Matthew Henry: This kindness we ask and exercise

This is what the Lord Almighty said: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. Do not plot evil against each other.’ Zechariah 7:9-10

“The duties here required of them, which would have been the lengthening of the tranquillity of their fathers and must be the restoring of their tranquillity, are not keeping fasts and offering sacrifices, but doing justly and loving mercy, duties which they were bound to by the light and law of nature, though there had been no prophets sent to insist upon them, duties which had a direct tendency to the public welfare and peace, and which they themselves would be the gainers by, and not God.

Magistrates must administer justice impartially, according to the maxims of the law and the merits of the cause, without respect of persons: “Judge judgment of truth, and execute it when you have judged it.’’

Neighbors must have a tender concern for one another, and must not only do one another no wrong, but must be ready to do one another all the good offices that lie in their power. They must show mercy and compassion every man to his brother, as the case called for it. The infirmities of others, as well as their calamities, are to be looked upon with compassion. Hanc veniam petimusque damusque vicissim — This kindness we ask and exercise.”

Matthew Henry (1662-1714) in Commentary on Zechariah 7:9-10.

We are living in a time of social unrest and physical infirmity that cannot be overstated as “unprecedented” and challenging. How can we find tranquility again? How should we live in response?

In reflecting on this question, I meditated on today’s Scripture and read this old commentary. Henry reminds us to consider how our actions impact others and to act with kindness.

While many plot evil, let’s plan to do good. Whether to foreigners or friends let us show mercy and compassion to all people. When we show “tender concern” we act justly and help each other navigate calamity.

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed. 2 Corinthians 9:8

“The greatest hurt in my past was distrust in provision. Stewardship and generosity were God’s prescribed medication to heal my wound.”

Roger Lam in Lose to Find: Change of Control – A Journey of Trust and Obedience (Nashville: Elm Hill, 2019) 49.

In his second book, and another must-read resource, Roger recounts the journey of surrendering control and trusting God. It’s a powerful page-turner. In one of those key moments in the story, he makes this statement. If it was a movie the music would be extra dramatic.

Notice that in the journey of trust starts with bringing hurts of the past into the light. After He does this, he reports how God’s path design of stewardship and generosity is “God’s prescribed medication” to bring the healing that is needed.

If you are struggling to be generous as we seek to move past COVID-19, the cure for worry and fear over provision is to give. When you do, as Paul states, you discover God’s grace abounds toward you. You don’t figure it out until you live it out.

We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully. Romans 12:6-8

“How can we equip non- and nominal Christians to respond to God’s call of discipleship, stewardship, and generosity? In Romans 12, Paul talks about being members of the body of Christ and how our spiritual gifts can equip members to build up the church. The gifts of prophecy, ministry, teaching, exhortation, generosity, leadership, and compassion are all needed.

The stewardship team can focus on teaching others in the gift and practice of generosity. Again, the first task of the stewardship and generosity team is to teach and equip all members to be good money managers. Wesley’s teaching on the matters of money included helping people earn, save, and give! Before people can give, they must be able to earn, eliminate debt, and save more.”

Clayton Smith in Propel: Good Stewardship, Greater Generosity (Nashville: Abingdon, 2015) 33.

This is a book I recommend to my students in the area of church stewardship programs. I love the idea of mobilizing a team to help the whole congregation grow in this area.

This year my word is “compassion” (and my focus is always on stewardship and generosity), so I like how this book suggests that every church have teams based on giftedness to help everyone grow.

My challenge with regard to compassion is two-fold. As it is empathy coupled with action, I listen but am learning that the empathy needs to be the first, and likely most important action.

So I tend to start with addressing the challenge rather than empathizing with the person who is challenged. So, then my action is viewed as trying to solve a problem when my aim is to show love.

I am learning this from reflecting on my past interactions with people who are more compassionate that me. Imagine if in our churches people could coach us in these areas. Oh my, the impact we could have.

Regarding stewardship and generosity, Smith is spot on. Teach people to steward first as money managers, then to give as generous givers. The intentionality of this book makes it useful.

That’s true for all of us. May God help us grow with intentionality in the areas where we are weak. We can do that by learning from spiritually gifted people whom God has wired to guide us.

Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strength; He makes my feet like the feet of a deer, He enables me to tread on the heights. Habakkuk 3:17-19

“Lament doesn’t have nearly the level of popularity gratitude does. But it should. Lament is overlooked, undervalued, and totally misunderstood. Far from being a sign of faithlessness or ingratitude, or even being the same as whining, lament plays a powerful role in the Christian life

Scripture is chock-full of lamenters. From Leah and Naomi, to David and the psalmists, to the prophets straight on through to Jesus, we read of faithful people who poured out their hearts and grievances to God. And we read of a God who not only accepted their laments but seemed to bless them.

Laments “work” in helping us experience God’s nearness because it’s through lament that we are able too bring our honest, open hearts to God – at least, when we’re grieving. We know that the Christian life is not always smiles and sunshine but often thunderclouds and tears, so it’s essential that we have language to use to come before God both in praise and thanksgiving and in lament.

That said, we don’t want to become constant complainers, so I believe it is essential that we establish “criteria” for our grievances – so we don’t end up actually whining about every last thing. For me, I know when I need to grieve or cry out to God if something (1) breaks my heart, (2) is lost or (3) is something I cannot change.

What also keeps a lament from becoming an all out whine or a self-centered gripe is a matter of where it ends up. While I believe in bringing God all the down-and-dirty details of whatever is wrong with my world (He knows it anyway!), a lament really works its “magic” in what I call the “and yet” moment. This is the place where, after you have laid it all before God, you acknowledge His goodness, His mercy, His grace, His very divinity. And it’s in this moment where God swoops right on in.”

Caryn Rivadeneira in Broke: What Financial Desperation Revealed About God’s Abundance (Downers Grove: IVP, 2014) 153-154.

If you want a great book that explores spiritual lessons learned through financial brokenness, then this book will be a real blessing for you. It’s a privilege to have the author, Caryn Rivadeneira, in my Faith and Finances class at Northern Seminary on Tuesday nights this month.

I love what she says about lament. Lament is the pathway for helping people experience the generosity of God in hard times. But most people don’t know how to do it. As she keenly notes, it devolves to whining and complaining. This is happening all around us during the COVID-19 crisis.

Let’s not overcomplicate it. What breaks your heart, is lost, or is something you cannot change but would like to? If you can make a list, then it’s time to lament. Perhaps also meditate on Psalm 13. These are days for lamenting because much is broken, lost, and out of our control.

God, please swoop in as we lament.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6

“Dear Jesus, I give you _________________. I humble myself before You believing you are bigger than I am, that You are more capable to handle my burdens. I don’t know what the outcome of me giving up control of _________________ will be, but even so, I open my fits ant let you grab it (or the person) from me. I want your will. I want your presence. I need your strength. Please take this burden today and use it in my life for Your glory. Help me to entrust _________________ to You even when things seem dark. I trust You. At least I try. But help me to trust You today. Right now. I give it up. I choose not to worry any more about this. Amen.”

Mary DeMuth in Everything: What You Give and What You Gain to Become Like Jesus (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2012) 49.

Found this prayer while reading Broke: What Financial Desperation Revealed About God’s Abundance by Caryn Rivadeneira. Caryn’s one of my students this month.

The prayer touched me because it meets us where we are at. In hard times, when virtually everything does not go as we expect, it’s easy to be overcome with worry and fear.

What can we do? Because we serve a generous and loving God, we can surrender everything to Him and find strength to press on. We’ve got this. God’s got us.

The disciples, as each one was able, decided to provide help for the brothers and sisters living in Judea. Acts 11:29

“Everywhere I have traveled, I’ve seen churches supported by their local congregations; however, in the past, the first few generations of many of these churches were dependent on their Western founders for their missional outreaches. Now, in this post-colonial era, they are self-sustaining in the core operations of their missional work and can invite outside participation as true equals.

Sustained interdependence exists when a partner—giver, receiver, or agency—works together and is financially sustained for their own core operations within a local context. This may be easy for givers depending on the source of their money, but, nonetheless, their money can accomplish nothing without the partner who is seeking the transformative effect of the gospel in the field where they work.

This need for sustained interdependence is also true for the ministry or individual seeking to realize Kingdom goals. The transformation they seek, that also attracts givers, needs resources to be accomplished. In this era, to achieve ownership and engagement, the autochthonous leader must first seek a communion of giving and receiving within his or her own local setting.”

Rob Martin in When Money Goes on Mission: Fundraising and Giving in the 21st Century (Chicago: Moody, 2019) 51.

If you only read one book on global generosity, read this one. If you visit my home, I will give you a free copy. I have a few in my office. I realize this is a strong statement but let me tell you why I say it. It links to today’s Scripture.

Ministry in the ancient world would not explode until those who received the gospel, stewarded it to the point of moving from receivers to givers. When the church in Antioch and the churches across Galatia, Asia Minor, Greece, and even Italy participated in the Jerusalem collection, something happened. The people learned that the gospel always comes to us on the way to someone else. And our role is to participate in the communion of giving and receiving.

Too much of generosity today, globally-speaking, is thought to flow from the West to the East and South. Those days are nearly gone. If they are not over, they will be with this global recession. Now that the wealth of the world is in the East and the gospel is spreading in the South, everything will change. I am no futurist, but I have traveled the world, and can’t wait to get back on an airplane to serve national workers all over the planet for GTP to nurture one of our ten values: sustained interdependence.

In plain terms, we are not giving a man a fish to feed him for a day, we must teach people how to fish to feed them for a lifetime. As a guy who loves to fly fish and guide other anglers, the only thing better than landing a nice trout is guiding for someone who has never touched a rod and helping them hook and land a fish!

“When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate. Luke 15:17-24

“Interestingly, the word prodigal actually means financially wasteful. The son failed morally and financially. The point of the story is that each of us has done the same. We are prodigal; God is the Father. We have all sinned morally, rejecting the law of God. And none of us have saved, given, or spent our money perfectly…

The story shows that even if you’re deeply in debt, even if you’ve run from God, and even if you’re wealthy and consumed with an ugly pride, God will still welcome you home with open arms if you’ll come back to Him.

Notice something here. The father was not taken off guard by the son’s return. He didn’t need a moment to figure out what to say. Instead, when the son was still a long way off, the father saw him coming back and ran to meet him. The father was watching the road. His patience and love were undiluted by the long wait, and his heart overflowed with welcoming love for his wayward son.”

John Cortines and Gregory Baumer in True Riches: What Jesus Really Said About Money and Your Heart (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2019) 22. Here’s another good new stewardship book for your library.

I am teaching Faith and Finances at Northern Seminary on Tuesdays in June. We have a saying: “No shame. No blame!” We say this because we are all prodigal. We have failed financially and morally. And, we need welcoming love!

The key for helping students (or anyone you serve) to experience transformation is to show them the same welcoming love from the Father. As they open up and acknowledge their mistakes, love the darkness out of them.

We don’t kill any fatted calves in class but we always get pizza. Northern is in Chicago, and Chicago is known for some of the best pizza on the planet. Seriously, we always end the class with a pizza celebration. I will miss that with COVID-19.

That’s one of the hardest parts about COVID-19. I miss celebrations together. No wonder when we all convene in heaven, our generous God will welcome us with love to a banquet.

For now, we press on despite COVID-19. Let’s do it with welcoming love.

The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it. Psalm 24:1

“I immediately figured out why I suffered from an anxiety attack: I was on a revenue split model with God. The first 10% was His, and the other 90% was mine. How I saved it, spent it, invested it, and so on, was my business, thank you very much.

It was not that I had ever heard what was said before, but it finally REALLY sank in that EVERYTHING I have belonged to God. Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will leave this world, I was reminded that I am merely God’s fund manager.

What a relief that is! The 90% also belongs to God, and therefore every spending and saving decision is a spiritual one. God has promised to take care of all my needs (but not necessarily my wants), and let me tell you that is the most comforting thought in the world.”

Roger Lam in Lost and Found: Money vs. Riches – A Journey from Slavery to Mastery (Nashville: Elm Hill, 2018) 29-30.

Roger is a dear friend and an amazing communicator from Hong Kong. His book which chronicles his journey from slavery to mastery of money is a real page-turner.

Today’s excerpt is timely in light of our continued COVID-19 crisis. The mindset and behavior of people appears to be unraveling globally. Especially in hard times, each of us must not forget the most comforting thought in the world: “God has promised to take care of all my needs.” He cares more for you and me more than we care for ourselves and for our loved ones.

When we couple this thinking, as Roger keenly does, with the point that everything belongs to God, we find our place and purpose, especially in times of crisis. We are here to offer hope and help.

Speaking of hope and help, later this month Roger and I will do a GTP webinar serving Hong Kong and the world on this topic with Trevor Lui and Ereny Monir.

If you are doing a lot of reading during these days where we are safer at home, get this book, and the sequel, Lose to Find: Change of Control. Read them both if you have not read them. I am recommending them to my Faith and Finances students now.

They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen. Romans 1:25

“Stuff is and always will be good, but our sinful hearts make mountains out of molehills and turn stuff from a good to The Good, worshipping and serving created things rather that the Creator. The way to free ourselves from our slavery to stuff is to share it with others. When we do this, we turn from being hoarders to God’s distributors. This allows us to see stuff in light of the three T’s: to use stuff as a tool to do God’s work in the world, knowing that we are being tested as to how well we can bear God’s generous trademark to the world. There are eternal consequences to this test, so it is of the utmost importance that we take it seriously and strive to use and enjoy stuff as God intended us to. This is no easy task!”

Wesley K. Willmer with Micah Hogan in Stuff & Soul: Mastering the Critical Connection (Colbert: Kingdom Life, 2020) 50. Here’s another winner book by my mentor and friend, Wes Willmer.

Willmer offers practical advice for making sure we don’t worship created things instead of the Creator. We must handle stuff as a tool for doing God’s work. It’s our trademark, showing God’s love to the watching world. And, it’s a test of obedience.

How are you using stuff as a tool to do God’s work? If your handling of money and possessions reflects a trademark, how would people describe you? Since stuff is a test that has eternal implications, would you pass? Take time to ponder these thoughts?

As I am teaching Faith and Finances this month at Northern Seminary, I am exposing my students to books and resources for their personal journey and for helping others. I hope you enjoy the sampling of resources I will feature afresh in my daily posts.

For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants. They will spring up like grass in a meadow, like poplar trees by flowing streams. Isaiah 44:3-4

“This will be a radical new day of restoration, new life, and divine blessing… The people will be empowered by a special pouring down (using the same verb used of rain) of the Spirit of God. This is God’s gift that abundantly fills and transforms everything it touches. The Spirit will give new life and refreshing blessings to a future generation of children like the water gives new life and brings fertility to the earth… The important thing emphasized is not the ethnic or religious background of these people; the central issue is what these people choose to become. The Spirit’s transforming power will make them want to be identified with God and His righteous people.”

Gary V. Smith in Isaiah 40-66: An Exegetical and Theological Exposition of Holy Scripture (NAC; Nashville: B&H Publishing, 2009) 219-220.

So, lately I have been praying for rain, for provision for GTP. I am still praying for that. But God has nudged me to raise my hopes higher. In light of the pandemic, the panic, and the problems that fill the earth, today I am praying for a “special pouring down” of the Spirit. Would you join me?

Such an outpouring is “God’s gift that abundantly fills and transforms everything it touches.” As described in this vision of Isaiah, may it be so today. May the Spirit of God cause righteous people to spring up all over the earth who serve as conduits of blessing, because generosity is a fruit of the Spirit.

The picture fits what I see outside. Even as rain from clouds causes grass to spring up and trees to flourish, the Spirit can enliven God’s people. Father, our land is thirsty. We need a special pouring down of your Spirit to grow as righteous and generous people. Make it so I ask in the name of Jesus, Amen.