Didache: Stretch and don’t shut

“If among you, one of your brothers should become poor, in any of your towns within your land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother, but you shall open your hand to him and lend him sufficient for his need, whatever it may be. Deuteronomy 15:7-8

“Be not one who stretches out his hands to receive, but shuts them when it comes to giving.”

Didache, a.k.a. “The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles” (late first or early second century) 4.5.

As I stated yesterday, the Didache is viewed by many as the early church discipleship manual. Today’s brief quote sums up the posture of our hands linked to giving. We must stretch them out to receive and not shut them to give.

When it comes to receiving we are quick to stretch out our hands. But are we as quick to give? Consider your own heart. Resolve today to take the posture you want God and others to take toward you.

Be as quick to give as you are to receive. That’s what the twelve apostles taught the early church followers. To teach it today, we must first live this way. God, help us be as quick too stretch our hands to give as we are to receive. Amen.

Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Luke 6:30

“Give to everyone that asks thee, and do not refuse, for the Father’s will is that we give to all from the gifts we have received. Blessed is he that gives according to the mandate; for he is innocent. Woe to him who receives; for if any man receive alms under pressure of need he is innocent; but he who receives it without need shall be tried as to why he took and for what, and being in prison he shall be examined as to his deeds, and “he shall not come out thence until he pay the last farthing.” But concerning this it was also said, “Let thine alms sweat into thine hands until thou knowest to whom thou art giving.”

Didache, is an early Christian work a.k.a. “The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles” that was viewed as canon by some thus it is included in the Apostolic Fathers. (late first or early second century). Click to find this excerpt at 1.5-6 or read it in its entirety.

The focus of my Daily Meditations for the foreseeable future will shift from quotes from the post-Reformation enlightenment period to the early church in the first 3-4 centuries. Today’s post goes back to the very beginning to look at the teachings of the 12 Apostles.

Didache is viewed by many as the early church discipleship manual. Read it. It only takes a few minutes. What I noticed in my fresh reading of it was that the word “give” is mentioned 27 times. Interestingly, it’s the most repeated verb in the Didache.

Who we are, our being as followers of Christ, should first and foremost propel us to give. It’s a mandate. Notice that Didache quotes Jesus. That tells us that the disciples took this mandate from Jesus seriously. It was not optional.

And consider another early church expression: “Let thine alms sweat into thine hands until thou knowest to whom thou art giving.” What a word picture! Don’t let the money stay comfortably with you so it gets where God wants it to go.

Today there are people praying for needs to be met. We have a few of our own. If you have needs, lift them to the Father. Let’s trust Him together. For those who have more than they need, well, “Let thine alms sweat into thine hands until thou knowest to whom thou art giving.”

May it be that when I say to a young woman, ‘Please let down your jar that I may have a drink,’ and she says, ‘Drink, and I’ll water your camels too’ — let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that you have shown kindness to my master.” Genesis 24:14

“Since God lacks nothing, generosity is the primary way in which He relates to the world. For the same reason, generosity is the natural hallmark of people who feel closely connected to God. In contrast, the hallmark of evil is selfishness. No matter how much an evil person possesses, he remains unsatisfied, so he seeks only to take and never to give.

Eliezer therefore sought a woman for Isaac who would display kindness. When Rebecca went beyond fulfilling Eliezer’s specific request by offering to also water his camels, he understood that she was a godly person and thus a fitting match for the son of Abraham. By demonstrating kindness to others, we too are “matched” with the most worthy partners – whether soul-mates, friends, business partners, or callings in life.”

Moshe Wisnefsky in “Benevolence” Daily Torah post at chabad.org dated 19 November 2019. Special thanks to Daily Meditations reader Pat Warbington for sharing this with me.

Even as generosity is the way God relates to the world, that should be our reputation as well as followers of Christ. To display kindness not only blesses others but positions us to align with “the most worthy partners.”

Imagine Rebecca saying, ‘Drink, and I’ll water your camels too’ to Eliezer. That’s a display of kindness. She put his needs ahead of her own. As we enter the holiday season, what might it look like for you to display such kindness to others?

The Institute for Biblical Research meetings start today in San Diego (pictured above from my hotel room). I am eager to listen and learn from many scholars and privileged to be here with Sophie’s fiancé, Peter Gomez. While here I need to be sure to display kindness wherever I go.

Father in heaven, by your Holy Spirit help each of us display kindness and match us with worthy partners. At this conference or wherever Daily Meditations readers sojourn, connect us with others to advance your kingdom. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. Matthew 6:19

“Worldly wealth is the devil’s bait; and those whose minds feed upon riches recede, in general, from real happiness, in proportion as their stores increase.”

Robert Burton in Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers, compiled by Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert (New York: Wilbur B. Ketcham, 1895) 522.

For years I acted like it was alright to ignore Jesus and store up treasures on earth. Think about it. He can see everything we are doing.

So, where are your treasures? You don’t have to tell me. Just be ready to give an account to God. Don’t let the devil’s bait fool you and steal your happiness.

As God blesses you, give, care for your family, and invest in productive efforts. Find happiness in the faithful care of our God. But don’t hold on to the bait, lest it gets its hooks into you!

Today I am using hotel points and airline miles to fly my future son-in-law, Peter Gomez, to San Diego with me to attend IBR and SBL.

What a privilege to block some time for biblical learning together. Thanks God.

Give your burdens to the LORD, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall. Psalm 55:22

“When God says to us, “Give me your load, trust me, what you cannot do, I will do for you,” He puts out faith to one of the strongest tests. He never consents to carry our burdens unless we give them to Him.”

T. L. Cuyler in Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers, compiled by Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert (New York: Wilbur B. Ketcham, 1895) 598.

When most people think of their giving, they don’t think about giving their burdens. One facet of the generosity of God that few people talk about is the fact that we serve a God who offers to carry our burdens.

I think giving our burdens to God is one of the strongest tests because it requires faith.

More on your plate at work than you can handle? “Let Me take that for you,” God offers. Relationship challenges? Bring those to Me too,” He adds. Chronic pain that seems to be getting worse? “Ask me for healing and grace, again,” He says.

Pause right now and give God whatever burdens you have. Trust Him to sort them.

But don’t stop there. Trusting that He’s got your stuff sorted, take this one step further. To exhibit Christian generosity, we get to bear the burdens of others just like Christ bears ours. Can you name a burden of someone else that you could bear and burden you could share with someone else?

You cannot live the generous life alone. God made us to rely on Him and each other.

O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water. Psalm 63:1

“Scatter money in a crowd, how they scramble for it; offer bread to the starving, how greedily they seize it; throw a rope to the drowning, how he eagerly grasps it! With like eagerness and earnestness may the Spirit of God help you to lay hold on Christ.”

Thomas Guthrie in Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers, compiled by Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert (New York: Wilbur B. Ketcham, 1895) 592.

Our enthusiastic behavior reveals our deep motivations and affections. What do you seek after earnestly?

Today I have important meetings with a foundation director in Chattanooga, Tennessee. I am not alone. Thankfully I am joined by René Palacio, the chair of the board of GTP. We are here 2×2, and we would love for them to partner generously with GTP.

There is One who support is more important to us than any amount of foundation money, and that is Christ. Apart from Christ, we can do nothing. With Him, all things are possible. If you believe this too, join me in eagerly and earnestly seeking Christ daily.

In Him we have everything we need. Living in light of this is the secret to living a life of peace and generosity.

Do everything in love. 1 Corinthians 16:14

“Love is the greatest thing that God can give us, for Himself is love; and it is the greatest thing we can give to God, for it will also give ourselves and carry with it all that is ours.”

Jeremy Taylor (1613-1667) in Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers, compiled by Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert (New York: Wilbur B. Ketcham, 1895) 392.

As you think about gift giving, make sure to include love. It’s the greatest thing we can give, and it holds nothing back, so appears as sacrificial in nature.

Think about it. As we approach Thanksgiving (in the USA) and Christmas we realize that God held nothing back. He sent His only Son with love. We get to follow suit.

What will that look like for you to love in a sacrificial way in the coming days? As we think about generosity, remember the greatest thing we can give is love.

But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33

“A living man must have a living God, or his soul will perish in the midst of earthly plenty, and will thirst and die whilst the water of earthly delights is running all around him. We are made to need persons not things.”

Alexander Maclaren in Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers, compiled by Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert (New York: Wilbur B. Ketcham, 1895) 390.

For years we got a newspaper because it had the advertisements on Sunday to tell us where to shop for good deals. I learned from my daughter, Sophie, that in America you can already see the Black Friday advertisements to shop for things. There’s apps out there that feature the forthcoming deals.

Black Friday is a huge shopping day in America, labeled as such as the big sales help retailers go from having a deficit or being “in the red” to being “in the black” financially speaking. It is the day after Thanksgiving, which is 28 November 2019 this year.

God made us to need and depend on Him rather than things. The worldly, things-centered mindset is a leading obstacle to generosity. When we seek Him first, and ask Him to supply our daily needs, we grasp life. All the things will be sorted when He is in His rightful place.

So, this shopping season, don’t hesitate to save money on things you were going to buy anyway for your living, giving, serving, and loving. But, more importantly, be diligent to seek God first and enjoy and generously share all He richly supplies.

Focus on persons not things, and make God the number one person in your life.

So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God. Romans 14:12

“At the beginning of the twenty first century, an unprecedented opportunity exists to disciple the church in the fundamental biblical pattern of holistic stewardship. As the church becomes increasingly aware of issues of sustainability, seeks to understand and foster the role of business, and expands the message of the grace of giving as a central motif of the Christian life, an environment for transformation takes root: personal and corporate. Christ-centered stewardship — that is, management of God’s resources for His intended purposes — will begin to foster more accountability for business and ministry, more collaboration among ministry efforts for greater effectiveness, and healthy motivations and patterns of giving in the lives of all Christians, regardless of wealth, location or status.”

Ram Gidoomal in “Kingdom Stewardship” (Preface to Cape Town 2010 Advance Paper).

The Apostle Paul reminded the Roman church to work collaboratively and use resources for the edification of each person because we will all have to give an account of ourselves to God.

We live in a global world and people everywhere are calling for more accountability, more collaboration, and more healthy motivations and patterns of generosity.

Having just returned home from meetings at CCCC outside Toronto, I am hopeful that collaboration with GTP on the topic of accountability will result in more generosity in Canada and globally.

They are doing some good stuff there that may help groups in other nations and vice versa. Like the Apostle Paul, it’s a privilege to be in the middle to exhort groups to edify each other.

How are you promoting a biblical pattern of holistic stewardship where you serve? How has the grace of giving transformed you and your congregation or community?

With Gidoomal I believe there’s never been a better time than now to promote a holistic stewardship, to champion accountability, to collaborate, and to encourage healthy motives and patterns of generosity.

The best part is that it prepares everyone in this growing movement to give an account before God.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters. Colossians 3:23

“One of the best things in the gospel of Jesus is the stress it lays on small things. It ascribes more value to quality than to quantity; it teaches that God does not ask how much we do, but how we do it.”

J. F. Clarke in Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers, compiled by Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert (New York: Wilbur B. Ketcham, 1895) 387.

Last night I flew to Toronto for meetings with John Pellowe and others at CCCC, the peer accountability group serving ministries Canada today. I am here to build relationships, to learn about the work of CCCC in Canada, to share about GTP and discuss possible areas of global collaboration.

As I serve here and as you labor where God has you, join me in giving thanks that we serve a Lord that does not expect results from us (quantity) but wants us to work for Him doing little things with all our heart (quality). Think about it. In the Great Commission, He does not say “go and make 100 disciples” (quantity), but says to “go and make disciples and teach them to obey everything He commanded” (quality).

When we do the small things with great love and rich generosity, our Lord takes care of the results and, more importantly, our lives (and specifically our love and generosity) bring great glory to Him!