Richard Fuller: Love of money cashiers all sense of God

“It is impossible to conceive any contrast more entire and absolute than that which exists between a heart glowing with love of God and a heart in which the love of money has cashiered all sense of God—His love, His presence, His glory.”

Richard Fuller (1804-1876) one of the founders of the Southern Baptist movement in Forty Thousand Quotations, Prose and Poetical, compiled by Charles Noel Douglas (London: George G. Harrap & Company, 1917) 139.

Does your heart glow and overflow with the love of God, with His peace, and with His glory, or has love of money consumed you and cashiered all sense of God in your life? What’s this malady look like?

All your thoughts are focused on how you can sustain yourself, and sort your personal, family, and/or ministry needs. If that’s you, perhaps mediate on Matthew 6:25-34 because your Heavenly Father knows you need those things, but He wants you to chase after Him, which will leave you full and not empty.

Today we met with ministry administrators in Manila. It could not have gone better. We asked lots of questions and had rich conversations. We felt the presence of the Holy Spirit with us guiding the discussions regarding the launching of the Christian Council for Transparency and Accountability (CCTA) for the Philippines. We are off to a good start and appreciate your continued prayers for us.

“My brethren, surely the time has come for us to return to the Lord’s plan. Among us there are children to be clothed, widows to be aided, and afflicted ones to be cared for. As you draw near to the poor, the Savior will come near to you.”

George C. Larimer (1838-1904) a New England pastor in Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers, compiled by Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert (New York: Wilbur B. Ketcham, 1895) 26.

Shortly Wes Willmer and I are scheduled to arrive in Manila. There are many poor people in the Philippines. As we draw near to them, pray with us that we experience our Lord Jesus Christ in a powerful way.

But you don’t have to leave the country to minister to the poor. They are all around us, and will always be with us (cf. Matthew 26:11). Ask God to show you someone in need to whom you can minister this week according “to the Lord’s plan!”

“Open your hands, ye whose hands are full! The world is waiting for you! The whole machinery of the Divine beneficience is clogged by your hard hearts and rigid fingers. Give and spend, and be sure that God will send; for only in giving and spending do you fulfill the object of His sending.”

Josiah Gilbert Holland (1819-1881) American novelist and poet recounted in Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers, compiled by Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert (New York: Wilbur B. Ketcham, 1895) 25.

Do you have resources stored up on earth that need to be put in play to fulfill “the object of His sending?” As Holland aptly states it: “the world is waiting.” For God so loved the world that He gave… So what are you waiting for?

My mentor and friend, Dr. Wes Willmer, and I will travel about half way around the world to help catalyze the launching of the Christian Council for Transparency and Accountability (CCTA) in Philippines from 7-13 October 2015.

Please pray for safe travel to Tokyo (where we will meet up) and then Manila, for God to give us ears to listen well, for fruitful coaching and trainings, and for God’s blessing on our families back home.

Why go serve CCTA and help launch this? When ministries are transparent and accountable, people more readily open their hands in generosity! They are more eager to “give and spend” to fulfill “the object of His sending.”

“The sweetest life is to be ever making sacrifices for Christ; the hardest life a man can lead on earth, the most full of misery, is to be always doing his own will and seeking to please himself.”

Edward Henry Bickersteth (1825-1906) English bishop as recounted in Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers, compiled by Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert (New York: Wilbur B. Ketcham, 1895) 534.

The life lived for Jesus is full, while the life lived for self is empty. Sacrifices don’t parch but enrich believers. The sweetest life truly is the one that ever makes sacrifices for Christ!

The “Exploring Generosity” Alpha Iowa event went well last night. I am heading home this morning from a fruitful weekend in Des Moines and Ankeny. It was sweet! Thanks for your prayers.

“Love is the greatest thing that God can give us, for He Himself is love; and it is the greatest thing we can give to God, for it will also give ourselves, and carry with it all that is ours.”

Jeremy Taylor (1613-1667) English cleric as recounted in Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers, compiled by Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert (New York: Wilbur B. Ketcham, 1895) 392.

Generosity starts with receiving God’s love and giving Him our love, which includes all we are and all we have. “We love because He first loved us.” 1 John 4:19

This idea is at the core of our “Exploring Generosity” event in Ankeny, Iowa, tonight. Pray it goes well.

“The essential elements of giving are power and love—activity and affection—and the consciousness of the race testifies that in the high and appropriate exercise of these is a blessedness greater than any other.”

Mark Hopkins (1813-1878), one of the four principle investors in the Grand Pacific Railroad, as recounted in Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers, compiled by Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert (New York: Wilbur B. Ketcham, 1895) 5.

While this is not the place to share this morning’s sermon (I’ll deliver that at Prairie Ridge Church in Ankeny, Iowa), the first point in my message on generosity is love. The Apostle Paul states that without love, our giving is worthless (1 Corinthians 13:3) which is why he reminds us to do everything in love (1 Corinthians 16:14).

Hopkins helped build the railroad across the prairies during the gold rush. While others were intoxicated with having wealth, he at least understood the essential elements of giving it. He was widely known for his wisdom. Sadly, though thrifty and generous, he died unexpectedly without a will.

Want to grow in generosity? Exercise your power with love, and do it while you can!

“If by the consecration of my earthly possessions to some extent, I can make the Christian character practically more lovely, and illustrate, in my own case, that the highest enjoyments here are promoted by the free use of good things entrusted to us, what so good use can I make of them?”

Amos Lawrence (1786-1852) American merchant and generous giver in Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers, compiled by Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert (New York: Wilbur B. Ketcham, 1895) 521.

Today I fly to Des Moines. I am preaching at Prairie Ridge Church in Ankeny tomorrow, and then speaking for Alpha Iowa at an “Exploring Generosity” event on Monday. I’d appreciate your prayers for me as I urge people to illustrate the Christian faith through the consecration of earthly possessions.

“There are some [people] that give as the springs do: whether you go to them or not, they are always full; and your part is merely to put your dish under the ever-flowing stream. Others give just as a pump does where the well is dry, and the pump leaks.”

Henry Ward Beecher (1813-1887) American Congregationalist clergyman, in Forty Thousand Quotations, Prose and Poetical, compiled by Charles Noel Douglas (London: George G. Harrap & Company, 1917) 829.

As I reflect on generosity through the comments of famous preachers, I love this word picture: “give as the springs do.” They are conduits of clear, refreshing rivers of life to the world, abundantly and perpetually replenished by God.

The ECFA board meeting went well last night. I got reacquainted with old friends who “give as the springs do” and made new ones. This morning I am returning to Colorado. The fellowship here was sweet, but there’s no place like home!

Father in Heaven, thanks for the gift of another day to serve you, to enjoy our loved ones, and to “give as the springs do” wherever we go. May our generosity toward others give life to them and bring you glory. Do this by your Holy Spirit in the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

“He gives not best that gives most; but he gives most who gives best.”

Arthur Warwick (sixteenth century) English cleric in Forty Thousand Quotations, Prose and Poetical, compiled by Charles Noel Douglas (London: George G. Harrap & Company, 1917) 829.

Sacrifices in Scripture were to be “spotless” to represent one’s best. Since God sees our giving in all aspects of life, let’s be sure to give Him our best each and every day.

Tonight I get to address the ECFA board in Winchester, VA regarding my international liaison efforts encouraging the faithful administration of God’s work among all peoples. I will do so with much thankfulness.

When we diligently give our best to God in our work and trust the guidance of the Holy Spirit, things rarely go as anticipated, we often face difficulties, and yet the fruitful outcomes bring glory to God.

That’s pretty much my report.

“It is not the fact that a man has riches which keeps him from the kingdom of heaven, but the fact that riches have him.”

John Caird (1820-1898) Scottish theologian in Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers, compiled by Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert (New York: Wilbur B. Ketcham, 1895) 523.

As I explore the handling of riches in sermons and commentaries of famous preachers, this theme emerges: a person’s relationship with riches shapes their earthly living and their eternal destiny.

While wealth and riches often come to faithful stewards, those that relate rightly to riches do not hold on to them, but rather, enjoy and share them, showing that they cling not to riches for security but to God.

The famous preachers also echo Jesus in stating that there is no middle ground! People either serve God or serve mammon (cf. Matthew 6:24; Luke 16:13). Do you have riches or do riches have you?