and unbelief may have clogged.

Many years ago when I was a pastor in London church, I invited every church member at the beginning of the year to make a faith promise to God. Everyone took some time to pray over the matter and then put the figure they thought God wanted them to give on the faith promise card.

Later when recording the cards in the church faith promise register, I noticed the name of an old widow whose circumstances I was very familiar with. I was somewhat surprised at the comparatively large amount she had put on her card and later I went to see her to find out if she had made a mistake.

When I raised the matter that I considered her faith promise too large and that she ought to consider reducing it, she burst into tears. At first I thought they were tears of relief but eventually she turned to me and said, ‘Pastor, that is the figure the Lord told me to give – are you trying to stop me proving the Lord? This is the amount I promised to give and this is the amount I believe the Lord will enable me to give.’

I felt rebuked and didn’t quite know what to do. I apologized for my remarks and left the matter as it was. I watched the progress of her giving very carefully in the months that followed, and to my surprise and astonishment she fulfilled her promise on a monthly basis until every penny had been paid.

This woman had only meager savings and where the money came from I have no idea. On one occasion a friend of hers told me that members of her family who previously had given her very little financial help, began to send her regular financial gifts.

I think of this old widow often. She has gone to be with the Lord now and just days prior to her death she withdrew her small savings and sent it to the organization I serve – Crusade for World Revival – with this note saying: ‘I don’t have long in this world now – this might be the last time I can give to God in this way. Use it for His work and His service.’

As I look back I tremble to think that I came closer to hindering a woman from entering a dimension of giving that the Lord had been leading her into. Her Savior had been drawing her into a place where He would prove Himself to be no man’s debtor. I’ll never thank God enough for the lesson that widow showed me by her faith and confidence in God.”

Selwyn Hughes in Divine Mathematics: A Biblical Perspective on Investing in God’s Kingdom (Surrey, UK: CWR, 2004) 49-50.

God led the widow to pursue bigger and greater things with money as she got close to heaven. We see this in the biblical text and the story today. Hoe does it touch you?

Let’s review the first statement from Hughes today.

“A faith promise provides you with a purpose to give and a purpose to pray and stimulates your faith towards bigger and greater things and opens the blocked channels of your life that fear and unbelief may have clogged.”

A faith promise is praying and committing to stretch and sacrifice in your giving. It will cause you to face your fears and unbelief. And it challenges you to chose the path of faith and belief.

Imagine life as a widow. Such women have learned the faithfulness of God. They can trust Him with everything because they know experience that He will look after them. What about you?

Have you experienced the faithfulness of God. Is it time to show it through pursuing bigger and greater things with your generosity in 2026? God just might surprise you when you do it.

Like He surprised me with seeing a coyote on my morning walk with my son’s dogs. See it crossing the path in the photo above.

Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” Luke 11:11-13

“A faith promise is when you sit down and work out by faith just what you will give to God in the next year or six months. Once you have committed yourself carefully and prayerfully then you set in motion the law of faith. Every month you have to trust God to help you meet the challenge of your own faith and as you pursue this there comes a widening of vision, an enlargement of faith, a capacity to believe beyond human understanding and an awareness of God in personal dealings that has to be experienced before it can be believed. People who give this way claim that this exercise flexes the muscles of faith so much that they can believe not only for the fulfillment of their faith promise but for many other things in other areas of their lives.”

Selwyn Hughes in Divine Mathematics: A Biblical Perspective on Investing in God’s Kingdom (Surrey, UK: CWR, 2004) 47-48.

Scott Bailey, a faithful friend, pastor, and reader of Daily Meditations, told me he’s preaching on this text this weekend so I was studying it. Our largehearted Father gives good gifts to those who ask Him.

That’s what faith promise is all about. It’s making a decision as you look at your budget that says, “I am going to live simply and give sacrificially and help my church or missionaries know they can count on my giving.”

On what can we base such a faith promise? We have a good Father in heaven who wants to give us good gifts. Are we asking Him? Does our giving depend on earthly math, or as Selwyn Hughes puts it, divine mathematics.

This was my favorite line from today. When we give this way it creates “a capacity to believe beyond human understanding and an awareness of God in personal dealings that has to be experienced before it can be believed.”

Or as I like to say, “You don’t figure it out until you live it out.” So what will you do? You have an unimaginably good Father in heaven. He wants to give you good gifts to enjoy and share. Will you ask Him?

And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:8

“When you give to God you are placing your life in the flow of His eternal power, and His promise is that you will always have sufficiency.”

Selwyn Hughes in Divine Mathematics: A Biblical Perspective on Investing in God’s Kingdom (Surrey, UK: CWR, 2004) 46.

Flow is the operative word here.

When we place our lives in God’s care through sacrificial and generous giving, we make Him and His eternal power our safety net. That’s way more than any power we have.

And when we rely on His supply rather than our own, our giving grows and flows perpetually. He promises this. But how many people live like it is true.

As I do the “needful” this year, which right now is writing, resting, and walking with Grace, I want to ask God ways my generosity can grow this year.

Join me. Go with His flow.

Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! 2 Corinthians 9:15

“I once heard a critic of Christianity say, ‘Christians give to others not because it is the right thing to do but because it makes them feel so good. It really is a sophisticated form of selfishness – giving in order to receive.’ Well, there may be some who give in order to get, but as a firsthand observer of the Christian life for well over 50 years, I have found that hearts are overflowing with a generosity that comes from an appreciation of God’s largeheartedness in giving in Son to be their Savior. His generosity generates theirs.”

Selwyn Hughes in Divine Mathematics: A Biblical Perspective on Investing in God’s Kingdom (Surrey, UK: CWR, 2004) 43.

Let’s lean into what this critic of Christianity said for a moment. This idea of giving to feel good might link to a person’s past. Perhaps they have committed wrongs and so their giving aims to assuage their guilt.

I imagine many give for that reason. I have heard other critics say that we give only to the things we care about. That would point to our selfishness, for sure. We must give to what God cares about.

Next month I celebrate 50 years since I asked Jesus to be my Savior. So, like Hughes, I have been a part of God’s family for many years and like his comment about God’s largeheartedness.

It caught my attention as I have never heard the word, largeheartedness. But as I lean into it, I find that gratitude for all God has done emerges as the greatest motivator for Christian generosity worldwide. His generosity generates ours.

So, how do we grow in generosity? We reflect often on the indescribable gift of Christ to us. It inspires us to follow His example. And the blessings we get are just the icing on the proverbial cake of the Christian life.

For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for Me will find it. Matthew 16:25

“A story is told of a visitor to London during the time of the construction of St. Paul’s Cathedral, the architect of which was Sir Christopher Wren. The visitor stopped at the construction site and asked some of the workmen what they were doing.

One said, ‘I am working to get money to keep my family.’ Another said, ‘I am working here because it is the kind of work I have been trained to do.’ A third man said, ‘I am helping Sir Christopher Wren build a great cathedral.’

We are not on earth simply to work and take care of our families; we are here to help Jesus Christ build His kingdom and to help carry His message to the ends of the earth.”

Selwyn Hughes in Divine Mathematics: A Biblical Perspective on Investing in God’s Kingdom (Surrey, UK: CWR, 2004) 41.

Are you working to keep your family or to build God’s kingdom? Only you can answer that. Another thing that fascinated me about this little story links to a bloke named Sir Christopher Wren.

I did some searching and found that he was a famous English physicist, mathematician, and astronomer who is one of the most highly awarded architects in the history of England. He lived from 1632 to 1723.

The Great Fire of London happened in 1666. He was early in his career, only 34. So what did he spend his life building? Churches. History credits him for building 52 churches, including St. Paul’s Cathedral.

What will you spend your life? To keep your family or build God’s kingdom. Remember today’s Scripture. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for Me will find it. Matthew 16:25

I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior. 1 Timothy 2:1-3

“So many Christians lack a worldwide vision. A Christian should have a vision for the world even though he or she is not able to go to every part of it. Our trouble today is that we are far too parochial in our vision. The apostle Paul when writing to Timothy calls the church to prayer, showing that our prayer concerns should cover more than just the people in our community, but rather, everybody.”

Selwyn Hughes in Divine Mathematics: A Biblical Perspective on Investing in God’s Kingdom (Surrey, UK: CWR, 2004) 37.

Do you have a global vision with your prayers and giving? Remember, Jesus said we would be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth.

Assess the reach of your prayers and giving. Does it touch your community, your region, your nation, and countries around the world. Do you serve workers who minister among the persecuted church or refuges?

Why ask these questions? God hears the cries of the poor and the persecuted and sometimes our giving touches just those we love and care about locally. If you need help with this, message me.

Don’t be too parochial in your vision. Giving can help break you of this. Why? Your heart always goes where you put God’s money. Include ministries that serve workers worldwide in your giving.

In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus Himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ” Acts 20:35

“Some give like a rock, only when they are struck. Others give like a sponge, only when they are squeezed. Others give like flowers because they love to give. What kind of giving characterizes you? … Give enough money away that it sacrifices your lifestyle. If there is not sacrifice in our lives, there is no joy in our lives.”

Selwyn Hughes in Divine Mathematics: A Biblical Perspective on Investing in God’s Kingdom (Surrey, UK: CWR, 2004) 37.

Had sweet fellowship in Florida with my parents! Their health remains uncertain, but their dependence on God has never been stronger. I am back to Colorado and focusing on writing now.

I like this little book by Selwyn Hughes. He mixes wit with wisdom. Today he likens givers to rocks, sponges, or flowers. And he invites us to chose which object depicts our giving. Which one matched you?

Then he explains why we benefit by giving more. Echoing Jesus quoted by Paul and Luke in Acts of the Apostles, we get blessing and joy from giving. So Hughes adds that we miss out on blessing and joy when we do not.

I praise God for the reception to my sermon kicking off missions month at my parent’s church in Florida. If you want to listen to it, click here. To download my slide deck, click here. To get my sermon notes, click here.

I sacrificed a bit of time and energy to do the study and preparation to preach. But I received abundant blessing and joy from serving in that way and hearing the first fruits responses how it inspired people.

I appreciate your prayers as I dedicate most every minute the next three weeks to writing and rest. Thanks.

My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body.Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Proverbs 4:20-23

“Many people spend the first half of their live expending health to gain wealth and then the last part of their lives expending wealth to gain health.”

Selwyn Hughes in Divine Mathematics: A Biblical Perspective on Investing in God’s Kingdom (Surrey, UK: CWR, 2004) 33.

What will you rely on to have good health: God’s words or your wealth? I’ve focused the first week of my 16 week sabbatical giving attention to God’s words. Daily I have reminded myself of these words from the Apostle Paul.

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother — which is the first commandment with a promise — so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” Ephesians 6:1-3

I want God to bless me with good health, strength, and service. I believe starts by thanking my parents for all they have done for me and giving special time to honoring them.

If your parents are alive. Pick up the phone and call them and thank them for all their sacrifices and love. Go visit them if they are close to you and say it in person. If they are not alive or unreachable, say a prayer of thanksgiving to God for them.

Money can’t buy love or good health regardless of your wealth. It comes as a gift from God for following His ways. And part of His ways relate to using money in God-honoring ways.

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21

It is not wrong to store up money. In fact, Christ commands it. But the crux of the matter is where we store money. Store it up in heaven, says Jesus, not on earth. By that He means making investments in the things that will endure in eternity.

Our Lord mates three significant points in the statement quoted above.

1. Treasure on earth is susceptible to corruption, decay, and theft. Money stored in heaven is safe and secure.

2. Treasure in heaven gets a high yield. Here we may get 5%, 15%, 25%, or in a huge economic boom, some investments may return as much as 30%. Scripture talks about a 30, 60, or even a 100 fold return.

3. Treasure and our hearts interact together. Initially your treasure goes where your heart goes. If you have your heart set on a new car or a bigger house or a computer upgrade then there is little doubt that in due course your money is going to follow your heart. Your heart then becomes all the more attached to that thing. We are going to have to lead our hearts to heaven by investing our resources there.

People often ask me if it is a scriptural principle to save. Most definitely. Look to the ants, says Proverbs 30:25, who in good seasons store up for the lean times to come. There is biblical wisdom in saving. But millions? Why sacrifice present kingdom impact fora future on earth that has no guarantee it will ever come? We must let Jesus speak with full force into our lives. We are not just being wicket if we pile up treasures on earth; we are being stupid.”

Selwyn Hughes in Divine Mathematics: A Biblical Perspective on Investing in God’s Kingdom (Surrey, UK: CWR, 2004) 32-33.

Where are your treasures? I am not asking. Jesus is. Take it up with Him.

Hughes wants you to hear the “full force” of the teachings of Jesus. I want that for my sermon tomorrow. I will speak of “Adventures and Anchors” from Acts 27 at South Lake Wales Church of God, where my parents worship.

I appreciate your prayers for my preaching. And I am praying for you to act wisely.

Life began for Jenni and me in 2009 when we decided to store up our earthly wealth in heaven. We live on a mina (three months of income) and store the rest there.

And it is the faithfulness of God to sustain us that drives my passion to post daily.

I want the whole world to know that obeying Jesus does not leave you destitute. You learn your role on earth is to distribute. If you have millions. Put them to work and see what happens.

I have a friend, who reads these posts every day. He followed God’s leading to shift from building wealth to building the kingdom. What if you did that?