Meister Eckhart: He gives to us freely

“Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves.” Matthew 21:12

“But who, exactly, are the people who buy and sell? Are they not precisely the good people? See! The merchants are those who only guard against mortal sins. They strive to be good people who do their good deeds to the glory of God, such as fasting, watching, praying, and the like – all of which are good – and yet do these things so that God will give them something in exchange. Their efforts are contingent upon God doing something they ardently want to have done.

They are all merchants. They want to exchange one thing for another and to trade with our Lord. But they will be cheated out of their bargain – for what they have or have attained is actually given to them by God. Lest we forget, we do what we do only by the help of God, and so God is never obligated to us…What we are we are because of God, and whatever we have we receive from God and not by our own contriving…He gives to us freely.

People are very foolish when they want to trade with God. They know little or nothing of the truth. And God will strike them and drive them out of the temple…When He enters the temple, He drives out ignorance, and darkness and reveals Himself in light and truth. Then, when the truth is known, merchants must depart – for truth wants no merchandising…As long as we look for some kind of pay for what we do, as long as we want to get something from God in some kind of exchange, we are like the merchants.”

Meister Eckhart (c. 1260-1327) in “Merchandising Truth” in Bread and Wine: Readings for Lent (Walden: Plough, 2003) 108-109.

If we fast, pray, and give during Lent (or any time during the year) for the wrong reasons, we are like the merchants. We are doing it only to get a return, which is for the wrong reason, and we too will be driven away. He gives to us freely, so likewise, our generosity must be given freely. Eckhart was spot on in his conclusion: “As long as we look for some kind of pay for what we do, as long as we want to get something from God in some kind of exchange, we are like the merchants.”

Father in heaven, help us not give like the merchants, who merchandise the truth and expect a return. By the power of your Holy Spirit, help us give like Jesus who freely, richly, and sacrificially gave. Amen.

All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. Acts 4:32

“All ownership feeds on stifling self-interest. When deadly selfishness is killed by love, and only then, ownership and all that separates comes to an end. This is how is was in the early church. This is how it still can be: Under the influence of the Spirit, community is born, where people do not think in terms of “mine” and “thine.”

This kind of love overlooks no need or suffering. In such a life-sharing community no one suffers a lack of clothing, food, or any other necessity of life. Those who want to keep goods and valuables for themselves in spite of the need around them must do violence to their own hearts.

God ‘s heart is never limited in its sphere of action. Those who held their goods in common at Jerusalem thus gave generous hospitality to thousands of pilgrims. Through the outpouring of the Spirit, they were able to care wisely for many, for very many, with the slenderest of means.”

Eberhard Arnold in “Spirit of Fire” in Bread and Wine: Readings for Lent (Walden: Plough, 2003) 400.

It’s been a joy to share life in community with friends and neighbors, especially as we have no family close by. For example, tonight to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, we are going to the fish fry with our neighbors, Ken and Carol Sharp. Ken helps host the meal, and we are excited to join them. They have become dear friends in the journey of life.

What hinders such life-sharing community? Arnold nails it: “stifling self-interest” and “ownership” thinking! One time I was over at their home and could not read something, Carol gave me a pair of reading glasses and urged me to take them home and use them. We’ve shared things like books with them too. Carol loves to read “Jesus Calling” daily.

During Lent we learn that sharing with others does not leave us empty but enriched. When we abandon “stifling self-interest” and “ownership” thinking, our eyes are opened to see the needs around us. We learn that we are not here to just worry about ourselves but to help meet those needs through giving. We love and are loved in ways that can only be experienced in community.

Have a great St. Patrick’s Day everyone! Enjoy his famous Breastplate Prayer as you celebrate with friends and family today!

“Even now,” declares the LORD, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” Joel 2:12

“Fasting in American and other [materially] prosperous Western nations is almost incomprehensible because we are brainwashed by a consumer culture. We are taught to experience the good life by consuming, not by renouncing consumption…The pervasiveness of consumerism is manifest starkly when we realize how deeply it permeates all levels of society, even those that can scarcely afford to consume. The mark of consumer culture is the reduction of “being” to “having”. And this reduction is fed daily by television [or other forms of media].”

John Piper in A Hunger for God: Desiring God through Prayer and Fasting (Wheaton: Crossway, 1997) 137-138.

Piper hits it spot on! Our consumeristic culture teaches us that life is found in “consuming” and in “having”, and that “life consists in the abundance of possessions” (Luke 12:15). Alternatively, Jesus urges us to renounce that narrative, which does not mean we will not or do not consume. It means we will not seek to find “life” through consumption any longer, but rather through Christ!

Father in heaven, show us, by Your Holy Spirit, the things in our lives that we feed on that do not satisfy. We renounce the messages that life consists in having things and return to You today. May our fasting be an act of making space in our hearts and lives for that which is better for us. We draw near to You today in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:21

“The third-century North African Church Father Tertullian said that the blood of martyrs is the seed of the Church. Absorbing hatred in the name of Jesus by giving over one’s own life, the Christian martyr furthers the reconciling work of the Lord. These deeds of self-giving extend the proclamation of the gospel. Where one might have thought that murder would stifle the voice crying for peace, in actual fact it only amplifies it. This is the logic of the cross, and the paradox of the way those who bear the cross witness to the power of the resurrection.”

Kathryn Greene-McCreight in I Am With You: The Archbishop of Canterbury’s Lent, Book 2016 (London: Bloomsbury, 2015) 147.

These days we find ourselves in world growing increasingly hostile to Christianity. It seems similar to the relationship between the Roman world and the early church. Though many of us may not be in mortal danger, there appears to be unprecedented levels of hatred all around us.

As I explore the heart of generosity during Lent, I am learning that “absorbing hatred” is one way we get to exhibit our faith in spiritually and morally dark times. When we do this, even to the point of death, we are not overcome by the darkness, but we overcome it with good.

To be overcome is not to be killed, but to be immobilized and defeated by fear. Jesus knew we would face this. It’s why He spoke these words pointedly to the disciples (and us): Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Matthew 10:28

Let us absorbing hatred in the name of Jesus by giving our lives to proclaim the good news.

The Lord watches over you — the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all harm — He will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore. Psalm 121:5-8

O God, our heavenly Father, whose glory fills the whole creation, and whose presence we find wherever we go: Preserve those who travel in this winter storm; surround them with your loving care; protect them from every danger; and bring them in safety to their journey’s end; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Book of Common Prayer, “Prayer for Travelers” 53.

Yesterday was a gorgeous day at Camp Spofford in New Hampshire (Spofford Lake pictured above). How soon things change! Due to a winter storm alert, the pastor’s conference was cut short so that everyone could return safely to their homes across New England last night. Unfortunately, my flight for today has been cancelled.

Since I am not going anywhere for a while, and since Lent is a time to focus on prayer, I am thankful for God’s generous and watchful care for us as His children. As for me, I am still at that camp and grateful to have a warm place to stay and food and water to wait it out. Thank you God for preserving all those who travel!

Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need. Ephesians 4:28

“Dr. E. Stanley Jones, on of my spiritual mentors used to say: ‘A road that perhaps more than any other leads to self-atrophy is undedicated money.’ So if you haven’t done so, then consider transferring your possessions and money over to Him today. When you let go of your possessions and let God have them, then life takes on a sense of stewardship. It really does.

Perhaps a question we ought to ask our selves before going any further is this: who owns my possessions, does God or do I? Whether we acknowledge it or not we are only in possession of our possessions for a brief period. If in reality we don’t own our possessions then the obvious thing is to acknowledge this in a prayer to God.

Have the sense to stay to Him,’I am not the owner. I am the ower.’ A businessman once said, ‘I’ve prospered in my business; now my task is to know who much I can keep for my own use.’ That’s the right order. How much can I keep for myself? For everything I needlessly spend on myself is taken from some other person’s need.”

Selwyn Hughes (1928-2006) in Divine Mathematics: A Biblical Perspective on Investing in God’s Kingdom (Surrey, UK: CWR, 2004) 24-25.

Today I am facilitating a conference at Camp Spofford in Hew Hampshire on Faith and Work in God’s Economy with ministers and marketplace leaders. The fruit of our labor as followers of Christ must be dedicated back to One who purchased us with His blood on the cross (cf. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

As we journey through Lent, we gain a new perspective on the fruit of our work: money. It’s neither ours nor something to be stewarded selfishly on needless expenditures. Biblically speaking, such stewards are squandering and stealing. What should we do? Dedicate the money we possess back to God.

Father in heaven, I dedicate all the money I possess to You. Thank You for purchasing me with Your blood on the cross and for entrusting me with resources to steward for Your purposes. Guide me by Your Holy Spirit to know how much to keep for myself. Help me I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:3

“Though what is specifically “given up for Lent” shifts from generation to generation, the broad categories of entertainment, pleasure, and food have remained constant through the centuries. Caffeine, chocolate, designer coffee, carbs, and social media currently rank among the more popular offerings. In an age suffocating in self, any willful fast from what much of the planet would deem a luxury is to be commended. However, since commendation cannot be confused with preparation, I must ask: can such polite fasts alone truly prepare us to be awed by Christ’s resurrection? . . .

God seems more interested in what we are becoming than in what we are giving up. . .Faith, in general, is less about the sacrifice of stuff and more about the surrender of our souls. Lent, in kind, is less about well-mannered denials and more about thinning our lives in order to thicken our communion with God. Decrease is holy only when its destination is love.”

Alicia Britt Chole in 40 Days of Decrease: A Different Kind of Hunger. A Different Kind of Fast (Nashville: W Publishing, 2016) 1-2. Thanks to my friend, John Cochran, for alerting me to this book.

As we are in the middle of week two, Chole’s counsel is spot on: Lent is not about “commendation” but “preparation”; it’s about “thinning our lives” to “thicken our communion with God”. But what struck me as profound was the punchline of her thought: “Decrease is holy only when its destination is love.”

Whether you are fasting from TV, coffee, social media, or something else this Lent, decrease so that you can “feast on Jesus” as my wife and daughter like to say. Celebrate that “decrease” helps you build spiritual bandwidth with God, who is love. Our role on earth is to enjoy and generously dispense love!

Then [Jesus] said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and goes to him at midnight and says to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine has come to me from a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; and from inside he answers and says, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been shut and my children and I are in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.’ I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will get up and give him as much as he needs. Luke 11:5-8

“In the parable of the friend at midnight, the host bangs on his neighbor’s door at midnight to borrow three loaves of bread because a friend has come. The neighbor yells at the host to stop bothering him because he is in bed. Finally, he realizes that since he can’t sleep with the host pounding on his door, he might as well give him the three loaves just to shut him up. Like the unjust judge [in Luke 18:1-8], he may not be generous, but he isn’t stupid.

Why three loaves? One loaf is for the friend at midnight. A second loaf is for himself so his friend does not eat alone. Then when his friend finishes eating, the host will offer him a third loaf to show his generosity. The host doesn’t want to look cheap. His reputation and the reputation of the community are at stake. In summary, the first loaf is for his friend’s physical need. The second is for his relational need, for community. The third loaf is for his heart need, to be loved. We have a three-loaf God. He loves to give.”

Paul E. Miller in A Praying Life: Connecting with God in a Distracting World (Colorado Springs: NavPress, 2009) 134-135.

This parable is fitting for Lent as we focus our attention on prayer. I love the first-century cultural insights that Miller brings into view showing how we serve a three-loaf God who cares for our physical, relational, and deepest heart-level needs.

Part of the aim of Lent is learning new prayer rhythms. Today’s reading struck me because I’ve been disciplining myself to do stretching to help my physical body, while praying for different people close to me in my life (family and friends), and in so doing I am experiencing a deeper connection with God.

We serve a generous God, a three-loaf God, who wants to connect with us, despite the noise that fills our lives and the stuff that fills our schedules. He wants to meet our needs at all levels. Once we learn this first hand, we get a glimpse of what it means to be generous toward others.

During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, He offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the One who could save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverent submission. Hebrews 5:7

“Surrender of the heart to God includes every possible way of obedience to God because it means giving up one’s very being to God’s good pleasure. Since this surrender is effected by unalloyed love, it includes in its embrace every kind of operation His good pleasure may bring to pass.

Thus at every moment we practice a surrender that has no limits, a surrender that includes all possible methods and degrees of service to God. It is not our business to decide what the ultimate purpose of such submission may be, but our sole duty is to submit ourselves to all that God sends us and to stand ready to do His will at all times.

What God requires of the soul is the essence of self-surrender. The free gifts he asks from us are self-denial, obedience, and love. The rest is His business.”

Jean-Pierre de Caussade (1675-1751) in “Surrender is Everything” in Bread and Wine: Readings for Lent and Easter (Maryknoll: Orbis, 2005) 26-27.

This Lent I feel God leading me to focus inwardly rather than outwardly. So much of the focus of Lent can be performed as outward acts (giving, prayer, and fasting) from a heart that is neither soft nor submissive.

The life of Jesus, from the beginning to the end of His earthly ministry, reflects that His focus was always on “the Father’s business” and to do “the Father’s will” in every situation. Want that to be true of you too?

For it to be so, Jean-Pierre urges us to give God the gifts of self-denial, obedience, and love. These gifts come from inside us. For those who do, God takes care of the rest. Our lives and our purpose will fulfill His good pleasure.

If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you. Luke 6:29-31

“When the Divine Master tells me to give to whoever asks of me, and to let what is mine be taken without asking it again, it seems to me that He speaks not only of the goods of earth, but also the goods of heaven.”

Thérèse of Lisieux (1873-1897) in Lent and Easter: Wisdom from St. Thérèse of Lisieux, ed. by John Cleary (Liguori: Liguori, 2015) 14.

With Thérèse, I am learning to be openhanded with regard to more than merely material things.

Two days ago I had a ton of work to do, but a friend stopped over who was struggling. I welcomed the interruption and am glad I did. While our fellowship took time, he needed something I had in abundance: love, truth, kindness, grace, and sympathy.

We are on this earth to dispense more than just the goods of earth, but also the goods of heaven. Others need them and may request them at inopportune times! The good news is that our Divine Master freely offers us an infinite supply to replenish whatever we distribute.

I must conclude with blessing as our son, Samuel David Hoag, turns 21 years old today. Anyone who knows him knows he shares the goods of earth and heaven freely.

Father in heaven, bless Sammy today (and every day) by your Holy Spirit for his commitment to living an openhanded life, always eager to share and serve those around him. Supply him abundantly, both materially and spiritually, so that His generous life blesses many and brings you glory. Hear this prayer in the name of Jesus. Amen.