Joe Paprocki: The antidote to consumerism

Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” Mark 10:21

“The real antidote is an attitude that can be summed up in two words: generosity and detachment. We don’t overcome consumerism by plunging ourselves into poverty, but by learning how to detach from possessions. As we learn how to hold on to them more loosely, we will share them more freely and generously. In the Gospels, Jesus does not tell rich people that they need to become poor; rather, that they need to be generous in giving of their riches to others.”

Joe Paprocki in 7 Keys to Spiritual Wellness: Enriching Your Faith by Strengthening the Health of Your Soul (Chicago: Loyola, 2012) 51.

I have safely returned from Africa. The header photo above serves as a reminder to me that the light of Christ is shining in the Dark Continent.

Those who follow the teachings of Jesus, do not end up destitute, but rather distributors of His material blessings. Obedience also frees us from the clutches of consumerism.

Many Africans that I met this past week inspired me. Their resolve to obey God through the enjoyment and sharing of His blessings moved me to a deeper level of trust in my generosity.

What about you? Is your life characterized by consumerism? Do you amass money and material possessions for yourself or do you richly share trusting God to provide for your needs?

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ Matthew 25:40

Rather than give you one more quote from a missionary to Africa, enjoy these quotes from a young lady what has not given her life in Uganda, but rather found life there.

“Jesus wrecked my life, shattered it to pieces, and put it back together more beautifully.”

“Thankfully, God’s plans do not seem to be affected much by my own.”

“I put value in things. These children, having no things, put value in God. I put my trust in relationships; these children, having already seen relationships fail, put their trust in the Lord.”

“I hadn’t realized what a transformation had taken place while I had been in Uganda, the spiritual richness I had experienced in material poverty and the spiritual poverty I felt now in a land of material wealth.”

“People tell me I am brave. People tell me I am strong. People tell me good job. Well here is the truth of it. I am really not that brave, I am not really that strong, and I am not doing anything spectacular. I am just doing what God called me to do as a follower of Him. Feed His sheep, do unto the least of His people.”

Katie J. Davis with Beth Clark in Kisses from Katie: A Story of Relentless Love and Redemption (New York: Simon and Schuster, 2011).

Learn more about Katie’s story on the Amazima Ministries website. She has taken hold of life and true riches by putting value in that which God values. Have you?

If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatsoever ye will, and it shall be done unto you. John 15:7

“Lord, enable us to search our hearts and humble ourselves before Thee. Oh, for a closer walk with God, more faith, more sincerity, more earnestness, and more love. I must study more the Word of God. ‘If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatsoever ye will, and it shall be done unto you.’ The Master said so, and His words are true.”

Alexander Murdoch Mackay (1849-1890) Presbyterian missionary to Uganda as recounted by his sister in A.M. Mackay: Pioneer Missionary of the Church Missionary Society Uganda by J.W.H. Mackay (London: Frank Cass and Company, 1970) 118-119.

One of the founding volunteer servants with AfCAA is from Uganda and will spread the impact of this organization to that country.

How inspiring is the faith of Missionary Mackay. It reminds me of the faith of the fellow servants with whom I have spent the past week.

Like Mackay, they have taken hold of God’s generosity in His faithful Word. Have you?

Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me. Luke 9:23

Only One Life by C.T. Studd

“Two little lines I heard one day,
Traveling along life’s busy way;
Bringing conviction to my heart,
And from my mind would not depart;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, the still small voice,
Gently pleads for a better choice
Bidding me selfish aims to leave,
And to God’s holy will to cleave;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, a few brief years,
Each with its burdens, hopes, and fears;
Each with its clays I must fulfill,
living for self or in His will;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Give me Father, a purpose deep,
In joy or sorrow Thy word to keep;
Faithful and true what e’er the strife,
Pleasing Thee in my daily life;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one,
Now let me say,”Thy will be done”;
And when at last I’ll hear the call,
I know I’ll say “twas worth it all”;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.”

C.T. Studd (1860-1931) as recounted by Knowing Who You Are: Eight Surprising Images of Christian Identity by Malcolm Gill (Eugene: Wipf & Stock, 2015) 21-22.

Studd was a missionary who served and died in Belgian Congo. I am moved anew and afresh by this poem. While I have shared the last two lines before as a meditation, I had never read the entire poem until now.

God help me leave my selfish aims and cleave only to Thy will. Thanks that You are faithful and true what e’er the strife. Help me please Thee in my daily life, until I hear You call me home. Amen.

Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken. Psalm 55:22

“God, send me anywhere, only go with me. Lay any burden on me, only sustain me. And sever any tie in my heart except the tie that binds my heart to Yours.”

David Livingstone (1813-1873) as recounted in Introduction to Evangelism, ed. Alvin L. Reid (Nashville: B & H Publishing, 1998) 103. He was a famous medical missionary and explorer in Africa.

Since our training and events in Nairobi have gone well, now it’s time to spend quality time deepening my relationships with African brothers and sisters. Their faith inspires me.

I am thrilled they join me in sharing David Livingstone’s view on sustainability. Our trust is completely in God, and there’s no other way to live an unshaken life.

Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance. Proverbs 1:5

“My life is one long daily, hourly record of answered prayer. For physical health, for mental overstrain, for guidance given marvelously, for errors and dangers averted, for enmity to the Gospel subdued, for food provided at the exact hour needed, for everything that goes to make up life and my poor service. I can testify, with a full and often wonder-stricken awe, that I believe God answers prayer.”

Mary Slessor (1848-1915) as recounted in Great Preaching on Prayer, Volume 8, comp. Curtis Hutson (Murfreesboro: Sword of the Lord, 1988) 206. For the remaining days of my trip to Africa (through the end of the month), I will cite quotes by famous missionaries who served here.

Slessor was a Scottish missionary to Nigeria, one of the countries that actively working to launch AfCAA to serve all of Africa. Today marks the culmination of the hopes and prayers for hundreds of people from many African nations. God has “given guidance marvelously” to humble, faithful and trusting servants.

After today’s launch celebration at All Saints Cathedral in Nairobi, churches and ministries in Kenya and across Africa who demonstrate faithful administration and fulfill accreditation requirements will get the AfCAA seal to send a message to God’s people that all money collections are handled with integrity.

Therefore, when I have finished this, and have put my seal on this fruit of theirs, I will go on by way of you to Spain. I know that when I come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ. Now I urge you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God for me, that I may be rescued from those who are disobedient in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may prove acceptable to the saints; so that I may come to you in joy by the will of God and find refreshing rest in your company. Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen. Romans 15:28-33

“Paul makes use of a figure from tenant farming. When the tenant farmer delivered the harvested fruit to the owner, it was marked with the farmer’s seal as identification. Realizing the importance of this collection, Paul wants it to be known as coming from the churches founded by his labors in the Lord’s farm. Paul implies that he is still under suspicion in Jerusalem. This prompts him to ask the Roman Church to pray for three things in 15:30-32: that no danger might befall him from unbelievers in Judea, that his collection may be received in the proper spirit, that he might eventually come to Rome with a joyous heart.”

William Bicksler in A Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans (Oak Ridge: Holy Fire, 2005) 297.

Paul’s ultimate aim was to bring God’s people together with this effort. Some Jews had not welcomed these Gentile believers, so Paul was hoping this collection would win them over. This fruit demonstrated the authenticity of the faith of the Gentile Christians. It was bagged up with a “seal” to communicate the integrity of the process. Doing it this way would build trust between the givers, the couriers, and the recipients of the giving.

Today, giving projects that support God’s work around the world must likewise be handled with integrity. For a modern example from the USA, the ECFA seal sends a message to givers and recipients of giving that the collecting and spending of ministry funds has happened with integrity. Hopefully with the launch of AfCAA this week in Kenya, the same confidence will be nurtured among givers and recipients of giving all across Africa.

Does your church or ministry have a seal on the gifts it processes?

In these five countries, God has raised up peer accountability groups with such seals: the USA (ECFA), South Korea (CCFK), the Philippines (CCTA), Australia (CMASC), and Africa (AfCAA). The seals of these five groups remind people that giving is the fruit of God’s work in the lives of people. The seals declare that giving is handled with integrity, and they enhance trust between givers, ministry workers, and the recipients of giving.

If you want to know how your organization can join ECFA or one of these other groups, email me at gary@ecfa.org. I dedicate about one-quarter of my time advancing the faithful administration of God’s work globally in my service with ECFA as International Liaison. I do this because it aligns with my life mission of encouraging Christian generosity. These peer accountability groups give people confidence to give generously in these countries.

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:21

“Giving to the mission and ministry of others is established as a biblical indicator of spiritual health…In fact, if we’re not giving to the gospel ministry, we have no part in it. “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21). What we do with our resources is a window into our souls. The question is, what does God see when He looks in?”

R. Kent Hughes in Philippians: The Fellowship of the Gospel (Wheaton: Crossway, 2007) 190.

After more than a day of travel, John Van Drunen and I are thankful to have arrived safely in Nairobi, Kenya. We are positioned to serve the AfCAA board and committees this week, in part, thanks to God’s enablement, and also because ECFA believes in serving brothers and sisters around the world and backs that belief with financial resources.

Hughes makes a powerful point here: “What we do with our resources is a window into our souls.” How we handle God’s resources tells more about what we believe about God than our lips do. If you think there’s room for growth in your life in giving, ask God what mission or ministry you should add to your budget for regular support.

How I praise the Lord that you are concerned about me again. I know you have always been concerned for me, but you didn’t have the chance to help me. Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Philippians 4:10-13

“Paul’s point is that he has learned to live in either want or plenty through the enabling of Christ. Being in Christ, not being self-sufficient, has rendered both want and wealth of little or no significance…Either “want” or “wealth” can have a deleterious affect on one’s life, those in “want” because their “want” consumes them, those in “wealth” because their “wealth” does the same…Those in “want” learn patience and trust in suffering; those in “wealth” learn humility and dependence in prospering, not to mention the joy of giving without strings attached.”

Gordon Fee in Paul’s Letter to the Philippians (NICNT; Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1995) 435-436.

I love Fee’s expression that the Apostle Paul learned to live according to “the enabling of Christ” rather than levels of financial resources. The Apostle Paul is writing his letter to the Philippians about 30 years into his spiritual journey, so it is encouraging to know that it took him time to figure this out. He learned it through the ups and downs of life. We get to do the same thing.

This meditation will post about the time I arrive in Nairobi, Kenya. John Van Drunen and I have much teaching and many meetings scheduled here. We desire to bless all those we have come to serve with love. We are richly prepared because we count on “the enabling of Christ” not any measure of wealth. Pray for a fruitful week of ministry and service.

Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:4

“A large part of the pain of life comes from the haunting “fear of evil” which so often besets us. Our lives are full of supposes. Suppose this should happen, or suppose that should happen; what could we do; how could we bear it? But, if we are living in the “high tower” of the dwelling place of God, all these supposes will drop out of our lives. We shall be “quiet from the fear of evil,” for no threatenings of evil can penetrate into the “high tower” of God. Even when walking through the valley of the shadow of death, the psalmist could say, “I will fear no evil”; and, if we are dwelling in God, we can say so too.

But you may ask here how you are to get into this divine dwelling place. To this I answer that you must simply move in. If a house should be taken for us by a friend, and we were told it was ready, and that the lease and all the necessary papers were duly attested and signed, we should not ask how we could get into it—we should just pack up and move in. And we must do the same here. God says that He is our dwelling place, and the Bible contains all the necessary papers, duly attested and signed. And our Lord invites us, nay more, commands us to enter in and abide there.

Hannah Whitall Smith (1832-1911) in her classic work, The God of All Comfort, excerpt from chapter 8 entitled “The Lord our Dwelling Place”.

“Fear of evil” is a leading hindrance to generosity globally. This fear is rooted in the “supposes” of life as Smith keenly labels them. Thankfully, the Scriptures invite us to “move in” to the high tower of God. The most secure of all places. This is not about living foolishly. On the contrary, it is about finding peace by trusting in the promises of God.

Another leading hindrance to generosity globally is financial corruption. As many of you know, with about one quarter of my time I serve as the International Liaison for ECFA. I help national leaders set up structures to champion financial transparency and accountability to give people confidence to participate generously in God’s work.

Today I board a flight for Washington D.C., where I will meet up with John Van Drunen, SVP of ECFA, and we will fly together to Zurich, Switzerland, and then Nairobi, Kenya. We have been invited to train national leaders and join them in celebrating the formal launch of AfCAA, the African Council for Accreditation and Accountability.

We could allow “fear of evil” or the “supposes” of life keep us from such a journey as many challenges might await us or befall our loved ones back home while we are away through 31 August 2016. Regardless, we go with confidence because we have peace because we reside in the divine dwelling place of God, and because we believe He is with us.