Severianus of Ancrya: Inexplicable Kindness

Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my co-workers in Christ Jesus. They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them. Romans 16:3-4

“In Ancyra Galatia it so happened that I was able to speak with a certain nobleman called Severianus and his wife, although I did not have any great intimacy with them. They placed all their good hope in a future life, to the disappointment of their children. They had four sons and two daughters, but they disbursed all the revenues of their estates among the needy, making no settlement upon any of them except in marriage settlements.

“It will all be yours after we are dead,” they said to the other children. “For as long as we are alive we shall save our surplus earnings and distribute them to churches, monasteries, guestmasters and to anyone who is needy. Their prayers will bring the reward of eternal life to us and you and our family in exchange for the labors of this present time.”

They also displayed notable virtue during a time of great famine when everyone was feeling hungry, for they opened up their storehouses on many of their estates and gave to the poor, with the result that many who were then heretics came back to the true faith. It was their otherwise inexplicable kindness which persuaded heretics to come back into agreement with the true faith, giving thanks to God for their simplicity and immense generosity.

They had another admirable practice. What they wore was very old and unpretentious, they were sparing in what they ate to a degree almost impossible to describe. They were simply content with enough necessary to support life. A wonderful devotion towards God went along with this. They spent most of their time in the country, avoiding the city and its vices, lest the excitement and confusion of city life draw them away from a truly joyful life and they should fall away from the commandments of God. All the good deeds and upright life of these blessed people helped them to keep their eyes fixed on the eternal rewards prepared for them by the glory of God.”

Severianus of Ancrya in Lausiac History (Historia Lausiaca) by Palladius Part 15) Chapter CXIV “The life of the blessed Severianus and his wife.”

When I read ancient vignettes like this one, it inspires me to share it with my wife and resolve to follow their example. What does it spur within you?

Some feel like the four sons and two daughters in the narrative. They were disappointed that mom and dad “disbursed all the revenues of their estates among the needy, making no settlement upon any of them except in marriage settlements.”

Candidly, as our son and daughter grow deeper in relationships that appear to be leading to marriage, some might say they would feel this way. I think if you asked them, however, they would say that with joy they have embraced the lifestyle of simplicity and generosity.

Why recount their story today? When “inexplicable kindness” intersects with generosity, there is no greater witness to the gospel. It even persuades “heretics to come back into agreement with the true faith.”

When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to Him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) John 4:7-9

“One day Abba Serapion passed through an Egyptian village and there he saw a courtesan who stayed in her own cell. The old man said to her, ‘Expect me this evening, for I should like to come and spend the night with you.’ She replied, ‘Very well, Abba.’ She got ready and made the bed. When evening came, the old man came to see her and entered her cell and said to her, ‘Have you got the bed ready?’ She said, ‘Yes, Abba.’ Then he closed the door and said to her, ‘Wait a bit, for we have a rule of prayer and I must fulfil that first.’ So the old man began his prayers. He took the Psalter and at each psalm he said a prayer for the courtesan, begging God that she might be converted and saved, and God heard him. The woman stood trembling and praying beside the old man. When he had completed the whole Psalter the woman fell to the ground. Then the old man, beginning the Epistle, read a great deal from the apostle and completed his prayers. The woman was filled with compunction and understood that he had not come to see her to commit sin but to save her soul and she fell at his feet, saying, ‘Abba, do me this kindness and take we where I can please God.’ So the old man took her to a monastery…”

I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice. Ezekiel 34:16

“The most of our brethren were unsparing in their exceeding love and brotherly kindness. They held fast to each other and visited the sick fearlessly, and ministered to them continually, serving them in Christ. And they died with them most joyfully, taking the affliction of others, and drawing the sickness from their neighbors to themselves and willingly receiving their pains. And many who cared for the sick and gave strength to others died themselves having transferred to themselves their death. And the popular saying which always seems a mere expression of courtesy, they then made real in action, taking their departure as the others’ ‘offscouring.’

Eusebius Pamphilius (263-339) in Ecclesiastical History, Book VII, Chapter 22.

In today’s Scripture text, the Lord declares how He will function serving as Israel’s shepherd. In the larger text, woes are declared on those who only care for themselves.

What posture should we take instead? In two words, it is brotherly kindness. Or, ladies, think in terms of sisterly kindness. This appears as attending to the needs of others with unselfish awareness.

Practically, we see this as getting a thirsty person a drink before getting one for yourself. It moves to thinking of this physical or financial needs before our own. At first it appears as care and it deepens to sacrifice.

But in today’s record from the history of the early church, we see those affected with disease are cared for with “exceeding love and brotherly kindness” and in so doing nursed to health, while the caregivers perished.

Are you willing to give your life in service to others? If not, perhaps chose another LORD rather than Christ. He desires no fair weather followers. If so, give yourself to brotherly or sisterly kindness.

He came to that which was His own, but His own did not receive Him. Yet to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God — children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. John 1:11-13

“This is God’s kindness to man, that of whom He is Maker, of them according to grace He afterwards becomes Father also; becomes, that is, when men, His creatures, receive into their hearts, as the Apostle says, ‘the Spirit of His Son, crying, Abba, Father.’ And these are they who, having received the Word, gained power from Him to become sons of God; for they could not become sons, being by nature creatures, otherwise then by receiving the Spirit of the natural and true Son.”

Athanasius of Alexandria (c. 296-373) in Discourse II, Chapter XXI, 59, in Athanasius: Selected Works and Letters (Grand Rapids: CCEL) 691.

Athanasius is the last of the four doctors of the Eastern Church we will explore on the intersection of kindness and generosity.

Athanasius started his ministry career under fire from Roman Emperors and lived during days when the deity of Christ was under attack by Arius.

He was known for getting the title, Athanasius Contra Mundum, which translated from the Latin means “Athanasius against the world.”

What does this have to do with generosity and kindness? Think about it. When we are embattled, we can tend to forget what true kindness is. Not so for Athanasius!

God’s kindness has been revealed in Jesus. God made us and invites us to become children of God. To do so, people must receive God’s kindness.

Generosity starts with receiving God’s kindness. The greatest gift we can receive and share is Jesus. Have you received Jesus? Do you share Him with others?

Today, Jenni and I flew from Sydney to Adelaide. We speak at Rostrevor Baptist Church tomorrow giving a message in their “Everyone Has Influence” series.

I will preach on “The Secret to Having Greater Influence” from Luke 19:11-27. Anyone who wants to have greater influence must steward faithfully all God supplies.

What are you doing with the gifts, goods, and gospel entrusted to you? It starts with receiving God’s kindness but must not stop there!

As part of the message, Jenni will share our family story of learning to obey, let go, and trust God. Stay tuned for the link to the message after it is online.

Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. Matthew 5:42

“Stretch out thy hand, let it not be closed up. We have not been constituted examiners into men’s lives, since so we should have compassion on no one. When thou callest upon God why dost thou say, Remember not my sins? So then, if that person even be a great sinner, make this allowance in his case also, and do not remember his sins. It is the season of kindness, not of strict inquiry; of mercy, not of account.”

John Chrysostom (c. 349-407) in Homilies of St. John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople, On the Epistle to the Hebrews, ed. Constantine, presbyter of Antioch, excerpt from Homily 11 on Hebrews 6:13-16, 908.

Of the four doctors of the Eastern Church, we have already heard from Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen (two of the Cappadocian Fathers), now we hear from the third on the intersection of kindness and generosity.

Chrysostom keenly notes the days in which we live. We are not in the season of “account” or the time at which we will give an account to God. That comes later. We are in “the season of kindness” which comes first.

What a beautiful picture! “The season of kindness” is the brief time we are on this earth to live open-handed, generous lives. We must not judge others but have compassion and show mercy to all.

We default to “strict inquiry” which leads us to label people as undeserving of our aid, or sadly, when someone wrongs us we “remember his sins” rather than serve as agents of mercy and forgiveness.

As we draw near to Lent, the season leading up to Easter, I suggest we approach it as a “season of kindness” in order to practice disciplines to shape our living in preparation for someday giving an account.

What will you fast from, give to, and pray about in anticipation of Easter?

I say we fast from strict inquiry, give to those needing compassion, and pray for God to help us remember not the sins of others but recall what Christ did with our sins on the cross, so that we show mercy in the season of kindness.

Today Jenni and I served Baptist Financial Services to wrap up a great week in Sydney. Tomorrow we fly to Adelaide. Also, Wordpress just informed me that I have posted for 3,500 days in a row as of today. To God be the glory!

There was a believer in Joppa named Tabitha (which in Greek is Dorcas). She was always doing kind things for others and helping the poor. Acts 9:36

“In what terms shall I speak of her distinguished, and noble, and formerly wealthy house; all the riches of which she spent upon the poor? How can I describe the great consideration she showed to all and her far reaching kindness even to those whom she had never seen? What poor man, as he lay dying, was not wrapped in blankets given by her? What bedridden person was not supported with money from her purse? She would seek out such with the greatest diligence throughout the city, and would think it a misfortune were any hungry or sick person to be supported by another’s food. So lavish was her charity that she robbed her children; and, when her relatives remonstrated with her for doing so, she declared that she was leaving to them a better inheritance in the mercy of Christ.”

Jerome of Stridon (347 – 420) in Letter CVIII.5. To Eustochium in The Principal Works of St. Jerome (Grand Rapids: CCEL) 344-345.

Jerome is the fourth of the four doctors of the Western Church that we will explore on the topic of kindness related generosity. He wrote this letter to console Eustochium on the death of her mother, Paula.

While Jerome said many things about Paula, three are noteworthy today as we think about the intersection of kindness and generosity.

Firstly, she exhibited “far reaching kindness.” She would diligently seek out the needy and minister to them. Do we seek out the poor and bedridden, the hungry and sick throughout the city?

Secondly, notice that “charity” is the word that describes her generosity. This means grace-motivated giving. Is our generosity motivated by grace? Often this will appear contradictory to cultural norms.

Thirdly, she was bold and obedient. Her giving appeared to rob “her children” and despite protests from relatives, she did it for a higher purpose. She wanted to leave them a better inheritance.

This final idea is maybe the most powerful.

We succumb, too often, to peer or family pressure and allow social expectations to guide our giving rather than obedience to Christ. The reward for which is “better inheritance in the mercy of Christ.” Do we scorn what other people think and calibrate our giving according to what God thinks?

If you were to die today and such a letter would be written, what would be said about you? Before we can leave a better inheritance we must live a legacy of kindness and generosity to all, rooted in obedience and faithfulness to Christ.

He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ Luke 10:34-35

“The spiritual director must be careful that he show himself to the laity as a mother with respect to kindness and as a father with respect to discipline. And in every case, care should be provided in such a way that discipline is never rigid, nor kindness lax…

Spiritual directors should have compassion for the laity that is justly considerate and discipline that is affectionately severe. For this is what the Truth teaches through the Samaritan who took the half-dead man to the inn and the oil soothed him. Indeed, it is necessary that whoever directs the healing of wounds must administer with wine the bite of pain and with oil the caress of kindness, so that what is rotten may be purged by the wine and what is curable may be soothed by the oil.

In short, gentleness is to be mixed with severity — a combination that will prevent thee laity from becoming exasperated by excessive harshness or relaxed by undue kindness…

Let there be love that does not soften, vigor that does not exasperate, zeal that is not immoderate or uncontrolled, and kindness that spares but not more than is befitting. Therefore, as justice and clemency are forged together in the art of spiritual direction, the one who leads is able to sooth the hearts of his subordinates when he inspires fear; and yet by soothing them he will inspire awe.”

Gregory the Great (c. 540-604) in The Book of Pastoral Rule (Crestwood: St Vladimirs Seminary Press, 2007) 67-68.

Gregory the Great is the third of the Four Doctors of the Western Church that we will explore on the topic of kindness as it relates to generosity.

Gregory the Great wrote this classic work to instruct all those in generous service as pastors or spiritual directors to combine discipline with kindness. That’s a good word.

He uses the Good Samaritan as an example for us. Picture the scene. The Samaritan does not leave the person half-dead, but helps him with a combination of wine and oil. He becomes a model of love, generosity, discipline, and kindness for us.

Neither excessive harshness nor undue kindness helps those we serve over time. The former crushes them while the latter fails to shape them in the ways of Christ. What should we do? I am inspired to pray and act accordingly.

Father, help me find this balance in my life. By your Holy Spirit grow my generous service so that discipline is combined with kindness. Help me learn this so that my life reflects the love of Jesus, in whose name I pray. Amen.

Everything you say should be kind and well thought out so that you know how to answer everyone. Colossians 4:6

“Our language should be mild and quiet, and full of kindness and courtesy and free from insult. Let there be no obstinate disputes in our familiar conversations, for they are wont only to bring up useless subjects, rather than to supply anything useful. Let there be discussion without wrath, urbanity without bitterness, warning without sharpness, advice without giving offence. And as in every action of our life we ought to take heed to this, in order that no overpowering impulse of our mind may ever shut out reason (let us always keep a place for counsel), so, too, ought we to observe that rule in our language, so that neither wrath nor hatred may be aroused, and that we may not show any signs of greed or sloth.”

Ambrose of Milan (c. 339-397) in On the Duties of the Clergy, Book 1, Chapter XXII (CCEL).

Ambrose is the second of the Four Doctors of the Western Church that we will explore on the topic of kindness as it relates to generosity.

He instructs ministers to make sure that their language is full of kindness and does not show any signs of greed or sloth. The opposite of greed, of course, is generosity, and the opposite of sloth would be to speak with intentionality.

Does our language give people the impression that we are trying to get something from them or give something to them? The former tears down while the latter builds up. But how do we be sure to get this right?

The Apostle Paul tells us that everything we say should be kind and well thought out. So, to grow in generosity, may God help us be quick to listen, slow to speak, and when we do, let’s make it good.

I pray that the words that I said today as I serve the IJM Australia team today flow from listening well and speaking to build them up. I trained them through The Choice and The Sower.

If you did not receive a Daily Meditation in the past two days, it is because my website suffered a “brute force attack” that damaged my blog feed. It is being resolved. To read the ones you missed, visit my website.

Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter — when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and He will say: Here am I. Isaiah 58:6-9

“With the help of the mercy of the Lord our God, the temptations of this age, the crafty traps of the devil, the toils of this world, the allurements of the flesh, the swirl of turbulent times, and all bodily and spiritual adversity, are to be overcome by almsgiving and fasting and prayer.

Christians ought to be fervently engage in these things throughout their lives; much more so then at the approach of the great festival of Easter, which rouses our minds as it comes round again each year, renewing in them the salutary memory of what mercy our Lord, the only Son of God, has bestowed on us, of how he fasted and prayed for us.

“Alms,” of course, comes from a Greek word meaning “mercy.” What greater mercy, though, could there be toward the miserable, than that which pulled the Creator down from heaven and clothed the Founder of the earth in an earthly body; which made the One who abides equal in eternity to the Father, equal to us in mortality, imposing the form of a servant of the Lord to the world; so that bread itself would be hungry, fullness be thirsty, strength become weak, health would be wounded, life would die?

All this to feed our hunger, water our drought, comfort our infirmity, extinguish our iniquity, kindle our charity. What greater mercy than for the Creator to be created, the Master to serve the Redeemer to be sold, the One who exalts to be humbled, the One who raises up to be slain?

We, in the matter of giving alms, are instructed to give bread to the hungry; He, in order to give Himself to us in our hunger, first surrendered himself for us to His enemies’ anger. We are instructed to welcome the stranger; He, for our sakes, came to His own place, and His own people did not welcome Him…

And so let us perform our alms and deeds of kindness all the more lavishly, all the more frequently, the nearer the day approaches on which is celebrated the alms, the kindness that has been done to us. Because fasting without kindness and mercy is worth nothing to the one who’s fasting.”

Augustine of Hippo (354-430) in Sermon 207.1 “On the Beginning of Lent” in Essential Sermons, translated by Edmund Hill, edited by Daniel Doyle (New York: New City Press, 2007) 259.

Augustine of Hippo is first of the Four Doctors of the Western Church that we will explore on the topic of kindness.

Whenever it gets into February my family starts talking about what we will give to, fast from, and pray about during Lent, which begins late this year on 6 March 2019. When we do these practices, we shift our focus off ourselves and toward God and making His grace and mercy known our through almsgiving and fasting and prayer.

I don’t know what we will give to, fast from, and pray about this year, but Augustine with passion and eloquence reminds us to make sure we add kindness to our practice of the Lenten disciplines. In this way, they will surely reflect the love of our generous God to the world.

Jenni and I arrived safely in Sydney and served Christian Super today (pictured above). We shared “31 Tips for Thriving” with the entire team and also spent time with key staff. God showed kindness to us in giving us unexpected stamina. What a rich time together! We love Christian Super!

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Colossians 3:12

“Let us therefore, brethren, be of humble mind, laying aside all haughtiness, and pride, and foolishness, and angry feelings; and let us act according to that which is written (for the Holy Spirit says, “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, neither let the rich man glory in his riches; but let him that glories glory in the Lord, in diligently seeking Him, and doing justice and righteousness”), being especially mindful of the words of the Lord Jesus which He spoke, teaching us meekness and long-suffering. For thus He spoke: “Be merciful, that you may obtain mercy; forgive, that it may be forgiven to you; as you do, so shall it be done to you; as you judge, so shall you be judged; as you are kind, so shall kindness be shown to you; with what measure you measure, with the same it shall be measured to you.” By this precept and by these rules let us establish ourselves, that we walk with all humility in obedience to His holy words. For the holy word says, “On whom shall I look, but on him that is meek and peaceable, and who trembles at My words?”

Clement, Bishop of Rome (c. 96) in 1 Clement 13 (translated by Roberts and Donaldson).

Clement wrote this letter to the church in Corinth just prior to his martyrdom. The bishop was tied to an anchor and thrown into the sea (c. 101). Despite terrible persecution under the Roman Emperor Trajan, the early church continued to grow.

He wanted them to “establish themselves.”  We do this when we walk in obedience to Jesus with humility and kindness. This is a strong statement to the Corinthian church during difficult times. It provides wonderful insight for us today.

When the world around us seems increasingly against Christianity, what is our best course of action? Should we fight to convince them we are right and they are wrong? No! That would be to glory in our wisdom. Should we talk boldly and carry a big stick? No! That would be to bully them and glory in our might. Should we stockpile riches to try to preserve our comfort and protect ourselves from the opposition? No! That would be to glory in our riches. We should live mindful of the words of Jesus and obey with humility and kindness.

Clement urged the Corinthians (and us) to follow the teachings of Jesus echoed in today’s Scripture by the Apostle Paul to “establish ourselves.” That’s the most generous gift we can give those around us in crazy times. When we establish ourselves in Him through obedience with humility and kindness, we show others how to establish themselves. We do this by diligently seeking Him and doing justice and righteousness in a world filled with injustice and brokenness.

When this posts, my wife, Jenni, and I should be somewhere over the Pacific Ocean en route to Sydney, Australia. God help us get there safely and get some rest on the way.