John Chyrsostom: Almsgiving, Forgiving, and Reflection

I am worn out from my groaning. All night long I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears. Psalm 6:6

“But let us all humble our own souls by almsgiving and forgiving our neighbors their trespasses, by not remembering injuries, nor avenging ourselves. If we continually reflect on our sins, no external circumstances can make us elated: neither riches, nor power, nor authority, nor honor; nay, even should we sit in the imperial chariot itself, we shall sigh bitterly: Since even the blessed David was a King, and yet he said, “Every night I will wash my bed,” (Psalm 6:6): and he was not at all hurt by the purple robe and the diadem: he was not puffed up; for he knew himself to be a man, and inasmuch as his heart had been made contrite, he went mourning.”

John Chrysostom in Epistle to the Hebrews, Homily 9.9.

I resonate with John Chrysostom and his counsel to walk the way of humility and generosity by excelling in almsgiving, forgiving, and reflection on my own sin.

When I chose rightly, the Lord often blesses me. Sometimes it takes the form of material blessings. Then, almsgiving frees me from the power over money in my life. Alas, I experience victory.

Then, in real time, it seems like so many people wrong me. It’s so hard but I need to choose to forgive them as God in Christ forgave me, even when I was undeserving. Not as easy a victory to win.

Then in celebrating these victories, I realize I have succumbed to pride. I am so broken. Now I see why King David agonized in solitude and gave thanks for God’s abundant compassion and mercy.

Sound familiar? I am learning that growth in generosity is rooted in grace (almsgiving), shows mercy to the undeserving (forgiveness), and is characterized by humility (reflection).

God help us be people who give, forgive, and humbly reflect like King David.

My eyes stay open through the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promises…Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous laws. Psalm 119:148, 164

“Work is to be done not only as a chastisement of the body, but for the sake of love to our neighbour and supplying weak and sick brethren with the necessaries of life. The apostle says that if a man will not work he must not eat. Daily work is as necessary as daily bread. The services of the day are thus marked out. The first movements of heart and mind ought to be consecrated to God. Therefore early in the morning nothing ought to be planned or purposed before we have been gladdened by the thought of God; as it is written, “I remembered God, and was gladdened;” the body is not to be set to work before we have obeyed the command, “O Lord, in the morning shalt thou hear my voice; in the morning will I order my prayer unto thee.” Again at the third hour there is to be a rising up to prayer, and the brotherhood is to be called together, even though they happen to have been dispersed to various works. The sixth hour is also to be marked by prayer, in obedience to the words of the Psalmist, “evening, and morning, and at noon will I pray, and cry aloud: and He shall hear my voice.” To ensure deliverance from the demon of noon-day, Psalm 91is to be recited. The ninth hour is consecrated to prayer by the example of the Apostles Peter and John, who at that hour went up into the Temple to pray. Now the day is done. For all the boons of the day, and the good deeds of the day, we must give thanks. For omissions there must be confession. For sins voluntary or involuntary, or unknown, we must appease God in prayer. At nightfall Psalm 91 is to be recited again, midnight is to be observed in obedience to the example of Paul and Silas, and the injunction of the Psalmist. Before dawn we should rise and pray again, as it is written, “Mine eyes prevent the night watches.” Here the canonical hours are marked, but no details are given as to the forms of prayer.”

Basil of Caesarea in Basil: Letters and Select Works, trans. Philip Schaff (Grand Rapids: CCEL) 92.

Basil sketches the biblical basis for observing the canonical hours. In plain terms, if we pause seven times a day, following the example of saints in the Scriptures, it helps us remember why we are here.

Coming off a holiday in the USA, it’s time to get to work to have resources to enjoy and share. But before we work, as we work, and after we work, it is good to pause to pray. At what times?

Try 6am, 9am, 12noon, 3pm, 6pm, 9pm, and at bedtime after 9pm or when you get up before 6am (night watch). We do this to reset, to remember, to recount, to reflect, to repent, to return, and to rest.

Try this over 21 days. Pray a psalm at the canonical hours to restore your soul and help you remember why you are here. This spiritual practice will position you to live, give, serve, and love more generously.

Do not be afraid; you will not be put to shame. Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated. You will forget the shame of your youth and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood. Isaiah 54:4

“Differently to be admonished are the poor and the rich: for to the former we ought to offer the solace of comfort against tribulation, but in the latter to induce fear as against elation. For to the poor one it is said by the Lord through the prophet, Fear not, for thou shall not be confounded (Isaiah 54:4). And not long after, soothing her, He says, O thou poor little one, tossed with tempest (Isaiah 54:11). And again He comforts her, saying, I have chosen thee in the furnace of poverty (Isaiah 48:10).

But, on the other hand, Paul says to his disciple concerning the rich, Charge the rich of this world, that they be not high-minded nor trust in the uncertainty of their riches (1 Timothy 6:17); where it is to be particularly noted that the teacher of humility in making mention of the rich, says not Entreat, but Charge; because, though pity is to be bestowed on infirmity, yet to elation no honour is due.

To such, therefore, the right thing that is said is the more rightly commanded, according as they are puffed up with loftiness of thought in transitory things. Of them the Lord says in the Gospel, Woe unto you that are rich, which have your consolation (Luke 6:24). For, since they know not what eternal joys are, they are consoled out of the abundance of the present life. Therefore consolation is to be offered to those who are tried in the furnace of poverty; and fear is to be induced in those whom the consolation of temporal glory lifts up; that both those may learn that they possess riches which they see not, and these become aware that they can by no means keep the riches that they see.

Yet for the most part the character of persons changes the order in which they stand; so that the rich man may be humble and the poor man proud. Hence the tongue of the preacher ought soon to be adapted to the life of the hearer, so as to smite elation in a poor man all the more sharply as not even the poverty that has come upon him brings it down, and to cheer all the more gently the humility of the rich as even the abundance which elevates them does not elate them.”

Gregory the Great (c. 540-604) in The Pastoral Rule, Part 3, Chapter 2, Admonition 3. Gregory is the fourth of four Doctors of the Western Church. We have heard from the other three, Augustine, Jerome, and Ambrose, in the last three posts.

Today is Independence Day in the USA. The prevailing cultural norm is to take prides in the accummulation of wealth and boast of independence. For this reason, I like to remind everyone to maintain a different posture, one of dependence on God.

In The Pastoral Rule, Gregory reminds God’s workers to treat the rich and poor differently. The poor are to be reminded not to be afraid and the rich are to be charged not to be arrogant. The poor are to be comforted while the rich are to be commanded.

Notice, this aims to get us to all maintain a proper place of submission to God. I don’t know about you but God is working on my character. He teaches me to see things and live differently and dependently. He wants me to remain humble and to help others as He helps me.

This part struck me as something everyone in my culture should grasp today. We need to focus on possessing “riches which they see not” and be reminded that we “can by no means keep the riches that” we see. In short, we need to accumulate true riches and share earthly ones while we have the opportunity

God help us fear not when we have little. Help us remain humble when we prosper, lest arrogance overtake us. Teach us to depend on you and aid others as You have aided us. And give us boldness to command those with wealth to enjoy and share it so that, with humility, they take hold of life, dependent on You!

And others are the ones sown among thorns. They are those who hear the Word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the Word, and it proves unfruitful. Mark 4:18-19

“O my God! what miseries and mockeries did I then experience, when obedience to my teachers was set before me as proper to my boyhood, that I might flourish in this world, and distinguish myself in the science of speech, which should get me honour amongst men, and deceitful riches!”

Augustine of Hippo in Confessions 1.9.14 translated by J.G. Pilkington.

In his classic work, Confessions, Augustine divulges the fruit that comes from focusing on flourishing according to the world’s system. We get miseries and mockeries.

Be sure not to hear him say that it’s bad to listen to your teachers. He would add to tune out those whose counsel is worldly. All they spout might sound good, and it might even land you accolades and riches, but they are deceitful. We might get honor too but it is an empty reward. So what should we pursue?

Today’s Scripture comes from the parable of the Sower and the soils. Jesus was alerting the disciples (and us) to sow truth and to receive the truth so that we may bear much fruit. That’s His design and desire for us. It’s far better than miseries and mockeries, and it’s available for everyone.

I just sent a slide deck on my book, The Sower, to the Philippines so that my brother there, Anjji Gabriel, can share it with emerging Christian workers in Mindanao. Pray with me today for their hearts, that the cares of this world will not choke out the Word. Make it so for each of us. Lord.

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 2 Corinthians 4:16

“Almost all bodily excellences alter with age, and while wisdom alone increases all things else decay. Fasts and vigils and almsdeeds become harder. So also do sleeping on the ground, moving from place to place, hospitality to travellers, pleading for the poor, earnestness and steadfastness in prayer, the visitation of the sick, manual labor to supply money for almsgiving. All acts, in short, of which the body is the medium decrease with its decay.”

St. Jerome of Stridon in Letter LII to Nepotian, 3, dated A.D. 394.

Nepotian had abandoned the military for the clerical calling, and was now a presbyter at Altinum. In this letter, Jerome reminds him the duties of the clergy and on the rule of life which they ought to adopt.

Notice that he helps him realize that the older he gets, the harder it will be to live and serve generously. The same is true for us. We may grow stronger spiritually with age, but the work will test us physically.

In response, Jerome does not urge him to pursue comfort, which is what most people do in modern times as they age. He reminds him that it will be hard to do these things. Look at the list. What would be challenging for you?

For some people, service is easy but prayer is hard. Others say showing hospitality is the most difficult. Lean into these areas, even as you age because Jerome knew something I am learning.

We think we will be drained by the tasks. And whilst we do them it may well exhaust us. But, at the end of the day, the reward for the service far outweighs the physical cost. Stay the course even if it is hard.

You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. For, “In just a little while, he who is coming will come and will not delay.” And, “But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back.” But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved. Hebrews 10:36-39

“The Church possesses nothing but her faith. There are her rents, her revenues. The wealth of the Church is the support of the poor. Let them count up how many prisoners the temples have ransomed, what support they have afforded to the poor, to how many exiles they have ministered the means of life.”

Ambrose of Milan in Letter XVIII section 17 to Ambrose to Emperor Valentinian dated A.D. 384.

I was drawn to read the letters of Ambrose as it gives a glimpse into Early Church administration.

Here he states to the Emperor how the the Church operates. It’s greatest treasure is it’s faith. It operates for service to the needy and hurting and it relies on God to supply rent and revenue.

In antiquity, the most desperate people would flee to temples for asylum. The Church would literally purchase them from this prison of bad decisions. Basically the Church cherished what the world scorned and scorned what the world world cherishes.

God help us live by such faith to depend on you to sustain us whilst we care for the outcasts and the exiles. For without faith it is both impossible to please You and impossible to be generous.

As a new fiscal year begins for GTP, we resolve afresh to rely on God to supply rent and revenue to serve the needy not by giving them a handout that create dependencies but a hand up that builds disciples.

And on that day you will say, “Give thanks to the Lord, call on His name. Make known His deeds among the peoples; make them remember that His name is exalted.” Praise the Lord in song, for He has done glorious things; let this be known throughout the earth. Isaiah 12:4-5

“The spiritual cost to us of being thankless is much higher than we might think. Thanklessness is not merely the absence of verbalizing a “thank you.” It is a symptom of spiritual dullness, of spiritual poverty. Because it is taking for granted and not appreciating grace being shown to us.”

Jon Bloom in “Lay Aside the Weight of Thanklessness” Desiring God blog post dated 23 September 2016.

Are you a grateful person? I think I am (most of the time anyway). Such people are a delight. Or do you think what you possess came from your hard work or comes into view as benefits you deserve or to which you are entitled? This entitlement thinking is cancerous; it breeds thanklessness.

But we can extract this mindset. We can rid ourselves of it. We do this by giving thanks to God, and by making known His deeds. We make people remember by verbalizing gratitude. What are you thankful for today? Make a list and share it with something. Ask them to do this with you.

Might spiritual dullness persist around us because we fail to appreciate grace? Because we have stopped verbalizing gratitude? Don’t let spiritual dullness prevail. Verbalizing gratitude causes you and those around you to consider the great things for which to give thanks to God.

Today marks the end of the fiscal year for GTP. It seems that just about to the dollar He will again meet our needs. All I can do is praise Him and make known His goodness to all the earth, and make everyone I know remember that He is alive and hears the prayers of His servants.

You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. Galatians 5:13

“To live rightly in this world we must understand and accept God’s particular calling for our lives, and within that call, use moderately the resources He provides…Each calling is unique, each journey we take, even though we walk next to others, is especially appointed by God, so we are to take all that He has given us and made us, and use this toward His ends.”

Thomas D. Hawkes in Sanctification: A User’s Guide to Becoming More Like Jesus (Eugene: Wipf & Stock, 2020) 208. Thanks again to Don Knox for alerting me to this book.

God blesses us with resources to accomplish His purposes, His ends. As He blesses us, we must not indulge the flesh with them. This is key to living rightly with moderation.

Many people rationalize self indulgence rather than practice sharing.

What Hawkes draws out is that our callings are unique, so the way God resources us will be different. I don’t have what you have, and vice versa. You don’t have what He has given me.

So, comparing is not the answer, submitting everything is the secret.

We must each submit all we are and all we have to God and all of it to be used toward accomplishing His purposes for His glory. Moderation comes into view as meeting our needs, not our wants.

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5

“Contentment is an important part of the Christian walk. Contentment shows that we trust God to provide for us, that we know God is in control and that we are happy to live within God’s will for our lives. A big part of contentment is knowing and believing that God will never leave us or forsake us. If we spend some time with this thought, that God is with us always, it becomes difficult to be discontent. We have God—what more could we want?

Still, we live in the world, and the world is always preaching discontent. The enemy always wants us to want more, more, more—more stuff, more money, more activities—because he knows that this “stuff” will separate us from God. Hebrews tells us to keep our lives free from the love of money. The best way to do this is to focus on the fact that no matter what, God will never, ever leave us. No matter what, God has our back with His almighty power, a power to which earthly wealth cannot compare.”

Christopher D. Hudson in NIV, Once-A-Day At the Table Family Devotional: 365 Daily Readings and Conversation Starters for Your Family. Thanks to my friend and Daily Meditations reader, Randy Bury, for sharing this quote with me.

I think contentment is not only an important part of the Christian walk. It’s foundational.

What struck me about this post was this statement: “We have God—what more could we want?” Many of us say this is true, but our bank balances reflect that we put security in money.

Would people say that you are content? Or would they say you seek after more stuff, more money, more activities because possessions, power, and pleasure is where you search for meaning, satisfaction, and security?

Sobering as it sounds, our faith is in whatever we place our trust. Contentment only comes when we place our trust in Christ to sustain, satisfy, and secure our present and future.

Remember me, Lord, when you show favor to your people, come to my aid when you save them, that I may enjoy the prosperity of your chosen ones, that I may share in the joy of your nation and join your inheritance in giving praise. Psalm 106:4-5

“So whether believers are rich, or in robust health, or wonderfully endowed with the Spirit’s gifts, they acknowledge that God’s favor is it’s only source. Their joy is real, and so is their thanksgiving. That is how they will use the good things of this present life. Nevertheless, while life for believers may be easy today, they will be ready tomorrow to endure whatever afflictions God may send them. He may, perhaps, take from them the goods he has give. They are prepared to surrender them, since they know they have received them on one condition–that they should hand them back whenever God should choose.”

John Calvin in Sermons on the Beatitudes 77-78 as quoted by Thomas D. Hawkes in Sanctification: A User’s Guide to Becoming More Like Jesus (Eugene: Wipf & Stock, 2020) 207.

Special thanks to my friend and Daily Meditations reader, Don Knox, for alerting me to this quote and the recently released book from which it was drawn.

Calvin echoes the psalmist in noting that favor comes from only one source, the Lord God. When it comes to us, it is coupled with joy and praise. It also comes with responsibility. He refers to this as the “one condition” or as we might say in modern times, the fine print.

We are not the owners or masters of anything. We have been commanded to enjoy and share everything, and not to hold back anything for ourselves. Sadly most put up walls to avoid suffering or affliction when those experiences are often our greatest growth seasons.

No wonder so many of us in modern times appear as immature believers. We are not willing to endure the discomfort, the suffering, and the stretching that Jesus promised we would endure. Perhaps those who avoid such a path show they are not really sheep in the fold.

What I do know is this. The favor of God is sweet. It brings joy. And it requires complete surrender. Thanks God for the favor you give and for the afflictions as well. It’s all good because through it all we grow. Remember each of us Lord, in your mercy.