David Green: Think like God thinks about resources

“We’ve set out to work with organizations that directly tell people about Christ, from global ministries such as Every Home for Christ, to our local rescue mission. In this way, we hope to keep Hobby Lobby on track as God’s company, not ours. We want the company to continue for decades, even centuries, as an ongoing source of financial fuel for God’s work around the world…

I believe my responsibility to handle the company’s assets is directly tied to God’s endeavors in the world. He has asked folks like you and me to think like God thinks about resources so He can advance His priorities. Through the efforts of the company God has allowed us to build, I want as many people as possible to know Christ as Savior.”

David Green in “The Purpose of a Merchant” as recounted by William High in The Generosity Bet: Secrets of Risk, Reward, and Real Joy (Shippensburg, PA: Destiny, 2014) 145-146.

Sammy and I are fly fishing with Bryan and Zac Chrisman today. Bryan oversees the work of National Christian Foundation Colorado. After I posted a quote from this book, The Generosity Bet, about a week ago, Bryan told me he has extra copies of it that he’d love to share freely with Meditations readers. It’s a great book filled with inspiring stories! To get your free copy of The Generosity Bet while supplies last, email Bryan at bchrisman@nationalchristian.com today.

“In America, with its vast abounding wealth, its grand expanse of prairie, its reach of river, and its exuberant productiveness, there is danger that our riches will draw us away from God, and fasten us to earth; that they will make us not only rich, but mean; not only wealthy, but wicked. The grand corrective is the cross of Christ, seen in the sanctuary where the life and light of God are exhibited, and where the reverberation of echoes of the great white throne are heard.”

R. S. Storrs (1821-1900) American Congregationalist clergyman in Forty Thousand Quotations, Prose and Poetical, compiled by Charles Noel Douglas (London: George G. Harrap & Co., 1917) 1504.

Is this what you have witnessed in our society? Does our own “exuberant productiveness” both draw us from God and “fasten us” to this earth? Have riches made Americans a “wicked” people? Father in Heaven, forgive us our sins, for allowing your material blessings to stop with us and spoil us rather than flow through us to bless others for your glory. Correct our path, realign it to the cross of Christ by your Holy Spirit, we pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“I feel it is almost impossible to say anything (in my comfort and security—apparent security, for real security is in Heaven and thus earth affords only imitations) which would not sound horribly false and facile. Also, you know it all better than I do. I should in your place be (I have in similar places been) far more panic-stricken and even perhaps rebellious. For it is a dreadful truth that the state of (as you say) “having to depend solely on God” is what we all dread most. And of course that just shows how very much, how almost exclusively, we have been depending on things.

But trouble goes so far back in our lives and is now so deeply ingrained, we will not turn to Him as long as He leaves us anything else to turn to. I suppose all one can say is that it was bound to come. In the hour of death and the day of judgment, what else shall we have? Perhaps when those moments come, they will feel happiest who have been forced (however unwittingly) to begin practicing it here on earth. It is good of Him to force us; but dear me, how hard to feel that it is good at the time.”

C.S. Lewis (1898-1963) in Letters to an American Lady, excerpt from letter dated 16 December 1955 (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1971) 49.

As our world crumbles around us, both morally and politically, what shall our response be? Will we seek that which is “false and facile” simply because it’s ingrained in us to depend on things? Or will we realize that “having to depend solely on God” is something we avoid at all cost but represents the only secure place that God is drawing each of us.

Psalm 121
I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep. 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.

“It is impossible for you to live according to God if you love pleasures and money.”

Isidore the Priest of Scété (c. 4th century) as cited by John Chryssavgis in In the Heart of the Desert: The Spirituality of the Desert Fathers and Mothers (Bloomington, IN: World Wisdom) 106.

The desert fathers cut to the chase, do they not?

Isidore is spot on. Jesus repeatedly said you can’t serve God and money because if you try to do both, you will hate one and love the other.

In response, Isidore exhorts hearers to “live according to God.” Following God’s pathway set forth in His Word is the only way to live!

“Abba Euprepius said, ‘Knowing that God is faithful and mighty, have faith in Him, and you will share what is His. If you are depressed, you do not believe. We all believe that He is mighty and we believe all is possible to Him. As for your own affairs, behave with faith in Him about them, too, for He is able to work miracles in you also.'”

Abba Euprepius (c. 4th century) as cited by John Chryssavgis in In the Heart of the Desert: The Spirituality of the Desert Fathers and Mothers (Bloomington, IN: World Wisdom) 61.

Why continue to explore generosity and sharing through the eyes of the desert fathers? I appreciate their candor.

For example, the sharing of our surplus today is rooted in the belief that God will provide faithfully, sometimes even miraculously for us, tomorrow. Depression and fear surface when we choose the path of disbelief that God is our Provider. So whenever we disobediently hoard for ourselves, worry dominates us rather than peace.

Abba Euprepius reminds his brothers and sisters (and us!) that faith is the only pathway to take with regard to all of life and the handling of possessions. Cheerful sharing of that which belongs to God reveals where we are placing our trust. What are you doing with the portion of God’s abundant resources that exceeds your needs?

Lucius, a companion of Longinus from Cilicia, was a monk in Syria and later abbot of Enaton. The heretics called Euchites were also known as Messalians, ‘those who pray’. This was a pietistic sect originating in Mesopotamia in the mid fourth century and spreading to Asia Minor, Egypt and Syria. It was condemned at the Council of Ephesus (431). The contrast between them in their dualism and over-spiritualized approach to prayer and the orthodoxy and common sense of the monks is made clear in this story.

“Some of the monks who are called Euchites went to Enaton to see Abba Lucius. The old man asked them, ‘What is your manual work?’ They said, ‘We do not touch manual work but as the Apostle says, we pray without ceasing.’ The old man asked them if they did not eat and they replied they did. So he said to them, ‘When you are eating, who prays for you then?’ Again he asked them if they did not sleep and they replied they did. And he said to them, ‘When you are asleep, who prays for you then?’ They could not find any answer to give him.

He said to them, ‘Forgive me, but you do not act as you speak. I will show you how, while doing my manual work, I pray without interruption. I sit down with God, soaking my reeds and plaiting my ropes, and I say, “God, have mercy on me; according to your great goodness and according to the multitude of your mercies, save me from my sins.” ‘So he asked them if this were not prayer and they replied it was. Then he said to them, ‘So when I have spent the whole day working and praying, making thirteen pieces of money more or less, I put two pieces of money outside the door and I pay for my food with the rest of the money. He who takes the two pieces of money prays for me when I am eating and when I am sleeping; so, by the grace of God, I fulfil the precept to pray without ceasing.’

Abba Lucius (c. 4th century) as cited by John Chryssavgis in In the Heart of the Desert: The Spirituality of the Desert Fathers and Mothers (Bloomington, IN: World Wisdom) 120-121.

Why cite a monk today, especially as today is the wedding of the couple Jenni and I have counseled this summer? The stepfather of the bride, Randy Kipp, reminds me of Abba Lucius. He drives for his work, so he calls himself the “mobile monk.” He prays faithfully for us and others as he does his daily work of driving, and he always greets people with peace! What’s this got to do with generosity? People who work, pray, eat, sleep, and care for the poor, are not only prayed for, they become generous conduits of God’s material and spiritual blessings.

Go and do likewise. Work, pray, eat, sleep, care for the poor, and be prayed for!

“Coming to the town one day to sell his wares, [Abba Agathon] encountered a sick traveller lying in the public place without anyone to look after him. The old man rented a cell and lived with him there, working with his hands to pay the rent and spending the rest of his money on the sick man’s needs. He stayed there four months till the sick man was restored to health. Then he returned in peace…”

Abba Agathon (c. 4th century) as cited by John Chryssavgis in In the Heart of the Desert: The Spirituality of the Desert Fathers and Mothers (Bloomington, IN: World Wisdom) 25.

“Agathon” means “good” in Greek. When Christianity had become the religion of empire, the desert fathers surface in North Africa. With humility they worked with their hands in solitude, and with sincerity they lived out their faith in community. In this account, I marvel how Agathon welcomed inconvenience like the “Good Samaritan” (cf. Luke 10:25-37). Life experiences continue to teach us that this is a “good” way to live.

For example, Jenni and I “did not have time” this Summer to counsel a young, searching couple who desired to get married, but we agreed to meet with them. We prayed and God filled our hearts with compassion. Even better, the Spirit drew their hearts to God. Our sessions were Scripture-filled and enriching. Tonight is the rehearsal dinner and tomorrow is their wedding. Our journey with Markes and Kimberly has been one of the highlights of our summer.

Father, give us eyes to see opportunities to do good. Make us into a people, by your Holy Spirit, who welcome inconvenience with humility and sincerity. Fill our hearts with compassion for those in need so that our service looks like Jesus, in whose name we pray, Amen.

“Whether it be a friend or an enemy, a believer or an unbeliever, do good to the person in need.”

Theodore of Heraclea (d. c. 355) in Fragment 38, comment on Matthew 5:43, as cited in Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture: Matthew 1-13, edited by Manlio Simonetti (Downers Grove: IVP, 2001) 120.

To be worldly is to selectively extend assistance to those we judge deserving. To be Christian is the opposite. Don’t be selective! That’s what the greatest commandment is all about (cf. Luke 10:25-37)!

“When you are unattached to things, then you easily acquire virtue.”

Abba Zosimas as cited by John Chryssavgis in In the Heart of the Desert: The Spirituality of the Desert Fathers and Mothers (Bloomington, IN: World Wisdom) 25.

Got this from Dave Rowland, a friend and former student. If you ever come across profound thoughts, please pass them along! God help us all live unattached to things! Seriously, have you ever met a generous person who was attached to things?

“Craig Groeschel is the pastor of LifeChurch.tv in Edmond, Oklahoma…By 2005, the church had grown so much that people were beginning to request his sermons and were willing to pay money to get them. The church investigated the proper way to handle this issue. As the pastor, Craig would own the rights to the sermons and receive royalties from their sales. The opportunity for income was significant.

In a meeting to discuss what to do with the sermons, one of his fellow pastors, Bobby Gruenewald, asked, “What would happen if we just gave them away?” The silence was stunning. Why would anyone suggest he give away something of so much value to him. The ship had come home. The opportunity was there…

In that moment, Craig felt like the Holy Spirit breathed upon him: this was the right thing to do—just give them away. He said, “My only real hesitation was not actually that I wouldn’t get the money, but what if we couldn’t afford to keep giving our sermons away? As a church, we did not have extra at that time—we were actually at the peak of our debt.”

Craig continued, “That moment changed us—the church and I. Generosity became one of my top values.” For the first time, he was giving away something of great value to him and he was giving to people who would never give back…from that moment on, giving became contagious.

It became to penetrate every corner of their church. As they developed resources, it became standard to just give them away. Generosity became a value. As Craig said, “Generosity is not something we do—it is something we are.”

Today, they’ve given away for than five million resources to over one hundred thousand church leaders…One of their most significant gifts has been YouVersion, the world’s most popular Bible application with more than 150 million downloads around the world…Today one of the tenets of their church reads as follows:

We will lead the way with irrational generosity because we truly believe it is more blessed to give than to receive [Acts 20:35].”

Craig Groeschel as recounted by William High in The Generosity Bet: Secrets of Risk, Reward, and Real Joy (Shippensburg, PA: Destiny, 2014).

What I like most about this story is that the idea to be generous was a suggestion from a friend. Next time you see someone who has been blessed richly, encourage them to consider being generous.

God’s abundance flows through ordinary people who are willing to make hilarious, unthinkable choices that the world might deem crazy but make perfect sense according to the teachings in God’s Word!

Read Bill High’s book if you want to be inspired to follow suit.