Teresa of Ávila: Virtues are only lent us

But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” James 4:6 (cf. Proverbs 3:34, 29:23; Matthew 23:12; 1 Peter 5:5)

“If we think the Lord has given us a certain grace, we must understand that it is a blessing which we have received but which He may take away from us again, as indeed, in the great providence of God, often happens. Have you never observed this yourselves, sisters? I certainly have: sometimes I think I am extremely detached, and, in fact, when it comes to the test, I am; yet at other times I find I have such attachment to things which the day before I should perhaps have scoffed at that I hardly know myself…

That being so, who can say that he possesses any virtue, or that he is rich, if at the time when he most needs this virtue he finds himself devoid of it? No, sisters: let us rather think of ourselves as lacking it and not run into debt without having the means of repayment…

If others, thinking we are good, bestow favors and honours upon us, both they and we shall look foolish when, as I say, it becomes clear that our virtues are only lent us. The truth is that, if we serve the Lord with humility, He will sooner or later succour us in our needs. But, if we are not strong in this virtue, the Lord will leave us to ourselves, as they say, at every step. This is a great favor on His part, for it helps us to realize fully that we have nothing which has not been given us.”

Teresa of Ávila (1515-1582) helped people find inward peace with God during times that were outwardly troubled linked to the Spanish Inquisition. Her most famous work is Interior Castle, and this except comes from The Way of Perfection, and Conceptions of Divine Love.

The Way of Perfection, and Conceptions of Divine Love provides a sampling of Teresa’s contribution to the Counter-Reformation happening in the Catholic Church during the Protestant Reformation. While Luther (in Germany) and Calvin (in Switzerland) were fighting the battle for the Christian mind and establishing separate Christian movements outside of the Catholic Church, Teresa (in Spain) was fighting the battle for people to love God deeply in their hearts, and urging for change within the Catholic Church. As an agent of reform, Teresa founded the order of Discalced Carmelites with John of the Cross, whom we will hear from tomorrow.

Scholars note that her inspiration for writing this book came from reading the classic work, The Imitation of Christ, by Thomas à Kempis. The Way of Perfection, and Conceptions of Divine Love contains 42 chapters. The first 18 chapters or so deal with life in the order, while the remaining chapters focus on aspects and approaches to growth in the spiritual life. Today’s reading gave me deeper insight to the oft quoted statement in Scripture: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”

God is generous and gives us grace at every turn. He gives us grace to attach to that which is good and detach from that which is unhealthy or harmful for us. He gives us grace to serve, grace to love, grace to give, grace for every aspect of the Christian life. We must not, however, in modern terms, think “we have arrived” lest pride overtake us. The idea that virtues are only “lent us” helped me realize that that the inner posture of the generous person must focus on humility if there be any generosity in outward living.

Think about it. She concludes by helping the sisters (and us) understand that the reason the Lord wants us to take a perpetual posture of humility is so that our own pride does not destroy us: “This is a great favour on His part, for it helps us to realize fully that we have nothing which has not been given us.” Teresa generously blessed others because she fixed her heart on humility before the Lord, and in so doing, God made her a conduit of blessing. Make it so, Lord, in each of our lives!

Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Luke 6:38

“A person should not be miserly when God our Lord has been so generous with him. We shall have peace and kindness in proportion to how much of them we have given in this life.” Letter 2 (1532)

“By obedience one puts aside all one is, one dispossesses oneself of all that one has, in order to be possessed and governed by divine providence.” Letter 31 (1553)

Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556), Spanish founder of the Society of Jesus and author of Spiritual Exercises, in St. Ignatius of Loyola: Personal Writings (New York: Penguin, 1996) 120, 255.

In reading some of the letters by Ignatius, I discovered these two statements, so hopefully you find today’s post doubly good. To give you a frame of reference, Ignatius was born an aristocrat and became a bold soldier. He had a reputation for emerging from battles unscathed until a cannonball badly damaged one of his legs in 1521. While recovering, he read “De Vita Christi” (The life of Christ), which changed his life.

In 1522 he joined a Benedictine monastery. In 1523 he traveled to the Holy Land and back. These were troubled times due to the Spanish Inquisition, so by 1531, he traveled to Paris, France, for further theological education. This first quote comes from a letter during his season of study. He appears to be mapping out his rule of life while exploring the teachings of Jesus. The first quote echoes today’s biblical text.

Some time later, in 1540, his order, the Society of Jesus, was approved by the Pope. By the time of his death in 1556 he had established 35 schools with over 1,000 members. As you notice above, the second excerpt comes from his personal advice to society members late in his life. The tone sounds like that of a mentor sharing with young Christ followers what he could only have learned by experience.

These two statements provide priceless counsel for us today! Let us not be “miserly” but choose a generous measure for dispensing “peace and kindness” to others. We must choose the proportion such as we’d like to receive. And let us set aside ourselves, our will, our possessions, which actually entangle us, and “be possessed and governed by divine providence” so that God’s love flows richly through us.

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5

“Now the time requireth to declare another cause of our sedition, which is the greedy desire and, as it were, worshipping of riches, wherewith both the high and low sort being too much blinded have brought our realm to this point. And surely nothing more hath caused great and puissant armies, realms, and empires to be overthrown, than hath done the insatiable covetousness of worldly goods. For hereby, as by a most strong poison, whole realms many times have come to ruin, which seemed else to have endured forever: sundry commonwealths, which before were conserved in unity, have by incurable disorder been divided and separated into many parts.

This manner of vice, if it be unseemly unto any other people, to them surely that profess Christ it is utterly shameful and detestable; which above all nations should be the true esteemers and lovers of pure godly things which be eternal and immortal, and ought to seek for right judgment and estimation of things only at their own profession. For as many of us as be truly called Christians of Christ, do confess that we be redeemed by him, not through the vain and uncertain riches of this world, but through the strong and perfect obedience whereby he submitted himself unto his Father, to be obedient even unto the death of the cross.

Worldly-wisemen esteem worldly riches and wealth above all other things; but the wisdom of God esteemeth obedience above all things, that is to say, that a man should submit his will to God’s will, that he should not desire to use anything in this world, no, not his own life, but as it shall please God and be to his glory; and to be content with that state, place, and degree, that God, the Author of all good things, hath called him unto. With this sacrifice of obedience Christ did reconcile us unto his Father, humbling himself to his Father’s will even to the death of the cross; and he hath commanded all them that profess to be his disciples to follow this his example.”

Thomas Cranmer (1489-1556) in “A Sermon Concerning the Time of Rebellion” in Miscellaneous Writings and Letters of Thomas Cranmer (Cambridge: University Press, 1846) 192. Cranmer was the leader of the Protestant Reformation in England and the Archbishop of Canterbury. He wrote the first two editions of the Book of Common Prayer. As you may recall, I did my PhD studies at a leading Anglican school for training ordinands for the Church of England, Trinity College Bristol, so I hold saints like Cranmer in high regard!

I believe we too live in an era when “insatiable covetousness” has its grip on many, even among the rulers of the kingdoms of the earth. We as Christians must not let it destroy us. This vice can worm its way into our hearts. How can we avoid it? We must not seek after “vain and uncertain riches” to secure or sustain us but obediently follow the Father’s plan for us. That’s what Jesus did. Even to the point of embracing death on a cross.

So what’s better than worldly riches? As Cranmer puts it, “the wisdom of God” is greater than anything else! That wisdom calls us as Christians to obedience and submission. When we choose this path, don’t lose anything. We gain everything. We find contentment and freedom because we have Christ. This realization also positions us to live generously in a world gripped with greed and where earthly kingdoms are destroyed by avarice.

Only in obedience and submission do we learn that having Christ means having everything we will ever need. This wisdom helps us find contentment not in having lots of stuff, but in having Christ. This wisdom transforms our greed into generosity. Without this humble obedience, it’s impossible to be generous. The “poison” of the vice of greed will render us detestable. With it, our lives will reflect the generosity of Christ to the world. God give us your wisdom in abundance!

Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! 2 Corinthians 9:15

“When, therefore, supreme goodness intended to bestow the supreme gift, it gave the most precious thing it could bring out of its treasure chest, namely, itself, that the heart of man, ever eager for something greater, should not even have a way left to wonder how this angelic or human victim could be so great as to be sufficient for all, or how one could put unshaken trust in a creature. The Son of God has, therefore, been given to us as a confirmation of His mercy, as a pledge of pardon, as the price of righteousness, and as a rule of life, to make us sure of the grace of God, and to teach us the law of living. Who could worthily extol the greatness of this divine goodness and generosity? We had deserved to be disowned, and He honors us with being chosen. We had destroyed the way of life, and He has restored it. Thus, then, we have been redeemed and renewed by divine goodness so completely as to be acceptable through His mercy, and to be justified and blameless through His atoning sacrifice.”

Ulrich Zwingli (1484-1531) in “Exposition of the Christian Faith” from his work, On Providence and Other Essays, edited by William John Hinke (Durham: Labyrinth Press, 1983) 243. Zwingli was the leader of the Protestant Reformation in Switzerland.

What are you thankful for today?

Zwingli concisely captures all that has been restored for humankind in the generous gift of Jesus. This sentence in particular struck me: “The Son of God has, therefore, been given to us as a confirmation of His mercy, as a pledge of pardon, as the price of righteousness, and as a rule of life, to make us sure of the grace of God, and to teach us the law of living.”

This sentence aroused profound thankfulness within me for the work of Jesus! I am thankful for the mercy, pardon, priceless righteousness, rule of life, grace of God, and law of living we have received from Jesus. In plain terms, the Son of God did not just forgive and save us; He lavished His righteousness on us and taught us how to live with confidence in His grace!

With Zwingli, in response to so great a gift, I reply: “Who could worthily extol the greatness of this divine goodness and generosity?” The answer is no one, but there’s a twist: despite our unworthiness, because of His atoning sacrifice and righteousness imparted to us, He chose us to make known His goodness and generosity. Did you hear that?

God generously chose you and me to live with confidence in His grace and make known this indescribable gift through our living and generosity! No wonder the Church came to life in nations such as Switzerland. Common people realized the amazing truth that they were part of God’s plan for making His grace known to the world. Has this thought gripped you?

The smooth tricks of scoundrels are evil. They plot crooked schemes. They lie to convict the poor, even when the cause of the poor is just. But generous people plan to do what is generous, and they stand firm in their generosity. Isaiah 32:7-8

“The Word tells us that there is no better way to improve our estates than to lay them out with a cheerful liberality for God; and that it will not be to our advantage to withhold our hands when God and duty call us to distribute. Consult providence now, and you will find that, in all respects, it is according to the report of the Word. O how true is the Scripture testimony in this respect!

Many thousands of witnesses now living can set their seals to both parts of this proposition. What men save (as they count saving) with one hand, providence scatters by another hand; and what they scatter abroad with a liberal hand and single eye for God, is surely repaid to them or theirs. No man ever lost by distributing for God. He that lends to the poor lends to the LORD, or as some expound that text, puts his money to interest to the LORD. Some have observed how providence has doubled all they have laid out for God, in ways they did not expect.”

John Flavel (1630-1691), an English Presbyterian Minister in The Mystery of Divine Providence (London: W. Baynes & Son, 1820) 71-72. Of course I loved reading through this ebook this morning as “providence” is my word for 2017.

Flavel included Isaiah 32:8 along with some other Scriptures in this section, but this particular text moved me. Our generosity, when flowing from a “a liberal hand and a single eye” stands firm. That expression reminds me of the words of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount.

Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light. But when your eye is unhealthy, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is! No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money. Matthew 6:19-24

Let us each work hard and may God bless us with abundant resources. Rather than storing them up on earth, let us put people to work in our businesses while exhibiting “cheerful liberality for God” knowing that we are following God’s firm pattern, which is fueled by providence.

Flavel would add: don’t let fear limit your liberality, for “no man ever lost by distributing for God.”

Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. 1 Timothy 4:12

“When you are studying what to say to your people, if you have any concern for their souls, you will oft be thinking with yourself, ‘How shall I get within them? and what shall I say that is most likely to convince them, and convert them, and promote their salvation!’ And should you not as diligently think with yourself, ‘How shall I live, and what shall I do, and how shall I dispose of all that I have, as may most who tend to the saving of men’s souls?’

Brethren, if the saving of souls be your end, you will certainly intend it out of the pulpit as well as in it! If it be your end, you will live for it, and contribute all your endeavors to attain it. You will ask concerning the money in your purse, as well as concerning the word of your mouth, ‘In what way shall I lay it out for the greatest good, especially to men’s souls?’ Oh that this were your daily study, how to use your wealth, your friends, and all you have for God, as well as your tongues!

Then should we see that fruit of your labors, which is never else like to be seen. If you intend the end of the ministry in the pulpit only, it would seem you take yourselves for ministers no longer than you are there. And, if so, I think you are unworthy to be esteemed ministers at all. Let me then entreat you, brethren, to do well, as well as say well. Be ‘zealous of good works.’ Spare not for any cost, if it may promote your Master’s work.”

Richard Baxter (1615-1691) in the must-read book for pastors and anyone serving in ministry oversight: The Reformed Pastor. Excerpt from chapter one “The Oversight of Ourselves, section 1 “The Nature of this Oversight” part 3.

Pastors often ask me how to encourage their congregations to grow in generosity. Since I have some pastor calls on the docket this week from home, one answer would be to take this page out of Baxter’s classic work. It’s fitting with all the focus on the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. Martin Luther nailed the 95 Theses on the Wittenberg Door in 1517.

With Baxter I counsel pastors to deploy themselves and the resources in their stewardship precisely how they want their disciples to do it. As more is caught than taught, with Baxter, this is my prayer for pastors everywhere: “Oh that this were your daily study, how to use your wealth, your friends, and all you have for God, as well as your tongues!”

He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Colossians 1:17

“God our Maker supports us by His power, rules us by His providence, fosters us by His goodness, and visits us with all kinds of blessings . . . We must be persuaded not only that as He once formed the world, so He sustains it by His boundless power, governs it by His wisdom, preserves it by His goodness, in particular, rules the human race with justice and judgment, bears with them in mercy, shields them by His protection; but also that not a particle of light, or wisdom, or justice, or power, or rectitude, or genuine truth, will anywhere be found, which does not flow from Him, and of which He is not the cause; in this way we must learn to expect and ask all things from Him, and thankfully ascribe to Him whatever we receive.”

John Calvin (1509-1564) in The Institutes of the Christian Religion 1.2.1.

Jenni and I made it safely home from Budapest last night. After three long flights traveling almost half way around the world, my body feels weary, but my mind and heart are moved again to consider God’s providence. I chose to look at John Calvin as I am having breakfast this morning with Sung Wook Chung, who did His doctoral work linked to John Calvin’s writings.

Saints through church history proclaim like a chorus of voices that God created everything, sustains everything, and “fosters us by His goodness.” He is generous by nature, which is why generosity is a fruit of the spirit (cf. Galatians 5:22-23). No matter what the media tells us about rulers or presidents, God “rules the human race with justice and judgment, bears with [us] in mercy, shields [us] by His protection.” What a great God we serve!

Even as Paul wanted the Colossians to remember that Christ cares for them, we must “learn to expect” that God will care for us, rather than fear or worry when troubles come. I think we show our faith best on such days. Let us not be independent people but ones who depend on God. Remember, we can never exhibit Christian generosity without learning how to receive first! God, help us learn to expect and ask for what we need and thankfully ascribe to You whatever we receive. Amen.

Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others. We own nothing, and yet we have everything. 2 Corinthians 6:10

“Faith maketh us truly rich; it is the open hand of the soul, to receive all the bounteous supplies of God. If we be empty and poor, it is not because God’s hand is straitened, but ours is not opened. A man may be poor notwithstanding the abundance of wealth: it putteth a difference between you and others for a while, but in the grave the poor and the rich meet together…that is, all are in the same estate without difference . . . It is grace alone that will make you to excel . . . Well, then, you that are poor, do not envy others’ plenty; you that are rich, do not please yourselves in these enjoyments. They are neither true riches, neither can you always call them your own.”

Thomas Manton (1620-1677) in The Complete Works of Thomas Manton, D.D.: With a Memoir of the Author, Volume 4 (London: Nisbet, 1871) Page 195, Observation 4.

We have had an amazing trip serving in Budapest, and we are flying home this morning. We have three flights. These flights provide a good word picture for the temporary nature of wealth. Some flights we get a bad seat, cramped between two people or with little leg room. Other times we get a great seat with much comfort and space. In neither case should we get too comfortable or call it our own because our situation is temporary. So where should our focus be? We are learning that we must open our hands to God for the bounteous supply of the true riches of faith. This shapes both how we experience the present, that is, our contentment and generosity, and how we will spend eternity.

Sometimes we even realize we have been placed in a seat to dispense true riches to others. Funny the adventure flights can be! Let us open our hands to the bounteous supplies of God so we are abundantly resourced for life as a journey of generosity.

“It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.'” Matthew 21:13

“62. The true treasure of the church is the most holy gospel of the glory and grace of God.”

Martin Luther (1483-1546) in Disputation of Doctor Martin Luther on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences by Dr. Martin Luther (1517) a.k.a. 95 Theses, #62 of 95 Theses.

This year marks the 500th Anniversary of Martin Luther nailing 95 Theses on the Wittenberg Door, which birthed the Protestant Reformation. A wrong view of money had corrupted the Church. Pope Leo X authorized the selling of “indulgences” to pay for the rebuilding of St. Peter’s Basilica.

A struggling associate pastor recently told me confidentially that his church was doing a campaign. The public message they were “selling” was that participation would help more people come to faith. It was, in reality, a campaign to pay for the renovation of the church building.

Many are quick to judge Leo X for his actions but pastors and ministry administrators can be guilty of the same sin today: misleading people to get more money in the coffers. When we do this we turn God’s house into a den of robbers. And we know what Jesus thought about this. God forgive us.

Might more ministry happen? Certainly. Might more people come to faith? Perhaps. What’s my point today and what does this have to do with generosity on my last full day in Europe? Let us treasure the gospel above all else in God’s house! Let’s make our churches houses of prayer.

Ironically, when we treasure the right thing, the gospel, as pastors and ministry administrators, people will likely follow suit, and participate in God’s work obediently. When we treasure money rather than the gospel, well, that’s when everything starts falling apart.

The Lord is your Keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand. The sun will not smite you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will protect you from all evil; He will keep your soul. The Lord will guard your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forever. Psalm 121:5-8

“He is our sure Keeper when we are ourselves in unpeace, and He continually worketh to bring us into endless peace. And thus when we, by the working of mercy and grace, be made meek and mild, we are fully safe; suddenly is the soul oned to God when it is truly peaced in itself: for in Him is found no wrath. And thus I saw when we are all in peace and in love, we find no contrariness, nor no manner of letting through that contrariness which is now in us; nay, our Lord of His Goodness maketh it to us full profitable. For that contrariness is cause of our tribulations and all our woe, and our Lord Jesus taketh them and sendeth them up to Heaven, and there are they made more sweet and delectable than heart may think or tongue may tell. And when we come thither we shall find them ready, all turned into very fair and endless worships. Thus is God our steadfast Ground: and He shall be our full bliss and make us unchangeable, as He is, when we are there.”

Julian of Norwich (1342-1416) in Showings, also known as, Revelations of Divine Love (CSD edition) excerpt from Chapter XLIX.

Norwich, of course, is a city in England. England has been on my mind since we had lunch with Zsolt Szalai, the president of CBMC Hungary, and his wife, Melinda, here in Budapest prior to the start of the summit. Their two daughters are studying in university over in England.

God’s providence comes into view as He is “our sure Keeper” who takes us from a place of unpeace to peace. Peace has been the theme of our devotions at the Budapest Summit. Peace only comes from God.

What does this have to do with generosity? A leading hindrance to generosity is unpeace. The fear that our giving will leave us empty. Julian echoes the Psalmist in todays Scripture and reminds us the Lord is our Keeper who “continually worketh to bring us into endless peace.”

Father, we resolve today to exchange our worry for worship. Move us from unpeace to peace. By your Holy Spirit, help us let go of our contrariness, which actually multiplies our fears, and stand firmly on You, our steadfast Ground. Move us from bother to bliss because of your goodness we pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.