Russ Matteson: Outwardly visible faith

“The stewardship portion of our following Jesus is one of those places that invites us to do something. It is a place where faith is made outwardly visible, not to bring attention to the self but to give glory to God.”

Russ Matteson in “Saints Alive! Living Generously” in Giving: Growing Joyful Stewards in Your Congregation, Vol. 15 (Blaine: ESC, 2013) 9-10.

Had a great first day at Torch Trinity with 17 students from Korea, China, Nepal, Pakistan, India, and USA. Tomorrow I dig deeply into “the stewardship portion of our following Jesus” in the Gospels. Thanks for your prayers for God to work through me and within them.

“In the church it is important to create a culture where stewardship is a big picture. Stewardship includes money, but it is more than preoccupation with the budget, giving, and all other money matters of the church. Christians everywhere, as individuals and congregations, must heed the fullness of the call to discipleship…

This is a growing challenge, particularly in Western culture, where rugged individualism and the love of money are idealized; this does not always weave well with Christian values of compassion, caretaking, and community building.

Our calling as leaders in the church remains squarely where it has been for centuries: to call God’s people into an awareness of and commitment to the ways in which we are all interconnected in this world, not separate, isolated, or alone. We are to call and form people as followers of the Way—the Jesus Way.”

Erin Matteson in “Talk about Stewardship” in Giving: Growing Joyful Stewards in Your Congregation, Vol. 15 (Blaine: ESC, 2013) 11-12. For further exploration of “the Way”, see Acts 9:2, 18:25, 19:9, 19:23, 22:4, 24:14, and 24:22.

I just returned to my room having preached on Luke 12:13-21 in three Korean churches today. Few stewardship texts illustrate the clash between culture and Christ more than this one. Pray with me that God’s people will be known for “compassion, caretaking, and community building” rather than foolishly stockpiling for themselves. May this Scripture stir those with ears to hear to live out the gospel despite cultural values that are contrary to the Jesus Way.

“Living as disciples of Jesus involves being transformed into Christ’s image and having our orientation transformed from that of a consumer to that of a steward (Romans 12:1-2). Being a trustee of God’s gifts in our lives doesn’t come naturally. It requires intentionality and training.”

Beryl Jantzi in week 1 of “Found Faithful” curriculum in Giving: Growing Joyful Stewards in Your Congregation, Vol. 15 (Blaine, MN: ESC, 2013).

The consumerist mentality prevails in America among those who profess faith in Christ and among those who don’t. While some cultural dynamics differ, the same general situation exists among Christians in Korea.

I have safely arrived in Seoul, South Korea and am preaching at three churches tomorrow. Through the preaching and teaching of God’s Word this week with intentionality, I pray hearts are transformed and lives are trained to live as stewards rather than consumers.

“Mr. Robert E. Speer, in his pamphlet, “Prayer and Missions,” which has done so much to awaken the Church to prayer, goes to the heart of the subject:

The evangelization of the world in this generation depends first of all upon a revival of prayer. Deeper than the need for men; deeper, far, than the need for money; aye, deep down at the bottom of our spiritless life is the need for the forgotten secret of prevailing, world-wide prayer…

The condition and consequence of such prayers as this is a new outpouring of the Holy Ghost. Nothing short of His own suggestion will prompt the necessary prayer to bring Him back again in power. Nothing short of His new outpouring will ever solve the missionary problems of our day.”

John Raleigh Mott (1865-1955) long-time leader of YMCA quoting Robert Elliott Speer (1867-1947) authority on world missions, excerpt from “Essential Factors” section of The Evangelization of the World in this Generation (New York: Student Volunteer Movement for Foreign Missions, 1905) 189-190.

Today I fly from Denver to Seoul to teach my “Biblical Stewardship and Christian Generosity” class at Torch Trinity Graduate University, to preach two Sundays, and as ECFA International Liaison, to co-host with CCFK and Kurios International an International Symposium on “Faithful Financial Administration.”

I echo the need for global prayer. Money is not the power for mission. The Holy Spirit is the main character in Acts of the Apostles and today. We need more God. I welcome your prayers for me, but take a moment today to pause and pray for an outpouring of God’s Spirit on ministry locally as well as around the world in Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia, and the Americas.

God is looking for people to live on mission everywhere. People willing to serve generously however God leads with whatever they have. I am taking my five loaves and two fish to Seoul for 12 days. Through prayer I trust that God will feed all those who need to be fed and have an abundance left over. I also pray He multiplies whatever you offer up generously for Him.

“There is no dignity quite so impressive, and no independence quite so important, as living within your means.”

Calvin Coolidge (1872-1933) president of the United States in The Quote Manual: Wisdom and Wit of the Ages ed. Robert G. Moscatell (Bloomington: AuthorHouse, 2012) 208.

If only Americans would do this today!

I am speaking in a “Faith at Work” training track later this morning at the EFCA One national conference in San Diego. Among other remarks, I will highlight ten people in the New Testament that integrated their faith, work, and economics. I will also remind listeners that these NT characters lived on less than they made so that they were positioned for generosity.

In God’s economy, the purpose of work is to bring glory to God (cf. Colossians 3:23). We make an income from work, as “the worker deserves a wage” (cf. 1 Timothy 5:18) , but we live on less than we make, not for foolish hoarding, but so we have something to share (cf. Ephesians 4:28). This is God’s design for the community of faith. It’s life in God’s economy.

“We can stand affliction better than we can prosperity, for in prosperity we forget God. When our work is light, our prospects good, and everything looks smooth and easy, we are more apt to give ourselves over to pleasure … A great many have a wrong idea of God, and think he sends afflictions because He doesn’t love them; they think that because they don’t know Him. He sends afflictions to humble our hearts and make us look to Him, and because He loves us, so he cannot let us leave Him and forget Him.”

D.L. Moody in Glad Tidings Comprising Sermons and Prayer Meeting Talks (New York: E.B. Treat, 1876) 487-488, echoes the words of Agur (cf. Proverbs 30:7-9).

What we “give ourselves over to” reveals our idea of God. Does prosperity fuel our self-indulgence or generosity? When we suffer affliction do we complain and treat it as punishment or joyfully receive it as a gift. Our response to life’s blessings and burdens shows where our heart is.

Give an account of thy stewardship. Luke 16:2

“We have heard many times in our lives, that we are all stewards to Almighty God. We hold it as a solemn truth of our religion, that the rich man is responsible for the use which he makes of his wealth; that the talented man must give an account to God of the interest which he getteth upon his talents; that every one of us, in proportion to our time and opportunities, must give an account for himself before Almighty God.”

Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834-1892) in his opening remarks of Sermon 192, “The Sunday-School Teacher, A Steward” delivered on 4 May 1858. Spurgeon passionately reminds us as stewards that we must live in such a way as to prepare for our day of reckoning.

Jenni and I visited a widow over the weekend whose husband had passed away unexpectedly in his early 50’s. Thankfully she was sustained by the peace of Christ, but the visit gave us a sobering reminder to live with readiness, as none of us knows what day will be our day of reckoning.

Are you prepared to meet the Lord and give an account for your stewardship? I am thankful that many others join me in calling God’s people to get ready. Meet two of them:

Today in San Diego I meet up with Steve Cummings, the vice president of Advancement at Multnomah University, whose MU web page reveals a glimpse of his zeal for helping stewards grow. He desires every conversation and each piece of correspondence to spur people toward spiritual maturity and faithfulness.

Another brother you must meet is Greg Henson, president of Sioux Falls Seminary. Greg invited me to serve as a visiting member of the Kairos Teaching Team at SFS, and recently, we wrote an article together to help stewards prepare to give an account for their stewardship. Click to read “Spiritual Formation and Stewardship”.

“Not for ourselves, but others is the grand law of nature, inscribed by the hand of God on every part of creation. Not for itself, but others, does the sun dispense its beams; not for themselves, but others, do the clouds distil their showers; not for herself, but others, does the earth unlock her treasures; not for themselves, but others, do the trees produce their fruits, or the flowers diffuse their fragrance and display their various hues. So, not for himself, but others, are the blessings of Heaven bestowed on man.

And whenever, instead of diffusing them around, he devotes them exclusively to his own gratification, and shuts himself up in the dark and flinty caverns of selfishness, he transgresses the great law of creation. He cuts himself off from the created universe, and its Author. He sacrilegiously converts to his own use the favors which were given him for the relief of others, and must be considered, not only as an unprofitable, but as a fraudulent servant, who has worse than wasted his Lord’s money. He, who thus lives only to himself, and consumes the bounty of Heaven upon his lusts, or consecrates it to the demon of avarice, is a barren rock in a fertile plain; he is a thorny bramble in a fruitful vineyard; he is the grave of God’s blessings.”

Edward Payson (1783-1827) American Congregationalist preacher in Selections from the Conversations and Unpublished Writings of Rev. Edward Payson, excerpt from “Universal Law of Benevolence” (Boston: Crocker & Brewster, 1836) 171.

So what is the “universal law of benevolence” for Payson (and us)? Not for ourselves but others. We are blessed to be a blessing! Don’t let God’s generosity toward you, stop with you. Scripture commands that those with more than enough must enjoy and share God’s blessings (cf. 1 Timothy 6:17-19). Let us resolve together not to be fraudulent servants but faithful stewards!

“But does not the Apostle [Paul] direct us to ‘follow after charity’ And does he not term it ‘a more excellent way.’ He does direct us to ‘follow after charity;’ but not after that alone. His words are, ‘follow after charity;’ and ‘desire spiritual gifts.’ (1 Corinthians 14:1) Yea, ‘follow after charity;’ and desire to spend and to be spent for your brethren. ‘Follow after charity;’ and as you have opportunity do good to all men.”

John Wesley (1703-1791) Anglican minister in “Upon Our Lord’s Sermon On The Mount: Discourse Four” Sermon 24.3.3, delivered in October 1740.

Wesley rightly argues the social aspect of Christianity in this sermon: that we have been made alive in Christ to spend ourselves and to be spent for others. People can’t see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven if our faith secludes us from society (cf. Matthew 5:16).

As Wesley suggests elsewhere in this sermon, let us retreat each evening and morning to sit with Lord and experience renewal and refreshment and then, empowered by the Holy Spirit, let us desire to spend and to be spent for others by doing good as we have opportunity.

“The greatest deeds without heart do not convince the Savior that a person belongs to Him. To move mountains, to drive out devils, to heal the sick, does not mean that He acknowledges us as His own, for when people will say on that day,

On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many deeds of power in your name?’ Then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; go away from me, you evildoers.’ Matthew 7:22-23

On the other hand the most completely powerless, the absolutely lowest, sin-laden person who comes to grace, who has not one moment of time left to work and act for [the Savior], is in for just as friendly, loving, sweet Lord and Master, as the one who has done works in God in huge number.”

Nikolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf (1700-1760) in Christian Life and Witness: Count Zinzendorf’s 1738 Berlin Speeches, excerpt from “The Sixth Speech” edited by Gary S. Kinkel (PTMS 140; Eugene: Wipf & Stock, 2010) 50.

My family has a copy of this great old board game we love to play called “the Generosity Game” that is a parody on “the Game of Life.” Of course the winner of the latter is all about accumulation, while the winner of the former is the one who stores up the most treasures in heaven.

What I love most about the game is that before every opportunity to give you have to draw a card to see if your heart is right or not. If your heart is right you store up treasures in heaven and if it’s not you don’t. Before each time that each of us has an opportunity to give in real life, let us resolve to make sure our hearts are right, otherwise our acts are worthless.

Father in Heaven, please by your Holy Spirit, align our hearts with yours, so that our generosity reflects your love and grace to the world, in the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.