Augustine of Hippo: How to truly love our own souls

Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity. John 12:25

“So let us learn then, brothers and sisters, how to truly love our own souls. Every pleasure provided by the world is going to pass away. There is a love that is useful and a love that does harm. Let love be hampered by love; let the love that does harm retire, and the love that is of use take its place.

But it’s because people don’t want to retire from that sort, that this other sort can’t gain entry to them. They are full up so they can’t hold anything else. They must pour something out, and then they can hold some more. They are full, you see, of the love of sensual pleasures, full of the love of this present life, full of the love of gold and silver, of the possessions of this world. So those who are full in this way are like jars. Do you want honey to gain entry into a jar from which you haven’t yet emptied the vinegar?

Empty out what you have, in order to take and hold what you don’t yet have. That’s why the first step is to renounce this world, and then the next is to turn back to God. When you renounce, you are emptying out; when you turn back to God, you are being filled – but only if it’s done, not merely with the body, but also with the heart.”

Augustine of Hippo (354-430) in Sermon 368.3 entitled “Whoever Loves His Soul Will Lose It” as recounted in Essential Sermons by Saint Augustine (New York: New City Press, 2007) 412-416. Augustine is one of the four doctors of the Western church, and I love reading his sermons. Get this book if you like to read a sermon when you miss your local weekly worship gathering. It’s great!

For Augustine, providence leads people to give thanks for the good things that God gives to all creation in general and people in particular. He adds that many people, however, credit themselves for their many blessings and direct the love of their hearts as well as their worship and service to good things rather than to God who gave them the good things.

How do we love our own souls rightly? We must empty ourselves of loves linked to pleasures and possessions in this present life, and instead ask God to fill us with love for Him and the things He loves. His focus is on the attachments of our hearts. When our hearts are attached to the wrong things, everything will go wrong. When our hearts are attached to God, all will be ordered rightly.

What does this have to do with generosity? When we have God’s love within us, we tap into an abundant spring from which flow fruits such as kindness, goodness, and love. Basically Augustine brilliantly notes that if your heart is right, the rest will follow rightly, and so he beckons people to renounce the world in our hearts and return to God. Only then can we become generous conduits.

Father in heaven, forgive us for loving our souls wrongly by loving pleasures and possessions in this present life. We renounce and turn from these loves. Help us by your Holy Spirit to relate instead to things as gifts from you to enjoy and share. Fill our hearts with your love so we can generously extend your kindness to the world. Make it so we pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. Matthew 6:1

“Man requires money for money, and this is not always at the debtor’s command. God demands the affection of the heart, which is in our own power . . . Prayer, fasting, and tears are the resources of an honest debtor, and much more abundant than if one from the price of his estate offered money without faith . . . For God requires not money but faith . . . For what would the giving of one’s whole property benefit without charity? There are some who aim at the credit of generosity for pride alone, because they wish thereby to gain the good opinion of the multitude for leaving nothing to themselves; but whilst they are seeking rewards in this life, they are laying up none for the life to come, and having received their reward here they cannot hope for it there.”

Aurelius Ambrosius (c. 340-397) a.k.a. Ambrose of Milan, in On the Duties of the Clergy, 2.9.81-84.

We have made our way to the fourth century (and I am thankful to be home). I hope you are enjoying this fresh journey through church history looking at providence and generosity.

Ambrose was known for his candor. Here he shines light on the fact that many people give for pride or praise rather than from humble hearts filled with love. What about us? Let us give the gifts of prayer, fasting, and tears so that our hearts are right before God. And when we give property, let’s be sure we do it with charity. Remember, God is not looking for money. He does not need it. Man looks for money. God’s looking for people with faith that demonstrates itself through generosity with humility and charity. He not only loves such givers; He will reward them greatly in heaven.

But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself? Luke 12:20

“Let the desire of gain be broken when we have that which is enough. For what madness is it to labour in heaping up those things which must pass to others, either by robbery, or theft, or by proscription, or by death?”

Lucius Caecilius Firmianus Lactantius (c. 240-320) a.k.a. Lactantius of Rome, in Chapter LXII of The Epitome of the Divine Institutes entitled “Of restraining the pleasures of the senses.” Lactantius served as spiritual advisor to Emperor Constantine and tutor to his son.

Christianity in the Roman Empire was influenced significantly by leaders like Lactantius. If he was our visiting professor or guest preacher today, here’s how I think he would instruct each of us regarding money. He’d be very direct. He might ask us: Will you become a joyful distributor of God’s blessings or, like the rich fool in today’s text, will God have to relieve you of your duties? He would shake us to wake us.

I am praising God that the weekend seminar with Northern Seminary students went so well. God broke “the desire of gain” in their hearts because they came to learn that in Christ they have enough! Thanks for praying for them. They now grasp life in God’s economy and can’t wait to help others integrate their faith and finances. Sometime in 2017, the material we used will be published by Seedbed (stay tuned for a release date).

In God’s providence my layover in Cleveland en route to Chicago was cancelled by weather and my preaching today was postponed too, so I get to fly to Cleveland to see my folks this morning en route back to Denver. The more I explore God’s providence, the more I see the faithful hands of Christ at work around me, and sense the Holy Spirit stirring within me. It leaves me in awe that I ever thought I needed anything (like money) in addition to Christ.

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:17-21

“For I myself have witnessed the end of those who lately harassed the worshipers of God by their impious edict. And for this abundant thanksgivings are due to God that through His excellent providence all men who observe His holy laws are gladdened by the renewed enjoyment of peace. Hence I am fully persuaded that everything is in the best and safest posture, since God is vouchsafing, through the influence of their pure and faithful religious service, and their unity of judgment respecting His divine character, to gather all men to Himself.”

Eusebius Pamphilius (263-339) in Chapter XII of Church History, Life of Constantine, Oration in Praise of Constantine, entitled “He declares that, having witnessed the Fall of the Persecutors, he now rejoices at the Peace enjoyed by the Christians.”

Eusebius saw the end of the Roman persecution of Christians and attributed this victory not to Christians winning a battle but to God’s excellent providence for the gift of peace. I’ve been moved by the hearts of my Northern Seminary students this weekend. They care deeply about faithful financial stewardship, while also desiring to be agents of “pure and faithful religious service” in a world filed with injustice.

What does this post have to do with generosity?

Eusebius uses an expression that is virtually lost in modernity. He says “since God is vouchsafing.” That literally means, “since God is giving in a gracious manner” or “since God is generous in a gracious manner.” There’s a message here for all those who are suffering today and wondering whether they should give up hope or stop trusting in God and His providence: Don’t be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good…since God is vouchsafing…

How often is God at work, but we can’t see Him? Most of the time we don’t understand His ways. Perhaps our suffering is lasting so long we feel like we can’t take it any more. We must not lose heart. Let us rely on the fact that “God is generous in a gracious manner” and give thanks that He has been gracious to us and that maybe our generosity today is to endure suffering while God extends grace to someone else. Meanwhile, we get to persist in pure and faithful religious service.

Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” Matthew 19:21

“A blind love of one’s own property has deceived many; nor could they be prepared for, or at ease in, departing when their wealth fettered them like a chain. Those were the chains to them that remained — those were the bonds by which both virtue was retarded, and faith burdened, and the spirit bound, and the soul hindered; so that they who were involved in earthly things might become a booty and food for the serpent, which, according to God’s sentence, feeds upon earth …

If they laid up treasure in heaven, they would not now have a domestic enemy and assailant. Heart and mind and feeling would be in heaven, if the treasure were in heaven; nor could he be overcome by the world who had nothing in the world whereby he could be overcome. He would follow the Lord loosed and free, as did the apostles, and many in the times of the apostles, and many who forsook both their means and their relatives, and clave to Christ with undivided ties.

But how can they follow Christ, who are held back by the chain of their wealth? Or how can they seek heaven, and climb to sublime and lofty heights, who are weighed down by earthly desires? They think that they possess, when they are rather possessed; as slaves of their profit, and not lords with respect to their own money, but rather the bond-slaves of their money.”

Cyprian (c. 200-258) served as bishop of Carthage and was a prominent Christian writer. This excerpt comes from Treatise 3 “On The Lapsed” 11-12.

I am really enjoying this exploration of providence and generosity in the early church fathers as a starting point for considering how saints through church history commented on these ideas. I hope you are too. I must honor Peter and Edwina Murphy today. Peter is my mate (dear friend) from Down Under (Australia). I am thinking of them today as Edwina did her PhD on Cyprian, and Peter supported her through the research journey.

Cyprian was downright prolific! Consider his profound insights regarding those who in the words of Jesus are not “complete” because their riches are stored up in the wrong place. Having them stored up here is like having a “domestic enemy and assailant” which possesses those who think they can hold on to possessions. They are are “slaves of their profit” who are not “loosed and free” but “weighed down” by the things of this earth and unable to “seek heaven” as a result.

Yesterday was eventful. It took over 12 hours to get to Chicago due to canceled flights from the winter storm in Denver. Today and tomorrow I lead a “Faith and Finances” two-day retreat for Northern Seminary’s Bellevue Scholars (and many will be joined by their spouses). Pray for me and for them. Specifically, if riches are hindering them in any way from seeking heaven, pray that the Holy Spirit will loose and free them from any strongholds that riches have in their lives and help them become “complete” disciples.

This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! 2 Corinthians 9:12-15

Above are the words of the Apostle Paul in his second letter to the church in Corinth (c. 56). Over 100 years later, Soter, bishop of Rome, had sent alms and a letter to the Corinthians in the year 170. In 171, the eleventh year of the reign of Roman Emperor, Marcus Aurelius, we read this reply from Dionysius, bishop of Corinth.

“For this has been your custom from the beginning, to do good to all the brethren in various ways, and to send resources to many churches which are in every city, thus refreshing the poverty of the needy, and granting subsidies to the brethren who are in the mines. Through the resources which ye have sent from the beginning, ye Romans, keep up the custom of the Romans handed down by the fathers, which your blessed Bishop Soter has not only preserved, but added to, sending a splendid gift to the saints, and exhorting with blessed words those brethren who go up to Rome, as an affectionate father his children. . .

Therefore you also have by such admonition joined in close union the churches that were planted by Peter and Paul, that of the Romans and that of the Corinthians: for both of them went to our Corinth, and taught us in the same way as they taught you when they went to Italy; and having taught you, they suffered martyrdom at the same time.”

Dionysius of Corinth (c. 171) in “Fragments from a Letter to the Roman Church I, III”. Various sources locate the martyrdoms of both Peter and Paul under Emperor Nero (c. 64-67).

What is significant about this for us today as we continue to explore the ideas of providence and generosity in the early church fathers?

This record serves as evidence that it had become customary by the second century for Christians who had been blessed in God’s providence with a surplus of resources to help fellow believers in need. Peter and Paul both resolved to keep on helping the poor (cf. Galatians 2:8-10) and over one hundred years later, Christians were still following their example. Believers were often banished to work in mines because of their faith. Rather than forget about them, the Roman bishop Soter orchestrated a collection and sent what Dionysius describes as a splendid gift.

If your church has been blessed, pray about helping another church that may be in need. Perhaps identify a church in another country. Remember Rome was in Italy and Corinth was in Greece. Develop an ongoing partnership with another church in the gospel. As this ancient testimony reveals, such giving not only blesses those in need, but it leads to “close union” between churches. It also glorifies God before a watching world. When people see Christians sharing generously, it makes them want that which we have which is more valuable than money: the indescribable gift of Jesus!

And if you have a moment, pray for safe travel today in winter weather. I am flying to Chicago to teach my “Faith & Finances” course to a class of honors students at Northern Seminary. Also, my son, Sammy, is helping drive our daughter, Sophie, back to school in San Diego. Thanks for your prayers.

And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. 2 Timothy 2:2

“As it was your desire, my beloved brother Theophilus, to be thoroughly informed on those topics which I put summarily before you, I have thought it right to set these matters of inquiry clearly forth to your view, drawing largely from the Holy Scriptures themselves as from a holy fountain, in order that you may not only have the pleasure of hearing them on the testimony of men, but may also be able, by surveying them in the light of (divine) authority, to glorify God in all. For this will be as a sure supply furnished you by us for your journey in this present life, so that by ready argument applying things ill understood and apprehended by most, you may sow them in the ground of your heart, as in a rich and clean soil. By these, too, you will be able to silence those who oppose and gainsay the word of salvation. Only see that you do not give these things over to unbelieving and blasphemous tongues, for that is no common danger. But impart them to pious and faithful men, who desire to live holily and righteously with fear.”

Hippolytus of Rome (170-235) in Treatise on Christ and Antichrist 1.

Hippolytus is one of my favorite early fathers, not just because he has a cool name, but because he is credited for passing down to us the oldest surviving lists of the 12 (cf. Luke 9:1-6) and the 70 (cf. Luke 10:1-24): “Where Each of Them Preached, And Where He Met His End.” Take a few minutes to read through the list. It’s inspiring to see how many of the 70 names you will recognize from reading about the early church in the New Testament.

Why does this thought interest me today, and what does it have to do with generosity?

Think about this. Jesus gave His life for us — the greatest act of generosity — and showed John (among other disciples) the way to life. John, in turn, wrote a gospel and other NT letters so that others might know it, and built up young believer named Polycarp. Polycarp grew to serve as a bishop of the church and taught many, including Irenaeus. Irenaeus took the good news west and sowed truth into the life of Hippolytus of Rome, the author of today’s post.

Each of these followers of Jesus (John, Polycarp, Irenaeus, and Hippolytus) acted generously by teaching the truth broadly while also imparting themselves to faithful and devoted disciples would would invest their lives to grasp and give truth from the Scriptures to others. I love how Hippolytus describes the truth: “a sure supply furnished you by us for your journey in this present life.” If you want to be generous this year, fill your mind and heart with truth from the Scriptures and furnish others with it: it is exactly what everyone needs for the journey of life!

Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God. Matthew 19:24

“Perhaps the reason of salvation appearing more difficult to the rich than to poor men, is not single but manifold. For some, merely hearing, and that in an off-hand way, the utterance of the Saviour, “that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven,” despair of themselves as not destined to live, surrender all to the world, cling to the present life as if it alone was left to them, and so diverge more from the way to the life to come, no longer inquiring either whom the Lord and Master calls rich, or how that which is impossible to man becomes possible to God. But others rightly and adequately comprehend this, but attaching slight importance to the works which tend to salvation, do not make the requisite preparation for attaining to the objects of their hope. And I affirm both of these things of the rich who have learned both the Saviour’s power and His glorious salvation. With those who are ignorant of the truth I have little concern.”

Clement of Alexandria (150-215) in Who is the Rich Man That Shall Be Saved? 2. Clement was a philosopher and Christian theologian unafraid to tackle tough subjects such as the teachings of Jesus on riches and how the rich person should respond to them.

Regardless of your reading of the expression Jesus uses about a “camel” and “the eye of a needle” (some favor the word “rope” rather than “camel” in translation and others point to “the eye” as a small entry that requires people to strip away all possessions to enter), Jesus says the work will be hard for the rich person.

In God’s providence, some people come into this world rich and others poor. Jesus says that is hard for the rich person to enter the kingdom. Clement might add, it is likely that riches have become their comfort rather than God, and that riches have distracted them from pursuing life in God.

If you find yourself rich today, that is, having more than enough resources to live, holding on to them can cause you to put your trust in them. Don’t be fooled. Store them up in heaven as Jesus instructed through giving and sharing. Jenni and I have learned that it is hard, at least at first, but you don’t end up empty in so doing, you will find yourself enriched.

Father in heaven, forgive us for allowing riches to become the object of our hope. Helps us, by your Holy Spirit, instead to make requisite preparation to fulfill our role in Your providence when we have more than enough. Transform us into joyful distributors of material blessings for the glory of Jesus. Amen.

For the grace of God has displayed itself with healing power to all mankind, training us to renounce ungodliness and all the pleasures of this world, and to live sober, upright, and pious lives at the present time, in expectation of the fulfilment of our blessed hope — the appearing in glory of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave Himself for us to purchase our freedom from all iniquity, and purify for Himself a people who should be specially His own, zealous for doing good works. Titus 2:11-14

“Now we also confess that God exists, but that He is One, the Creator, and Maker, and Fashioner of this universe; and we know that all things are arranged by His providence, but by Him alone. And we have learned a holy law; but we have as lawgiver Him who is really God, who teaches us to act righteously, and to be pious, and to do good.”

Theophilus of Antioch (c. 120-183) in Theophilus to Autolycus 3.10. Theophilus was bishop and overseer of the Christian Church in Antioch in the second century. Remember Antioch was the place Luke recounts that disciples of Jesus were first called “Christians” (Acts 11:26).

Theophilus ministered in a time when pagans either credited a pantheon of gods for various aspects of life or they refused to believe in the existence of a God who created and sustains everything through His providence. Again, not much has changed in 18 centuries!

So why explore providence and its connection to generosity? Only after we grasp that God has a design for all things, do we find our place in His plan. We get to trust in His providence and then (as Theophilus put it) act righteously, be pious, and do good.

To act righteously is to take our place as conduits of truth and love, grace and kindness. To be pious is to live with purity and devotion. To do good is to exhibit generosity through doing countercultural Christian deeds everywhere we go. And this perspective echoes Paul’s exhortation to Titus for the Christians in Crete.

God, as we start a new year, help us have eyes to see how Your providence sustains everything, including us. We resolve to act righteously, to be pious, and to do good wherever you lead and guide us this year so that our lives bring you glory and show your love to our neighbors and the whole world. Amen.

But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect. 1 Peter 3:15

“I will convict and refute all that has been said, however diverse, confirming and approving the truth alone; and for the future he must neither doubt nor waver. And since my brother broke out in such expressions as these, that he was grieved, that he was vexed, that he was indignant, that he regretted that illiterate, poor, unskilled people should dispute about heavenly things; let him know that all men are begotten alike, with a capacity and ability of reasoning and feeling, without preference of age, sex, or dignity. Nor do they obtain wisdom by fortune, but have it implanted by nature; moreover, the very philosophers themselves, or any others who have gone forth unto celebrity as discoverers of arts, before they attained an illustrious name by their mental skill, were esteemed plebeian, untaught, half-naked.

Thus it is, that rich men, attached to their means, have been accustomed to gaze more upon their gold than upon heaven, while our sort of people, though poor, have both discovered wisdom, and have delivered their teaching to others; whence it appears that intelligence is not given to wealth, nor is gotten by study, but is begotten with the very formation of the mind. Therefore it is nothing to be angry or to be grieved about, though any one should inquire, should think, should utter his thoughts about divine things; since what is wanted is not the authority of the arguer, but the truth of the argument itself.”

Marcus Minucius Felix (c. 170-250) in Octavius XVI.

Marcus Minucius Felix was a Roman lawyer and a Christian who recounts a dialogue on “providence” (my word for this year) between a Christian friend, Octavius Januarius, and a skeptic pagan, Caecilius Natalis. Scholars date it in the peaceful days of Roman Emperor Alexander Severus (222-235). Speaking of peaceful, I hope you like the header photo outside the cathedral near Trinity College in Bristol, England.

In this excerpt, Octavius responds with gentleness and respect to the pagan attacks that Christians, who largely numbered among common folk, could grasp heavenly things. It was thought that only wealthy people and those ascribed with high status could comprehend lofty thoughts. With an ironic twist, Octavius argues that all have this capacity and that the wealthy fail to take hold of truth because they are distracted by riches.

What does this have to do with generosity in the new year?

We must live in such a way to show the world the truth that God’s providence is the only secure place of trust. We do this (Octavius might say) by not being enamored with wealth but by being generous with it to show the world we have taken hold of something greater. Anyone can do this regardless of rank or status in society. And we must also do this with gentleness and respect as the Apostle Peter instructs us.

God, help us gaze not on gold but on heaven this new year. May our lives show that we have grasped the truth through our trust in your providence and our generosity. Help us by your Holy Spirit so that our words also flow with gentleness and respect. In your mercy hear our prayer in the name of Jesus. Amen.