Tewoldemedhin Habtu: Warning and Encouragement

The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender. Whoever sows injustice reaps calamity, and the rod they wield in fury will be broken. The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor. Proverbs 22:7-9

“This proverb is merely realistically presenting the economic leverage one set of people have over others when it states: the rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender. It has both warning and encouragement: warning to the one who sows wickedness and encouragement to those who suffer. The wicked person will reap trouble and the rod of his fury, which brought suffering to others, will be destroyed. Encouragement is also given to the righteous [who share].”

Tewoldemedhin Habtu in “Proverbs” in Africa Bible Commentary (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006) 790.

We live in a world that encourages debt. It provides people things they want and also mortgages their future, sending them to slavery.

To sow injustice is to aim to rule over others. Alternatively, to share with those in need is praised by God. So don’t miss the message.

Habtu helps us see the two ideas at play here. One is a warning and the other is encouragement. The warning is for those who have economic leverage.

Will they use it to share or to sow injustice and to maintain their place of dominance? Do you see that material blessing comes with a test of obedience?

And if you suffer, take heart. God sees. He will break the rod of those who oppress and fail to share at some point. Take heart.

God, when we are blessed, teach us to share. And when we have need, show us your faithfulness through the obedience of others by caring for us. Amen.

Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid more than once when I was in need. Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account. I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:14-19

“Having discussed the kindness of the Philippian Christians in general terms, Paul goes on to mention specific examples. He assures them that his motive for doing this is not to ask for more help but to praise them. By supporting the imprisoned apostle, the Philippians demonstrated that they shared in his troubles. By supporting evangelists, missionaries, or any workers in the vineyard of the Lord, we are sharing in their ministry, even though we may not be physically present. Good wishes are no enough. As individuals and as churches we should give tangible support to the work of the Lord. Repeated sacrificial giving of the type modeled by the Philippians should be the norm for an active and serving church. Such a gift will be a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to god. God will respond by blessing such an undertaking from His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”

Eshetu Abate in “Philippians” in Africa Bible Commentary (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006) 1474.

As we continue to explore sharing through the Scriptures from an African perspective, we find the Philippians had shared three things with the apostle Paul: troubles, giving and receiving.

Firstly, they shared in his troubles. They sent Epaphroditus, the human care package to deliver aid to Paul in prison. He may have been out of sight but he was not out of their minds. This teaches us to move toward those experiencing hard times.

Secondly, they shared in giving at an “acceptable” level. We learn more about it in 2 Corinthians 8:12. It means they gave what they had. They sacrificed. Surprisingly, they did it even when no other church would. Let us giving sacrificially and surprisingly!

Thirdly, they shared in receiving from Paul. When Jesus first sent the disciples, He urged them to remain with the receptive. That was the Philippians. Like Paul, may we who are Christian workers bless those we serve and remain connected to them.

For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort. 2 Corinthians 1:5-7

“The apostle’s troubles are like the extension of the sufferings of Jesus Christ. The more they increase, the greater the comfort received from Christ. In fact, Paul’s suffering will result in the comforting of the good of many others, even those like the Corinthians who have hurt the apostle. It will even be for their salvation, a word that Paul uses here in its widest sense, which includes their general well-being. So far, Paul has spoken of suffering and distress without specifying what has caused them. He will do that in the rest of the letter.”

Issiaka Coulibaly in “2 Corinthians” in Africa Bible Commentary (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006) 1426.

I am back to Denver after travels to both Iowa and Texas speaking this week. In case you missed it, I announced the release of my most recent book, co-authored with Travis Shelton. It’s called, COMMUNITY. Download it here.

As Paul served the community of faith, he faced troubles. What I find inspiring is that he does not point any blame and link them to any cause. He simply celebrates the comfort from Christ and the patient endurance that it develops within God’s people.

This is a new twist linked to sharing for me this year. Our generous God invites us to share in His sufferings so that we can also share in His comfort. And it’s not just for us as individuals but to grow together as a community of hope through the difficulties.

May God help us not focus on the cause of any distress we endure, which just adversely impacts us. Instead, may we fix our eyes on the privilege of sharing in both the sufferings and comfort of Christ which help us grow in patient endurance and hope.

I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. Philippians 1:3-5

“Paul had been affected by the attitude of the Christians in Philippi. Their hearts were receptive and they were eager to become partners with him in the cause of the gospel. They stood united with him in mind and purpose. Their active and living testimony filled Paul’s heart with joy and moved him to thank God for them.

The memory of a loving and active Christian community will always remain with those who have spent some time with them. Paul’s thankfulness was expressed in all my prayers for all of you. Paul was a man of prayer. Like Paul, a good minister should be in constant contact with the Lord in prayer, praying not only for himself but also for those whom God has put in his care.

When Paul speaks of their partnership in the gospel from the first day, he is probably thinking of the day he first arrived in Philippi, the most important city in the Macedonia, after crossing the Aegean Sea on his second missionary journey (Acts 16:11-12).

There he had met Lydia, ‘a dealer in purple cloth; who had received the gospel of Jesus Christ wholeheartedly. Not only did she believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, but she made her house available for meetings and worship (Acts 16:15, 40).

A Philippian jailer and his household had also become Christians (Acts 16:34). In view of the hospitality which Paul and Silas had received, it was appropriate to call the Philippian Christians partners in the gospel. Their partnership continued until late in Paul’s life.

At the time this letter was written, they were supporting him materially by sending gifts (4:18). When the message of the gospel reaches a receptive heart, it bears fruit and produces action. Similar fruit and actions should be found in our African churches if we have really accepted the gospel.”

Eshetu Abate in “Philippians” in Africa Bible Commentary (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006) 1466.

Seven years ago this month I spoke in Des Moines, Iowa. With the zeal of Lydia in the biblical narrative, Julie Wiemann had invited me. It impacted many people, including Travis Shelton, who has become like a Timothy to me.

Travis would go on to volunteer on the Iowa Christian Generosity Council. Last night I spoke at their “Ignite Your Legacy” event. While the recording is not available yet, enjoy COMMUNITY, the devotional written by Travis and me.

It’s available to you through GTP. Download it here. Don’t just read it. Share the link with others from Iowa to Africa and everywhere in between. We pray it bears fruit in the lives of all who read it and produces action.

Now there was no water for the community, and the people gathered in opposition to Moses and Aaron. They quarreled with Moses and said, “If only we had died when our brothers fell dead before the Lord! Why did you bring the Lord’s community into this wilderness, that we and our livestock should die here? Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to this terrible place? It has no grain or figs, grapevines or pomegranates. And there is no water to drink!”

Moses and Aaron went from the assembly to the entrance to the tent of meeting and fell facedown, and the glory of the Lord appeared to them. The Lord said to Moses, “Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink.”

So Moses took the staff from the Lord’s presence, just as he commanded him. He and Aaron gathered the assembly together in front of the rock and Moses said to them, “Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?” Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank.

But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.” These were the waters of Meribah, where the Israelites quarreled with the Lord and where he was proved holy among them. Numbers 20:2-13

“Moses and Aaron took the complaint to God and God ordered Moses to take his rod, gather the congregation and tell the rock to give water. Moses followed the first part of the directions: he took his staff, and he and Aaron gathered the people together. Then he disobeyed God.

First, he spoke to the congregation, Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock? and then instead of speaking to the rock he raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Despite his disobedience, water came out of the rock and the people and their livestock drank…

The ‘we’ here refers to Moses and Aaron, who were putting themselves in the place of God who performs miracles. By doing this, they were encouraging the people to look up to them and give them glory instead of giving glory to God… The place where this happened was called Meribah, which means ‘contention’ or ‘quarreling’, because of what took place there.”

Anastasia Bonface-Malle in “Numbers” in Africa Bible Commentary (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006) 193.

God desires to supply for His people in community. His servants need only to follow His instructions. In this powerful text we find at least three lessons about generosity.

Firstly, when God’s people have needs, we see our responsive and generous God eager to work miracles to supply. The lesson for us is to make our requests known unto God.

Secondly, when God’s servants take credit for supplying provision, it displeases God. This happens often today. God begins a work at a church or ministry and then people take it from there.

They act as though it is their job to supply for the needs of the ministry when God is the Provider. As a result, His servants miss out on the blessing of experiencing God’s ongoing favor, like like Moses and Aaron.

Thirdly, God’s ways foster community when followed. When his servants fail to obey God’s instructions it leads to contention. What environment do you see at the ministry where you serve?

Practically, with prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let us be workers who ask God to supply while simultaneously inviting people to join us in participating in God’s work with what they have.

Tonight, at the Iowa Christian Generosity Council dinner, Travis Shelton and I release a new book, entitled, COMMUNITY. To download your free copy, stay tuned for a link tomorrow.

No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. Matthew 6:24

“Material affluence is associated with materialism. Yet the fact that the majority of Africans are materially poor does not mean that we are free from materialism. Many of us long for the material comforts we see depicted in glossy magazines.

One of Africa’s problems is the encouragement of Western patterns of consumption without the economic discipline required to achieve them. This longing for material riches fuels the preaching of a prosperity gospel in many parts of Africa.

Jesus warns of the great spiritual danger along this path: You cannot serve both God and money or, literally, ‘Mammon’, the Cathaginian god of wealth. A focus on material things can wrest our devotion form God to the god of wealth.”

Joe Kapolyo in “Matthew” in Africa Bible Commentary (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006) 1149.

Kapolyo keenly notes that many servants of God have learned to practice ‘economic discipline’, or in plain terms, they have made money their slave. In so doing, God has caused their stewardship to grow.

He humbly admits that this is lacking in parts of Africa and alerts us to the fact that Western patterns can point people toward materialism and prosperity gospel.

So what should we do if we want to live and give generously? If our giving or our example crosses international borders, we must be sure we are doing at least two things.

For our giving, we should not give handouts that create dependency but rather hand ups that build disciples. By this way, our international giving will foster greater economic discipline.

Additionally, our example must reflect that we have made God our master and money our slave. If we don’t, we too will promote either prosperity gospel or ungodly materialism.

I am flying to Iowa today to speak on Tuesday at that annual dinner of Iowa Christian Generosity Council and to release a new devotional book with my co-author, Travis Shelton. I appreciate your prayers for safe travel.

Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. 2 Corinthians 9:10-11

“God gives to us so that we can share what He gives with others, and the harvest of righteousness for those who give generously is an increasing closeness to God that expresses itself in prayer and fasting, which remind us that He alone is the source of the blessings we enjoy.”

Issiaka Coulibaly in “2 Corinthians” in Africa Bible Commentary (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006) 1433.

Coulibaly brings up two key ideas related to this familiar verse about sharing.

Firstly, that the reward of generosity is an “increasing closeness” to God. When we give cheerfully and generously, we grow in our relationship with the God who enriches us.

Secondly, He brings out the function of prayer and fasting, which do not appear in the text, but surface in the life of the generous person. Think about it. The one who grows in increasing closeness to God lives by prayer and sets aside his or her desires in fasting even as Christ set aside His own and sacrificed so much for us.

May we, by God’s grace, each grow in increasing closeness to God and by prayer and fasting, experience daily enrichment for cheerful and joyful generosity. Amen.

Send the people away so that they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” But he answered, “You give them something to eat.” They said to him, “That would take more than half a year’s wages! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?” “How many loaves do you have?” he asked. “Go and see.” When they found out, they said, “Five—and two fish.” Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish. The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand. Mark 6:36-44

“How many loaves do you have? Jesus would use whatever was available, while looking up to heaven and giving thanks. While the disciples focused on the problem, our Lord taught them to focus on the heavenly Father. A vital lesson here is to learn to look up to heaven not only when one is without resources, but even when one has them. We should learn to give thanks, whether for little or for much. The result was that all ate and were satisfied. The lesson in faith continued for the disciples as they collected the scraps that remained. They had come to find rest in a solitary place, not knowing that the Good Shepherd was going to be preparing a table on the green grass for a crowd of no less than five thousand who were like sheep without a shepherd.”

Victor Babajide Cole in “Mark” in Africa Bible Commentary (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006) 1208.

Jesus demonstrates compassion for the needs of the people and gives a commission to the disciples to give the hungry people something to eat. Notice Jesus sees what is “available” and offers it up to God.

We must go and do likewise to address the needs around us. We must not see them as problems to be solved, but people to be shepherded with what God has made available.

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? James 2:14-20

“James addresses his readers as if they were standing before him and sets out to question and persuade them. He uses a concrete example to make his point: What should one do when faced with a brother or sister in need, lacking even the most basic necessities such as clothing or food? There were certainly many poor people in the churches to which James was writing. Fine-sounding words would not feed them, nor would good wishes. Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead… To drive this point home, James stops using the plural pronoun and changes to the singular, as if he were talking to only one person… The author contrasts faith characterized by nice words with the faith that produces works that can be observed. He emphasizes that such works are the result of faith. Faith that is not demonstrated by works is dead in that it is simply nominal belief, like that of the demons, who also believe in God but do not obey him. The author has good reason to say that the person who advocates such dead faith is a poor man! He is worth very little in spiritual terms.”

Solomon Andria in “James” in Africa Bible Commentary (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006) 1538.

Andria makes a two points about faith and works from a familiar text to sober and stimulate hearers.

Firstly, the lack of sharing reflects nominal belief. It’s uselessness is rooted in it fruitlessness. The ironic result of nominal belief is poverty. The person lack of works shows that their faithlessness has made them poor.

Secondly, Andria highlights how James shifts from plural to singular language. This means that no one can escape the situation. Every person must demonstrate faith with deeds.

You notice a new header photo. It’s harvest season for the wineries in Grand Valley of Western Colorado. Those who have labored diligently can anticipate a fruitful crop. They have exerted work and will experience gain.

But those who give nominal effort will end up poor. How will you fare? What fruit will come from you faith? Will its nominal nature leave you poor or will your generosity actually demonstrate the richness of your faith?

Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. Isaiah 58:6-8

“The prophet informs them that fasting is useless if it is not accompanied by abstaining from evil… The people were hypocritically fasting once a year to obtain pardon for their sins while continuing to behave badly on that very day. Humbling oneself is useless if it is merely a matter of appearing humble…

The good behavior the Lord wants to see in place of vain religious practices is still appropriate for Africa today: opposing slavery and misery. The exhortation to welcome the hungry, the homeless, and the destitute should again encourage the church to emphasize the strong African traditions of hospitality…

We should give ourselves on behalf of the needy… We should not give the poor only those things that we do not want ourselves. Jesus emphasizes, we should treat others as we ourselves would like to be treated. Those who are involved in such activities and who also seek the Lord sincerely will be blessed by God and will contribute to the reconstruction of their country.”

Edouard Kitoko Nsiku in “Isaiah” in Africa Bible Commentary (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006) 873-874.

Nsiku inspires us today, in the spirit of Isaiah, to avoid useless practices and to instead apply ourselves to useful service like sharing with others in need. He also reminds us that in so doing we can contribute to the transformation of our context or country.

May God shape our settings through our generous sharing for His glory. Amen.