Raymond F. Collins: Minority

Now I commend to you Phoebe our sister, being also a servant of the church in Cenchrea, that you might receive her in the Lord worthily of the saints, and you might assist her in whatever matter she may need of you. For she also has been a patroness of many, and of me myself. Romans 16:1-2

“The term “patroness” simply indicates someone who generously shared her financial resources with another. Generous wealthy women were not unknown in the Roman world. They were in the minority to be sure, perhaps numbering about 10 percent of the total number…but they played their role personally and out in the open. Phoebe was such a woman, sharing her resources for the sake of God’s people, believers and nonbelievers alike.”

Raymond F. Collins in Wealth, Wages, and the Wealthy (Collegeville: Liturgical Press, 2017), 54.

Generous people are in the minority. In this case, Collins estimates that Phoebe was one of ten. In plain terms, most wealthy women back then were not generous to others, they kept it for themselves.

The lesson here is clear. If you want to find yourself in God’s story as a generous contributor, it will put you in the minority. Your behavior is countercultural. You will likely experience peer pressure not to be generous.

In the USA we are entering the final two months of the tax year. For some that have done well, their accountants are saying “spend” and that may be what 90 percent of people do. Don’t go with the flow. Give generously.

Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured. Colossians 4:12

“Epaphras is described as a true bondman of Christ, devoted to him and his people, and especially solicitous for the welfare of his own beloved converts and friends in the Lycus valley. Now that he was far distant from them, they were never out of his mind: he was continuously engaged in intense intercession to God on their behalf, praying for their perfect establishment in all the will of God. Prayer is working, and by such fervent prayer Epaphras toiled effectively on behalf of the churches of Colossae, Laodicea, and Hierapolis.”

F. F. Bruce in The Epistles to the Colossians, to Philemon, and to the Ephesians (NICNT; Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1984) 181.

The term “bondman” is a legal term for servant which reflects the deepest level of commitment for Paul. He only pins that term on Timothy and Epaphras, his closest comrades.

I am thankful that I don’t need much sleep so I can get up early and wrestle in prayer, like Epaphras. I am thankful for the people that pray for me every day too. Priceless partners!

Know anyone like this? These are faithful workers who engage in “intense intercession” because they know that prayer is the most powerful tool in the world.

You can tell where people place their trust and in what power they depend by two things. How they handle money and how they spend their time.

Generosity is holding nothing back to show the God is our limitless source. And prayer is not only working, as Bruce notes. It is the most effective work we can engage.

At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!” Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked. The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. Acts 10:1-4

“To Cornelius one afternoon at the regular hour of prayer a heavenly messenger appeared in a vision. His initial alarm at being address by such a visitant was overcome when he was assured that his faithfulness in prayer and almsgiving had not been overlooked by God but had been accepted by him as a worthy oblation. The angel’s language is full of sacrificial terminology such as we find in the prescriptions for the levitical offerings; Cornelius’ acts of piety and charity had ascended into the divine presence like incense or the smoke of a sacrifice. God would honor the “memorial” with a suitable response; the nature of that response would be made clear to Cornelius if he sent to a certain house in Joppa and invited one Simon Peter, who was a resident there, to come and visit him.”

F. F. Bruce in The Book of Acts, revised (NICNT; Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1988) 204.

God sees. In this case he sees a generous military man, perhaps the last person any of us would think would be generous, and responds.

It’s another example of the lesson we learned yesterday. Like the poor Macedonians, we must not think we know who will be generous. Often it will be the last one we’d expect. And God not only sees it all, He responds. He sees who gives and prays and who does not. And He gives a suitable response.

Based on your generosity, what would God’s suitable response be to you?

And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people. And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us. 2 Corinthians 8:1-5

“It appears that when the collection was first mooted, Paul had not thought to include the churches of Macedonia in this “ministry” for the poor believers in Judaea, presumably on account of their own hardships. In consequence of gospel ministry among them since his return to Macedonia, the members of the Macedonians have given themselves to the Lord, and, in consequence, to Paul. As a result, despite their rock bottom poverty, they have begged Paul to allow them to be included in participation in the collection. The grace of God has been given to them; they overflow in generosity. Paul has witnessed their generosity, which has been beyond their capacity.”

Paul Barnett in The Second Epistle to the Corinthians (NICNT; Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997) 390.

Think right now of one or more persons that you know with the least amount of financial resources to extend compassionate generosity. Picture them in your mind.

If I asked the Apostle Paul to do this hypothetical exercise, it is likely that he would have envisioned the Macedonians. They were the last people he thought could minister through giving.

They had rock bottom poverty. So, what’s the lesson? Don’t just focus on inviting the wealthy to give. Encourage everyone to put to work what they have through generous giving.

In my work with GTP, I am finding that the poor in the majority world appreciate it when they are included in giving efforts. They are equal participants in God’s work to you and me.

So, wherever you are, I want to invite you to join the work of GTP around the world by supporting efforts in your region. God supplied a $50,000 matching gift to GTP to encourage regional giving.

Whether you are reading this in South Korea or Australia, UK or the Philippines, click on your region and make a gift. Do this because our present-day efforts mirror Paul’s work here.

We are doing regional campaigns to rally local giving. All the funds will be used within each region to strengthen stewards and help ministries flourish.

There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. Luke 22:36-38

“The second prophetic witness in this section of Luke is Anna. She is merely introduced and her career is summarized…having served faithfully with worship, prayer, and fasting for years. Sometimes our most productive years in spiritual service for God come after our most productive years of earthly toil. She has given herself full-time to a ministry of intercession. Like Simeon, she hopes the “the redemption of Jerusalem” and tells others that the baby Jesus is a reason for praising and thanking God. While her words are not recorded in Luke, her testimony makes everyone aware that God is doing something special in this child. Those who are faithful to God will hear her report and share in her praise.”

Darrell L Bock in Luke (NIVAC; Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996) 92-93.

While Simeon was expectant, Anna was a fixture. She never left the temple but served there night and day with worship, prayer, and fasting for years. What a legacy!

The most generous thing we can do sometimes is show up faithfully. When someone is a fixture, they become a role model for everyone else.

Worship, prayer, and fasting is our humble and generous service. It does not appear to make a difference, but God sees, hears, and acts in response.

Waiting for redemption? Feel like life have left you without hope? Focus not on your woes or your situation but on worship, prayer, and fasting and see what happens.

It just might transform you and cause those around you to break out in praise!

Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:

“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.”

Darrell L Bock in Luke (NIVAC; Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996) 92-93.

Sometimes the most generous thing we can do in times filled with trouble and uncertainty is to be “righteous and devout” in a world filled with “trial and disappointment.” In a word, we must be “expectant” people.

In his case, the Sovereign Lord had made it clear to him that he would see the consolation of Israel. He could have waited and given up hope. Times were tough. But He lived with trust in the fulfillment of what was promised.

Today is election day in the USA. While we may not have a statesman like Simeon on the ballot, we can live generously by aiming at living “righteous and devout” lives. We can live expectant that God will fulfill His promises.

What does this do? It brings the one thing the whole world needs: hope.

One day Elisha went to Shunem and a well-to-do woman was there, who urged him to stay for a meal. So whenever he came by, he stopped there to eat. She said to her husband, “I know that this man who often comes our way is a holy man of God. Let’s make a small room on the roof and put in it a bed and a table, a chair and a lamp for him. Then he can stay there whenever he comes to us.” 2 Kings 4:8-10

“She was well-to-do, literally a “great woman,” a person of standing and status who lived in the village of Shunem. Located just north of Jezreel, this was in an area much traveled by Elisha. On one occasion the woman urged him to stay for a meal. That led to a habit of hospitality for the prophet, whom she recognized as a holy man of God. Finally, she approached her husband with a suggestion: Let’s make a small room on the roof. The prophet could lodge there when he was in the area. Elisha was grateful for this woman’s kindness.”

Max Anders and Gary Inrig in 1 and 2 Kings (HOTC; Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 2003) 221-222.

Elisha would go on to do miracles for this woman, but don’t miss how the relationship started. She had a habit of hospitality even in times of personal crisis. God sees when we do this.

In this example, the habit of hospitality started with seeing a need and meeting it. First, it was making food. That grew to making space for serving other needs that the ministry worker had. Second, it was providing lodging.

What might a habit of hospitality look like for you? Can you meet a need of a ministry worker, then learn other needs and meet those too, even though you may have real needs?

A hindrance to hospitality is the notion that we must just look out for ourselves. Another is that that we can only give when we have no needs ourselves. Both perspectives will hinder generosity.

Only in looking out for others generously do we position ourselves for God to look after us. God watched all this unfold. He saw needs the childless Shunemmite woman and met them.

If we are living a life with little hope, the only answer is to be generous—have a habit of hospitality—to meet the needs of others and trust God to sort what we cannot sort for ourselves.

The wife of a man from the company of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that he revered the Lord. But now his creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves.” Elisha replied to her, “How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?”

“Your servant has nothing there at all,” she said, “except a small jar of olive oil.” Elisha said, “Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few. Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side.”

She left him and shut the door behind her and her sons. They brought the jars to her and she kept pouring. When all the jars were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another one.” But he replied, “There is not a jar left.” Then the oil stopped flowing. She went and told the man of God, and he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left.” 2 Kings 4:1-7

“In this chapter we shall read of a number of further miracles, both of provision and healing, that remind us of Elijah in the same way. The first of these is occasioned by a crisis facing the widow of a member of the prophetic groups under Elisha’s leadership. Her sons are to be taken as slaves in payment of a debt. Like the widow of Zeraphath (1 Kings 17:7-16), she possesses only a small amount of oil. As in the Elijah story, the small amount is transformed into an abundance; it fills the empty jars the widow can find. The proceeds from the sale of this oil will leave the family enough to live on, even after the debts have been settled.”

Iain W. Proven in 1 & 2 Kings (UBCS; Grand Rapids: Baker, 1995) 187.

Notice the powerful words of the prophet. “What do you have in your house?”

Don’t miss this lesson which points to the doorway of God’s generous and abundant economy. When we are in crisis he wants us to put to work what we have. Only then will it be “transformed into an abundance.”

This past week at GTP, we did a webinar on “Growing Local Giving: Biblical and Practical Tips” (click to view it). The message of this text was proclaimed by the speakers from six countries.

When the community of faith has needs, the focus should not be on what we don’t have but faithfully putting to work what we do have. Only then can it be “transformed into an abundance.”

I saw this growing up with seeds. Only when a seed goes into the ground and dies, does it bear fruit in abundance. Only when it is put to work does God work to multiply provision.

If you are struggling right now or have needs personally or in community, try this. Pause. Reflect on this profound idea. Take inventory of what you have. Then put it to work, and see what happens.

But one son of Ahimelek son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped and fled to join David. He told David that Saul had killed the priests of the Lord. Then David said to Abiathar, “That day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, I knew he would be sure to tell Saul. I am responsible for the death of your whole family. Stay with me; don’t be afraid. The man who wants to kill you is trying to kill me too. You will be safe with me.”

When David was told, “Look, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah and are looting the threshing floors,” he inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I go and attack these Philistines?” The Lord answered him, “Go, attack the Philistines and save Keilah.” But David’s men said to him, “Here in Judah we are afraid. How much more, then, if we go to Keilah against the Philistine forces!” Once again David inquired of the Lord, and the Lord answered him, “Go down to Keilah, for I am going to give the Philistines into your hand.” So David and his men went to Keilah, fought the Philistines and carried off their livestock. He inflicted heavy losses on the Philistines and saved the people of Keilah. (Now Abiathar son of Ahimelek had brought the ephod down with him when he fled to David at Keilah.) 1 Samuel 22:20-23:6

“David acknowledged that he himself was significantly “responsible for the death of” Abiathar’s clan. He was accountable, not because of anything he had done, but because of something he had not done; David failed to kill Doeg although he has reasonable suspicions that he would inform Saul about David’s activities in Nob. David’s admission of homicidal negligence could not bring the dead back to life, but it could motivate him to give special consideration to the lone survivor of the massacre. Accordingly, David asked Abiathar to “stay with” him, assuring the priest would “be safe with” David. Abiathar accepted the offer…

Before going into battle, Israelites would normally await a confirmation that the Lord would give the enemy into their hands. In keeping with the tradition, David formally “inquired of the Lord” and received word that he should “attack the Philistines and save Keilah.”…While David was at Keilah, a large number of individuals joined his ranks. Of those who came to him there, none was more important to him than “Abiathar son of Ahimelech.” Abiathar’s presence in David’s camp was especially important as he had “brought the ephod.”…Thus with Abiathar’s arrival, David now had acquired access to the only revelatory device sanctioned by the Torah.”

Robert D. Bergen in 1, 2 Samuel: An Exegetical and Theological Exposition of Holy Scripture (Volume 7) (NAC 7; Nashville: B&H, 1996) 231-232.

I am enjoying drilling deeper into the lives of biblical characters.

David exhibited accountability; he offered protection to Abiathar, and in turn was blessed with discernment. What a beautiful picture!

In similar fashion, I am thankful for Rich Haynie. He’s an Abiathar to me. Like David, I am not responsible for the death of the priests, but I am a leader who relies on Rich to journey with me, to pray for me daily, and to offer spiritual discernment. We meet regularly. I am so thankful for how he generously speaks into my life.

Do you have anyone to whom you are accountable and who helps you discern direction? Provide that person protection. In modern terms, create a safe environment for them to come speak into your life. In turn you will get more than a sense what next steps to take. You get a friend, someone who is with you despite difficulties, and who will speak truthfully to you. Rich is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. Thank you God for Rich.

On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message. When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us. Acts 16:13-15

“Lydia pleads for Paul’s group to stay. Hospitality was both a sacred duty and a privilege for the host, especially if the guest was a particularly honorable person. Insisting on a guest staying was good form and refusing an invitation could be deemed rude. Both Lydia and the jailer (Acts 16:34) demonstrate the reality of their faith by hospitality.”

Craig S. Keener in Acts (NCBC; Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2020) 393.

Looking at Lydia we see a vibrant faith verified by her zealous and generous hospitality. She obviously knew something that can only be learned by experience: hosting others is both a sacred duty and a privilege.

It gives one a glimpse of God’s abundance. Those that serve others are refreshed, refilled, and rewarded with blessing. They don’t end up empty but enriched. How might you and I show hospitality like Lydia?

I am particularly struck by Keener’s depiction that Lydia “pleads for Paul’s group to stay.” What might it look like for you to to plead for the opportunity to bless others through sharing and caring? Follow the leading of the Spirit.