Richard Foster: Addiction

“I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything. 1 Corinthians 6:12

“Reject anything that is producing an addiction in you. Learn to distinguish between a real psychological need, like cheerful surroundings, and an addiction… If you have become addicted to television, by all means sell your set or give it away. Any of the media that you find you cannot do without, get rid of: radios, stereos, magazines, videos, newspapers, books. If money has a grip on your heart, give some away and feel the inner release. Simplicity is freedom, not slavery. Refuse to be a slave to anything but God.”

Richard Foster in Simpler Living, Compassionate Life: A Christian Perspective, ed. Michael Schut (New York: Morehouse, 1999) 187.

Had lunch yesterday with a dear friend and Daily Meditations reader, Micah Kohls. We had sweet fellowship. One topic we discussed was the danger of pursuing power (as it unmasks our deepest fears), pleasures (as it reveals our deepest desires), and possessions (as it shines light on our idols).

The way to find freedom from these addictions and avoid being mastered by anything is to follow Jesus in humility rather than power, simplicity instead of pleasures, and generosity because life is not found in an abundance of possessions.

What tries to produce addition in you? For some today it is social media. For me it is often my work. I love it, sometimes too much. Regarding things, whatever we think we “have to have” has mastery over us. Don’t let beneficial things enslave you.

Choose humility, simplicity, and generosity. Only if you are free of addictions can you grow in generosity. And why choose to be a slave to God? That’s the place of ordered attachments. Everything else falls into place when you get that right.

There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near. Luke 21:25-28

“But, first, remember, remember, remember the signs. Say them to yourself when you wake in the morning and when you lie down at night, and when you wake in the middle of the night. And whatever strange things may happen to you, let nothing turn your mind from following the signs. And secondly, I give you a warning. Here on the mountain I have spoken to you clearly: I will not often do so down in Narnia. Here on the mountain, the air is clear and your mind is clear; as you drop down into Narnia, the air will thicken. Take great care that it does not confuse your mind. And the signs which you have learned here will not look at all as you expect them to look, when you meet them there. That is why it is so important to know them by heart and pay no attention to appearances. Remember the signs and believe the signs. Nothing else matters.”

C.S. Lewis in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Silver Chair (Samizdat, 2017) 13-14.

Aslan’s words to Jill in the Silver Chair ring true for us in the times in which we live, which seem like the days Jesus described in today’s Scripture.

Geneous people are attentive, undistracted, and ready. They are attentive to needs around them, focused, and ready to respond in a way that glorifies God.

To remember the signs is to not allow the chaos to shake us. Because we believe, the signs serve instead to strengthen our resolve to live for something bigger.

The signs remind us to maintain a generous posture. So, as God supplies, we give. They also inspire us to hide God’s Word in our heart to build our confidence and courage.

Remember the signs and believe. Nothing else matters.

The LORD loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love. Psalm 33:5

“On the whole, God’s love for us is a much safer subject to think about than our love for Him. Nobody can always have devout feelings: and even if we could, feelings are not what God principally cares about. Christian love, either towards God or towards man, is an affair of the will. If we are trying to do His will we are obeying the commandment, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God.” He will give us feelings of love if He pleases. We cannot create them for ourselves, and we must not demand them as a right. But the great thing to remember is that, though our feelings come and go, His love for us does not. It is not wearied by our sins, or our indifference; and, therefore, it is quite relentless in its determination that we shall be cured of those sins, at whatever cost to us, at whatever cost to Him.”

C.S. Lewis in Mere Christianity (New York: HarperCollins 1980) excerpt from Chapter 3.

Soak in this truth today. Rest in the relentless love of God for you and me and for every person on planet earth.

There is no greater generosity than to know that God’s will toward us is to love us at whatever cost to us and whatever cost to Him.

Let us shift from indifference to determination. Only when we receive this love can we love others with great generosity.

Christian love is the basis for Christian generosity. Their is no height or depth to the latter because infinite is the former.

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10

“We must respond to God’s gifts gladly and freely with thanksgiving, happiness and joy: but in contempla­tion we thank Him less by words than by the serene happiness of silent acceptance. “Be empty and see that I am God.” It is our emptiness in the presence of the abyss of His reality, our silence in the presence of His infinitely rich silence, our joy in the bosom of the serene darkness in which His light holds us absorbed, it is all this that praises Him. It is this that causes love of God and wonder and adoration to swim up into us like tidal waves out of the depths of that peace, and break upon the shores of our consciousness in a vast, hushed surf of inarticulate praise, praise and glory!”

Thomas Merton in New Seeds of Contemplation (New York: New Directions, 1961) 231.

Often the focus of my daily posts is prophetic, that is calling us to alignment with God’s design and desire for us. God’s Word calls us to live radically countercultural lives and so there is some shock to the tone.

Other times I have a parenetic or an encouraging aim that seeks to offer perspective and help. This is one of such posts. Monks like Merton always give me clarity. I think that’s what is needed in these crazy times.

The point to grasp today is to rest and find peace with God and not to look for it in God’s gifts. I am tempted to think, if I have make a purchase, have an experience, or buy something that my soul will find rest.

All the earth is filled with unrest, but only God is the source of infinite peace. Though I may feel lost in a world filled with sorrow, noise and rejection, God offers joy, stillness, and silent acceptance.

Merton (and I) contemplate this because we have cherished the gifts over the Giver. Perhaps you have too? To grow in generosity allow the waves of God’s love to wash over you again and again and refresh your praise.

All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away. Isaiah 64:6

“Jeremiah says that “from the least to the greatest of them, every one is greedy for unjust gain; and from prophet to priest every one deals falsely” (Jeremiah 6:13). Worst of all, this is covered up: “They have healed the wound of the people lightly, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace” (Jeremiah 6:14).

Jeremiah’s fellow prophet Isaiah goes so far as to say that “we have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment” (Isaiah 64:6); “like filthy rags”… Not our worst but our best, our righteousness, is filthy rags, infested with impurities. Our generosity is mixed with self-interest, our passion for justice mixed with our lust for vengeance, our love for God mixed with our fear of God.”

Peter Kreeft in Making Sense Out of Suffering (Ann Arbor: Servant, 1986) 115.

Filthy rags. That’s what our generosity is like when it is mixed with self-interest. This description matches other biblical texts which reveal that generosity is the result of God’s work, not our work. All we can muster are righteous deeds infested with impurities.

So how can we make sure there is purity in our righteous deeds?

Pure generosity only flows from a surrendered heart not seeking gain or self-interest. Peace and blessing abound only when our lives our centered on the love of God.

To be sure we are part of the solution to what the world needs and not causing greater problems, or adding filty rags to the mix, let us ask God how our lives are infested with impurities.

Father, wash us and make us clean by your Spirit. Do this for your glory and for peace and blessing to the world we ask in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Woe to you who add house to house and join field to field till no space is left and you live alone in the land. Isaiah 5:8

“It is not from your own property that you give to the poor. Rather, you make return from what is theirs. For what has been given as common for the use of all, you have appropriated to yourself alone. The earth belongs to all, not to the rich. Therefore you are paying a debt, not bestowing a gift. How far, O you rich, do you push your mad desires? “Shall you alone dwell upon the earth” (Isaiah 5:8)? The earth was made in common for all… Why do you arrogate to yourselves, you rich, an exclusive right to the soil? Nature, which begets all people as poor, cannot recognize the rich. For we are neither born with raiment nor begotten with gold and silver. Naked the earth brings people into the light, in need of food, clothing, and drink; naked the earth receives those whom it has brought forth; it does not know how to include the boundaries of an estate in a tomb.”

Ambrose of Milan in Ownership: Early Christian Teaching by Charles Avila (Orbis, 1983).

God’s ownership of everything should change how we relate to property. But too often we succomb to “mad desires” which is what God thinks about those who accumulate wealth for themselves. It’s crazy to God and bad stewardship at best! Worse yet, many try to pass on that wealth to the next generation, which is the best way to ruin children.

Hopefully you are not offended but awakened by this biblical view.

Don’t hear this coming from me. I am just echoing that Isaiah proclaims “woe” against all those who aim at accumulation. It’s a warning. We all come into this world naked, and depart the same way. In the meantime, God wants us to be generous and not amass wealth but enjoy and share it. I pray this shakes and wakes you to this objective.

What would change in your life if you aimed to store up as much as possible in heaven through giving and sharing? 

Today is Memorial Day in America. Each year I remember all those saints who have given their lives to advance the gospel of Jesus Christ. It also makes me wonder. What will people remember you for? What will your legacy be? Will people say you pursued mad desires or will they say you pursued what God wants to see?

Therefore show these men the proof of your love and the reason for our pride in you, so that the churches can see it. 2 Corinthians 8:24

“When each one receives a little for one’s needs, and when all owners distribute their means simultaneously for the care of the needy, no one will possess more than one’s neighbor. Yet it is plain that you have much land. Where did it come from? Undoubtedly you have subordinated the relief and comfort of many to your convenience. And so, the more you abound in your riches, the more you want in love.”

Basil of Caesarea in Ownership: Early Christian Teaching by Charles Avila (Orbis, 1983).

When we distribute material and spiritual blessings we show love to others.

In this excerpt from Basil, we hear him describe that those who abound in riches are want in love, because to distribute is to demonstrate love in action. The world teaches us that we need money to survive and values possessions over people. Alternatively, Jesus set aside the riches of heaven for us out of love. Likewise, we get to show the proof of our love by our generosity.

What generous giving or serving can you do this week to show God’s love?

All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need. Acts 4:32-35

“I am wronging no one,” you say, “I am merely holding on to what is mine.” What is yours? Who gave it to you so that you could bring it into life with you? Why, you are like a man who pinches a seat at the theater at the expense of latecomers, claiming ownership of what was for common use. That’s what the rich are like; having seized what belongs to all they claim it as their own on the basis of having got there first. Whereas if everyone took for himself enough to meet his immediate needs and released the rest for those in need of it, there would be no rich and no poor.”

Basil of Caesarea in Ownership: Early Christian Teaching by Charles Avila (Orbis, 1983).

Many read posts like this and think it aims to promote socialism, when in reality, it only promotes a biblical view of ownership and sharing. God owns everything and desires that His people share with others so that no one has need. This is illustrated in the early church in Acts.

But what we tend to see from believers and unbelievers today is the opposite.

I know this because it was me for about the first 40 years of my life. It looks like this. You agree that everything belongs to God, then you don’t act on that belief, but rather pinch all you can for yourself or your family claiming you are wronging no one because you earned it or are holding what is (in your minds) rightly yours.

What’s the lesson for us today from Basil?

We must not claim anything as our own (because God owns everything) and then act on that belief. When we do, as God supplies abundance we will appear as generous sharers. Also, the watching world will see God’s grace at work. This will bring God glory and draw many to Him.

Make it so through our obedience Lord.

Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. Luke 16:10

“Fling wide your doors; give your wealth free passage everywhere! As a great river flows by a thousand channels through fertile country, so let your wealth run through many conduits to the homes of the poor. Wells that are drawn from flow the better; left unused, they go foul… Money kept standing idle is worthless; but moving and changing hands it benefits the community and brings increase.”

Basil of Caesarea in Ownership: Early Christian Teaching by Charles Avila (Orbis, 1983). Thanks to Bill Crowe for sharing this post with me.

I love the language Basil uses. Specifically his use of the term “conduit” as our role. It is a word I use often and that resonated with Joe Stephan in my podcast interview on Wednesday. The language of a great river is also striking. Standing water starts to stink. Water drawn from a flow stays fresh.

Will generosity flow from us like a river?

Basil’s bold language reminds me of the famous quote from the musical, Guys and Dolls. “Money is like manure. If you spread it around, it does a lot of good. But if you pile it up in one place, it stinks.” Is it time to do some spreading? God entrusted each of us with resources. If we want more, we must be faithful with what we have.

When we put it to work it benefits both us and others.

One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. Proverbs 11:24-25

“Giving money, volunteering, being relationally generous, being a generous neighbor and friend, and personally valuing the importance of being a generous person are all significantly, positively correlated with greater personal happiness, physical health, stronger sense of purpose in life, avoidance of symptoms of depression, and a greater interest in personal growth. These findings have not been weak, inconsistent, or requiring convoluted explanation to make sense of. Nearly every test came out similarly…

People may rightly wonder whether being a generous person and acting generously is a costly course of life. They might ask whether spending money, time, attention, energy, and emotions on and for the good of others proves to be a net loss in the overall scheme of things. The answer here is clear and compelling. Greater generosity is clearly, positively associated with many of the characteristics that most people consider essential to a good life: happiness, healthy, purpose, and growth.”

Christian Smith and Hilary Davidson in The Paradox of Generosity: Giving We Receive, Grasping We Lose (Oxford: OUP, 2014) 44.

Last night I recorded a spot for the It’s Never About Money Podcast with Joe Stephan in Melbourne, Australia.

He had alerted me that he would ask a series of questions. One was about well being. He loved that I cited the work of Smith and Davidson who demonstrates with research that Proverbs is spot on! If you want to flourish, choose the path of generosity. The paradox is that in giving you gain and in keeping you lose.

Confused? Most people are. He asked me how to help people get started. What was my answer? You know it.

You don’t figure it out until you live it out. Rhose who are generous don’t end up empty but enriched. He grasped it. Will you? The generosity research describes the gain in this life. Imagine the gain in the next!