Robert A. Guelich: God’s redemptive force

“Since God’s sovereign rule and all the benefits for our material needs come from God to us, [Matthew 6:19-34] suggests by implication that we can become part of God’s redemptive force in history by sharing these benefits with those who are in need…Part of the presence of the Kingdom is indeed material blessings. Therefore, we can hardly live under God’s reign, receive His blessings, and not use them to help alleviate the evil of hunger and need elsewhere…Not only do we recognize that all we have comes from God, but we also recognize that sharing that with others to remove their suffering is to defeat the enemy and to “seek the Kingdom…on earth as in heaven.”

Robert A. Guelich in The Sermon on the Mount: A Foundation for Understanding (W Publishing Group, 1982) 373.

As followers of Jesus Christ, are we functioning as “God’s redemptive force” today or do we look no different from the rest of the world?

“Seeing the inbreaking reign of God when most do not, the follower of Jesus is overjoyed at the opportunity to participate in the kingdom’s dynamic advance in every area, economic life included. Living simply, not hoarding wealth, and trusting God to meet basic material needs are practices that free people to offer generosity to and seek justice for and with the poor and hungry and, in general, to follow Jesus. Finally, in turning hearts and eyes in this direction they themselves enjoy the added benefit of a remarkable personal liberation that yanks them from greed, acquisitiveness, and a fruitless worry over treasures that will all too soon pass away.”

David P. Gushee in “The Economic Ethics of Jesus” in Faithful Economics: The Moral Worlds of a Neutral Science, ed. James W. Henderson and John Pisciotta (Waco: Baylor University Press, 2005) 124.

What if submitting to the reign of God and turning our hearts and eyes toward Jesus rather than things is an invitation to “remarkable personal liberation” for everyone? Have you taken hold of it? Or are you filled with “fruitless worry” linked to treasures? Perhaps it is time to revisit the economic instructions of Jesus (cf. Matthew 6:19-34).

“Jesus provided guidance on how to free us from sinful patterns related to our attitude and behavior toward material possessions. Jesus offered a new way of life when he addressed the economic dimensions of their lives. Jesus did not reject personal property but instead rejected selfishness, greed, hoarding, and lack of generosity. Living simply and trusting God to meet our needs frees us to practice generosity and seek justice for the poor and hungry.”

James W. Henderson in “The Christian Perspective on Economic Scholarship” in Faithful Economics: The Moral Worlds of a Neutral Science, ed. James W. Henderson and John Pisciotta (Waco: Baylor University Press, 2005) 13. This is a wonderful scholarly book with economic essays from which I will offer quotes over the next week or so.

Do you think the reason Jesus talked about money so much was because it was the thing people tended to trust in other than God? In that sense, he’s not trying to rob us by instructing us to detach from possessions, but rather, help us. Are we responding in obedience?

Sammy and I are mourning today. Jenni and Sophie are too!

Our pheasant hunting mentor, fly fishing friend, and dear Christian brother, Russ Koeniger, has gone home to be with the Lord. All we know is that he passed unexpectedly in his sleep in his tent while on a backpacking trip over the weekend.

Our sadness is coupled with profound gratitude.

Russ, a.k.a. “Captain”, was a great example to us! He served God wholeheartedly, loved his wife faithfully, cared deeply and led “the Koeniger clan” humbly, and enjoyed being out in God’s creation. Words cannot describe the impact he has had on so many lives, including ours.

When we reflected last night on how to honor him, these lyrics seemed most appropriate: “What we give is all we have. How we love is what will last. And this hope we know will carry us through this life.”

Russ will be dearly missed but not forgotten because of how he lived this life and by his legacy which will continue through his family and the lives of those he touched. Listen to this amazing song (and click to watch the YouTube video) and give thanks today for the gift of this life.

This Life
by The Afters

I come in to tuck her in.
I’m so tired from where I’ve been,
Doing all I can to stay awake.

As she goes on about her day,
I hang on every word she says.
She reaches out and puts her hand in mine.

For a moment, we are here together.
And it hits me that this won’t last forever.

We can’t own it
We just get to hold it for a while.
This Life.
We can’t keep it
Or save it for another time.
This Life.

He was always there for me.
Now he’s fighting just to breathe.
I tell him it’s ok to let go.

As I look into his eyes,
I know that this won’t be the last time.
But for now, we’re taking different roads.

For a moment, we are here together.
And it hits me that this won’t last forever.

We can’t own it
We just get to hold it for a while.
This Life.
We can’t keep it
Or save it for another time.
This Life.

What we give is all we have.
How we love is what will last.
And this hope we know will carry us through this life.
What we give is all we have.
How we love is what will last.
And this hope we know will carry us through this life.

We can’t own it
We just get to hold it for a while.
This Life.
We can’t keep it
Or save it for another time.
This Life.

We were never meant to stay,
So we don’t have to be afraid
Of what is waiting on the other side.
Of this life

We cherish the memories of annual pheasant hunting trips with Russ Koeniger. Click to watch the video of our 2013 hunting trip to the song, Moments Like This, also by The Afters.

“Instead of hoarding possessions, believers should give them away. Such generosity builds an eternal inheritance in God’s Kingdom. Christians should completely trust in God’s loving provision for them; this should free them to show generosity…All the goals and worries of life can be entrusted to the loving heavenly Father who promises to meet every need.”

Bruce Barton in Life Application New Testament Commentary (Livingstone, 2001) 309.

When I reflect on God’s faithfulness to provide, it inspires me to build an inheritance in God’s Kingdom with cheerfulness. How about you?

“Our Lord’s command was, “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over” (Luke 6:38). Yet it was more than a command. It was an invitation to glorious and abundant living. If a person gets his attitude toward money straight, it will help straighten out almost every other area of his life.”

Billy Graham in “Abundant Giving Equals Abundant Living” devotional for May 5 in Unto the Hills: A Daily Devotional (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1986).

Today my son, Sammy, and I are serving as fly fishing guides for Bob Snyder, Gábor Győri, Lindsey Miller, and Allyson McHugh of IHS Global. With the zeal of Billy Graham, IHS Global trains people to share their faith. They also share Graham’s view regarding giving: it’s “an invitation to glorious and abundant living” offered to everyone.

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:3

“To be spiritually poor means, that we do not attach our hearts to worldly possessions, whether God has given us worldly goods or not. And again, to be rich in spirit means to be attached in our hearts to worldly possessions, whether God has given us worldly goods or not. Do not trust in extortion or put vain hope in stolen goods; though your riches increase, do not set your heart on them. Psalm 62:10

Those are spiritually poor who are not self-confident, who keep God before their eyes, and do not live at random, like the world; but who are careful of what they do, and do not do; who honestly compare their lives with the Word of God, and see how our nature is so corrupted by sin that the proper obedience is sadly lacking, and they appear to themselves as the greatest sinners.”

Martin Luther (1483-1546) in Luther’s Explanatory Notes on the Gospels, compiled from his works by Rev. E. Mueller and translated by Rev. P. Anstadt (York, PA: P. Anstadt, 1899) 25.

What are you attached to in your heart?

Are you living “at random like the world” or honestly comparing your life with the Word of God?

“When you practice the spiritual discipline of simplicity, you stop complicating your life with your pace and your possessions…Simplicity’s target, much like that of the other disciplines, is to help us seek God first. It’s so easy to lose sight of how strongly our material possessions control us and how much we actually look to our possessions as sources of emotional comfort. It’s an incredibly strong bond, but you may not even be able to see it.”

George Ohlschlager in Attachments: Why you Love, Feel, and Act the Way You Do ed. by Tim Clinton & Gary Sibcy (Brentwood: Integrity, 2002) 170.

Is your life complicated with your pace and your possessions? Has life gotten so crazy that you find yourself seeking after lots of things leaving little time for God?

“Giving is not what you do after you straighten out your finances. Giving is what you do when you straighten out your heart.”

Jeff Anderson in Divine Applause: Secrets and Rewards of Walking with an Invisible God (Colorado Springs: Multnomah, 2015) 82. He also authored a great book called Plastic Donuts.

My son, Sammy, and I are fly fishing with Jeff Anderson and his son, Cade. I love Jeff and his writings because they cut to the heart of the matter.

What does your giving reveal about your heart?

“When our possessions are attached to our hearts, if the tempest, or the thief, or the pettifogger take away some portion of them from us, what complaints we make, how troubled we are and how impatient! But if our possessions are only attached to the care which God wishes us to have for them, and not to our hearts, if they are taken away from us, we do not lose our good sense or peace of soul.”

Francis de Sales (1567-1622) in Introduction to the Devout Life, ed. and trans. by Allan Ross (Mineola: Dover, 2009) 154.

Today I celebrate the birth of my favorite spiritual director (and the love of my life), Jenni Hoag. She introduced me to this classic work back when she read it in her “Christian Spiritual Formation and Soul Care” certificate program at Denver Seminary. Read it to strengthen your inner person (cf. Ephesians 3:14-21).

Twice a day (when we are both home) we take our dog on a one mile walk together. This photo was taken on our walk a few days ago.