Marcia Shetler: Learned behavior

I have learned to be content with whatever I have. Philippians 4:11b

“Many North Americans are on a continuous quest to live more simply. For decades, we have created tools and technology with the goal of making our lives easier. Today, some efforts to live simply try to counter our complex, consumer-focused lifestyle: growing and eating simpler food from personal gardens, building micro-sized living quarters, and looking for ways to reduce our carbon footprints.

Even so, naming that we are on this quest says something about our day-to-day lives of privilege. Our jobs, relationships, and social activities are often demanding. Simply finding rest is a luxury: Sabbath rest seems like an impossibility. Our efforts to do, be, and have the best leave us tired and unsatisfied. If there is a simpler life, where is it?

Paul’s words in Philippians give us an important clue: “I have learned to be content with whatever I have” (Phil. 4:11b). That kind of contentment is countercultural and not easily embraced by our human nature. Perhaps we can take comfort that even for Paul, finding contentment was learned behavior.”

Marcia Shetler in Giving, vol. 18 (ESC: Richmond, IN, 2016) 2.

The fact that contentment was a “learned behavior” for the Apostle Paul gives hope to people like me. You too? Elsewhere the he says that “if we have food and covering, we should be content with that” (1 Timothy 6:8). Are you? Toward that end, we downsized from a house to a townhouse and while it was a lot of work, it was one of the best decisions we ever made. It created margin to give, live, serve, and love on a greater scale. It also resourced us with funds for a restful holiday.

Speaking of rest…finding rest is another important learned behavior. That’s my focus this month with my family. We leave tomorrow to spend a two weeks in New Zealand (10-26 May 2016). Our days will be spent touring the countryside, visiting sites from the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings trilogies, fly fishing, and weather permitting we even hope to enjoy scenery by helicopter. In the words of Bilbo Baggins, we are “going on an adventure” together.

As I rise early whether on holiday or not, I still plan to post daily meditations. My plan is to explore a different facet of generosity: the dynamics of enjoyment and rest as part of God’s generous design for our lives. The former (enjoyment) represents another “learned behavior” as we must learn how to enjoy in moderation, while the latter (rest) may prove equally challenging as rest in the biblical narrative represents the ultimate quest.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 2 Corinthians 5:17

“When Jesus becomes your focus, your love, your defining voice, your generosity, your grace, and when you allow His Spirit to live freely in you, then, and only then, will you have the energy and wisdom to live the Christian life well.”

Sally Clarkson in Own Your Life: Living with Deep Intention, Bold Faith, and Generous Love (Carol Stream: Tyndale House, 2015) 91-92.

My mom always says, “The good you see in me is Jesus.” Happy Mother’s Day Mom! And Happy Mother’s Day to my wife Jenni, too. Thanks Jenni, for making Jesus your everything so that you live the Christian life well as a conduit of His love.

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? Matthew 6:25-27

“Two kinds of people.

1. Scarcity people

2. Abundance people.

Which one are you? Of course I know which one you want to be. We all want to be abundance people, but who we want to be and who we are…well let’s just call that a major concern. There’s a telltale sign to find out whether you are a scarcity or an abundance person. The sign of scarcity is the presence of worry or anxiety. The level to which you worry or carry anxiety, to that extent you are a scarcity person.

No matter how much a scarcity person has, there will never be enough. No matter how little an abundance person has, there will always be more than plenty. Abundance or scarcity has little to do with external quantity. It has everything to do with internal quality. Scarcity is the sickness of the human condition. It’s primary symptoms are worry and anxiety. Abundance is the cure of the Kingdom of God. It’s primary sign is deep abiding peace.”

J. D. Walt in “Two Kinds of People: Which One Are You?” Seedbed Daily Text for 6 May 2016.

Sophie and I drove safely from San Diego to Las Vegas last night thanks to God’s abundant grace and traveling mercies. If you are an abundance person, would you pause and pray with me for some people today? I have some friends on mind who (I think) are stuck in scarcity. The “what if” questions of life are holding them captive. Pray with me that they will take hold of life in the Kingdom of God.

Father in heaven, open the eyes of those stuck in scarcity by your Holy Spirit. Help them discover that the promises in Scripture are backed by Your faithful and abundant generosity. Hear my prayer (our collective prayers) in the name of Jesus. Amen.

For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds of the sales and lay them at the apostles’ feet, and they would be distributed to each as any had need. Acts 4:34-35

“At the center of a biblical perspective on money and possessions is a deep awareness that none of it really belongs to us. There is no such thing as “self-made” success. We are stewards of things that have been placed in our hands by an extravagantly generous God who trusts us to use things that ultimately belong to God in ways that satisfy God’s good intentions, not just our own.”

James A. Harnish in Earn. Save. Give.: Wesley’s Simple Rules for Money (Nashville: Abingdon, 2015) 83.

This morning I return to San Diego to meet up with our dear daughter Sophie and drive part of the way home with her. We hope to make it back to Denver by Saturday night. She’s had a great first year of school. What I love most is that she doesn’t see herself as a “self-made” success, but one who endeavors to grow as a faithful steward whose generosity accomplishes “God’s good intentions” and not just her own.

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal. Matthew 6:19-20

“If you aim at “laying up treasures on earth,” you are not barely losing your time and spending your strength for that which is not bread, for what is the fruit if you succeed: you have murdered your own soul! You have extinguished the last spark of spiritual life therein! Now indeed, in the midst of life you are in death! You are a living man, but a dead Christian.”

John Wesley (1703-1791) in “Sermon on the Mount” Discourse 8.13. To purchase a copy from Seedbed.com visit Thirteen Discourses on the Sermon on the Mount.

If this post offends you, it’s not the post, it’s the gospel that is the stumbling block for you. Wesley is merely pointing out that one cannot follow both the prevailing cultural norms and the commands of Jesus. Those who try are just rationalizing disobedience. It’s Jesus who explicitly instructs us not to store up resources in the wrong place.

In the words of my friend, J.D. Walt at Seedbed.com, it’s not because money is a bad thing, it’s because money is a dangerous thing. It leads us to trust in it other than God. Money is the leading alternate god (cf. Matthew 6:24 and Luke 16:13). Plain and simple: We show where we place our trust as followers of Christ by where we store earthly treasures.

But since you excel in everything–in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you–see that you also excel in this grace of giving. 2 Corinthians 8:7

“Of course, not everyone in the congregation will heed the call to increased giving. Clergy and lay leaders are likely to hear a number of complaints. Do not let disgruntled members deter you from your resolve! My experience is that the most vocal complaints will come from those who give the least, not those who have the least. The whiners, complainers, naysayers, and freeloaders are not the ones who will lead the church to a promising future.

In contrast, those who already give the most will welcome the encouragement to increased generosity. These church pillars not only contribute the most, but the also ask the least in return (This is why it is fine for the minister to know what people in the church contribute. Ministers usually do not give preferential treatment to higher-level [givers] because these people do not want preferential treatment)…These are the generous and committed souls that churches can and should produce.”

Michael Durall in Beyond the Collection Plate: Overcoming Obstacles to Faithful Giving (Nashville: Abingdon, 2003) 65-66.

As I prepare to teach a course this summer for clergy on “Nurturing a Ministry Culture of Christian Generosity in the Local Church” this quote will no doubt inspire the pastors I will serve. Sadly, the anticipation of complainers and the fear of naysayers have hindered many pastors from teaching on giving. In helping them see how Paul dealt with similar responses (and non-responsiveness) from the Corinthians, pray with me that they will be inspired to cultivate generous and committed souls.

I’m thinking of my prospective students today as registration is underway. God fill the course with pastors and strengthen me to serve them well.

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.” Matthew 16:24-25

“In the world of thriving church faithfulness that is emerging, people within and beyond the church make different assumptions: God requires only one sacrifice–myself–and therefore, my lifestyle and God’s mission are one. The real issue is not whether I am willing to give up my life to acknowledge Jesus, but whether I am willing to give up my lifestyle to follow Jesus.”

Thomas Bandy in the Foreword to Beyond the Collection Plate: Overcoming Obstacles to Faithful Giving (Nashville: Abingdon, 2003) 12.

In trying “to save their life” many will lose it, or in Bandy’s words, they will not be willing to give up their lifestyle, so they will never take hold of the life Jesus offers. Will you? This past Sunday Bridgeway Community Church Pastor James Hoxworth put it this way: “If there is anything in your life you can’t give away, you don’t own it, it owns you.” So here’s the real issue: Have you given up your lifestyle to follow Jesus? Are you willing to?

For we aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord’s sight but also in the sight of man. 2 Corinthians 8:21

“Besides making a budget and living simply, financially generous people suggest setting numerical goals for the good they hope to do with their time and money. They pray about God’s calling in their loves. They consider which of their activities bring joy to God and also bring joy uniquely to them. Then they find ways to participate. As these activities are discerned, financial goals are projected for their annual giving, along with metrics by which to measure them.

When we are generous, we aren’t so much doing things for God as we are becoming part of what God is doing in the world. As stewards, we understand that resources ultimately belong to the Lord, and we simply manage them. That’s why it’s important to begin the year with quantifiable goals of what we hope to contribute to the ministries, organizations, and projects to which God calls us. It’s amazing what we can do when we set goals for financial generosity and then order our lives to make that generosity possible.”

Tom Berlin in Defying Gravity: Break Free from the Culture of More (Nashville: Abingdon, 2016).

Berlin’s book seeks to help stewards avoid getting sucked into the world’s way of thinking, and instead, charges followers of Christ take aim, and shoot for goals that make a difference not for God but with God. What about you? It’s Monday and the start of a new month. Do you have goals for the work you hope to accomplish with God today or this week or month? What about linked to your financial generosity? What would it look like set a goal to grow in this area? Take aim and ask God to help you set a goal and reach it.

And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. Colossians 3:14

“Charity indeed is not…a matter of mere generous intention: on the contrary, it involves that exact appropriateness of reciprocal action necessary to produce a ‘beautiful’ order, and in this sense, charity is the very consummation of both justice and prudence.”

John Milbank in Theology and Social Theory: Beyond Secular Reason (Malden: Blackwell, 2006) 416.

Charity is grace: unmerited favor. When we receive it from God and extend it toward others we exhibit generosity that Milbank rightly describes as “that exact appropriateness of reciprocal action.” It produces unquestionably beautiful order, or in plain terms, it makes things right.

On this Lord’s day, ask the Father what it would look like for you to consummate justice and prudence in the place where He has planted you. How has he placed you there to bring beauty and contribute to flourishing not by “mere generous intention” but as an conduit of charity?

For a taste of our experience at Union Church Hong Kong last Sunday, read the lyrics of a beautiful song we sang last weekend, “Great Source of all our life” by Joy F. Patterson.

Great Source of all our life,
we come with thanks and praise,
for countless gifts of love with which you bless our days.

Chorus:
With joyful hearts
we come to you, renewing now
our gifts of love.

For time to work and play,
for talents we can share,
for wealth enough to live, and give for others’ care,

For those who went before,
strong followers of your way,
who worked and gave to build the church we know today,

Dear God who first loved us
and drew our hearts toward you,
confirm our faith, increase our love our whole life through.

And if you want hear the sermon I preached at Union Church Hong Kong on 24 April 2016, click this link entitled, “Guarding our Lives against Greed: Five Insights for Faithful Stewards” from Luke 12:13-21.

Being rich toward God is only possible when we realize that the God who loves us is the great Source of all our life, and the One who provides “enough to live, and give for others’ care.”