Maltbie Davenport Babcock: Things are tools not prizes

“Property is a divine trust. Things are tools not prizes. Life is not for self-indulgence but for self-devotion. When, instead of saying, “the world owes me a living,” men shall say, “I owe the world a life,” then the kingdom will come in power.

We owe everything to God but our sins. Fatherland, pedigree, home-life, schooling, Christian training. All are God’s gifts. Every member of the body or faculty of the mind is ours providentially. There is no accomplishment in our lives that is not rooted in opportunities and powers we had nothing to do with achieving.

“What hast thou that thou didst not receive?” If God gives us the possibilities and the power to get wealth, to acquire influence, to be forces in this world, what is the true conception of life but divine ownership and human administration? “Of Thine own we render Thee.” All there is of “me” is God’s estate, and I am his tenant and agent.

On the day of our birth a new lease is signed. On the day of our death accounts are closed. Our fidelity is the interest on God’s principal. “That I may receive mine own with interest,” is the divine intention. So live, that when thy summons comes to give an account of thy stewardship, it may be done with joy, and not with grief!”

Maltbie Davenport Babcock (1858-1901) American clergyman in Forty Thousand Quotations, Prose and Poetical, compiled by Charles Noel Douglas (London: George G. Harrap & Co., 1917) 1675. Babcock was the author of the famous song, This is My Father’s World.

I am speaking on faith and work in God’s economy in New Hampshire tonight. Pray for me as I connect with New England pastors and lay leaders at EFCA Camp Spofford. Faithful stewardship is at the core of my message, and it is aptly summed up by this zealous clergyman, Babcock, who ministered in New England many years ago.

“If any man is rich and powerful, he comes under the law of God by which the higher branches must take the burnings of the sun, and shade those that are lower; by which the tall trees must protect the weak plants beneath them.”

Henry Ward Beecher (1813-1887) American Congregationalist clergyman, in Forty Thousand Quotations, Prose and Poetical, compiled by Charles Noel Douglas (London: George G. Harrap & Co., 1917) 1675.

This reading struck me this morning as I am in D.C. and going to a Washington Nationals game this afternoon with Dan Busby, Randy Kung, and Cameron Doolittle. They are Christian brothers who represent the generations before and after me.

God, as we flourish financially, grant us the strength and grace to provide shade and shelter for others, so that those beneath us grow strong so as to provide shade for others someday. Amen.

“We can set our deeds to the music of grateful heart, and see to round our lives into a hymn—the melody of which will be recognized by all who come in contact with us, and the power of which shall not be evanescent, like the voice of the singer, but perennial, like the music of the spheres.”

William Mackergo Taylor (1829–1895) an American Congregationalist minister in Forty Thousand Quotations, Prose and Poetical, compiled by Charles Noel Douglas (London: George G. Harrap & Co., 1917) 886.

I am flying today. From Chicago to Denver, then back to Washington Dulles. When I fly I listen to music on my iPhone, but today’s reading let me to think about what music my life makes. What do people hear as they “listen” to the hymn of my life?

If we want to change the tune of our lives, Jesus (and likely Taylor) would say, have a grateful heart. Lord, give us grateful hearts, so that people don’t hear us, the singer, but hear You through us.

“Work was made for man, and not man for work. Work is a man’s servant, both in its results to the worker and the world. Man is not work’s servant, save as an almost universal perversion has made him such.”

Josiah Gilbert Holland (1819-1881) in Forty Thousand Quotations, Prose and Poetical, compiled by Charles Noel Douglas (London: George G. Harrap & Co., 1917) 1984.

We don’t work for money; we work to bring glory to God. Wages are but a by-product. Work was made for us, before the fall of man, as part of God’s design, His economy of all things (cf. Genesis 1:28; 2:15).

Let’s resolve to work today in way that reflects His generosity, His kindness, His love (cf. Colossians 3:17, 23-24).

Then, at the end of the day, let us take time for prayerful, personal reflection (cf. The Daily Examen of Ignatius) in order to detect God’s presence and discern his direction for our work.

Our daily work may be our greatest platform for exhibiting Christian generosity.

“Spirituality is best manifested on the ground, not in the air. Rapturous day-dreams, flights of heavenly fancy, longings to see the Invisible, are less expensive than than the plain doing of duty. To have bread excite thankfulness and a drink of water send the heart to God is better than sighs for the unattainable. To plow a straight furrow on Monday or dust room well on Tuesday or kiss a bumped forehead on Wednesday is worth more than the most ecstatic thrill under Sunday eloquence. Spirituality is seeing God in the common things, and showing God in common tasks.”

Maltbie Davenport Babcock (1858-1901) American clergyman in 1663 Forty Thousand Quotations, Prose and Poetical, compiled by Charles Noel Douglas (London: George G. Harrap & Co., 1917) 886. Babcock was the author of the famous song, This is My Father’s World.

Today I am teaching on “The Economy of God in the Scriptures: A Biblical Theology for Integrating Faith and Work” and lest that sound too lofty, it is essentially demonstrating that God has an economy, a plan, a design, that brings all things together in Him, both in heaven and on earth, and it is rooted in Christ (cf. Ephesians 1:9-10)! The world’s teaching is contrary to the economy of God, so the truth must be set forth with love from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith (cf. 1 Timothy 1:4-5). Lastly, God’s economy, His plan, is worked out through the Church (cf. Ephesians 3:8-10). That’s us. How can we do this in a manner that exhibits Christian generosity? Babcock says it best: by “showing God in common tasks.”

“Do not let the empty cup be your first teacher of the blessings you had when it was full. Do not let a hard place here and there in the bed destroy your rest. Seek, as a plain duty, to cultivate a buoyant, joyous sense of the crowded kindnesses of God in your daily life.”

Alexander Maclaren (1826-1910) Scottish minister in Forty Thousand Quotations, Prose and Poetical, compiled by Charles Noel Douglas (London: George G. Harrap & Co., 1917) 886.

Crowded kindnesses of God.

I was walking our dog, Joy, earlier this week by myself, and it was gorgeous out. I started giving thanks for the day, the fresh air, and the beauty God’s creation (the picture above was taken on another day, but the same walk).

I started praising God for the fact that both kids were off to a great start with school. Then I gave thanks for my wife, my life, my family, and friends. I pretty much came to grips with the fact that life is crowded with the kindnesses of God. I think many people miss these kindnesses altogether, because they are not looking for them. Stop to reflect with thankfulness on the crowded kindnesses of God today.

Sammy will enjoy such walks with Joy over the next few days as Jenni and I fly to Chicago where I will teach for a couple days. We are blessed to go be with my brother, David, and his wife, Joanna. Thank you, Lord!

“God is pleased with no music below so much as the thanksgiving songs of relieved widows and supported orphans; of rejoicing, comforted, and thankful persons.”

Jeremy Taylor (1613-1667) English cleric in Forty Thousand Quotations, Prose and Poetical, compiled by Charles Noel Douglas (London: George G. Harrap & Co., 1917) 886.

At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!” Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked. The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. Acts 10:1-4

What prayers and gifts to the poor does God see from you?

“I believe there is a direct correlation between wastefulness and a lack of gratitude for the things we are fortunate enough to possess. After all, it only makes sense that if someone is truly grateful, truly appreciates what he or she has been given, the person will take good care of it. Whether a child with a common toy or a wealthy businessman with a yacht, those who are grateful will be good stewards of their possessions. They will get the longest life and the most out of the things for which they are truly thankful. In fact, as true stewards, they will continually be mindful of the value of things that they have and how these things can be used to benefit others.”

John M. Templeton, Jr. in Thrift and Generosity: The Joy of Giving (West Conshohocken: Templeton Foundation Press) 23-24.

Think of ways to cultivate gratitude in your life and the lives of those around you. The Apostle Paul suggested that we simply give thanks in all circumstances. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18. Take five minutes today to give thanks for whatever comes to mind.

“We must be known for our immovable commitment to the standards and values of Jesus—those of respect, faithfulness, love, grace, mercy, duty, justice, forgiveness, compassion and generosity—all born out of the genuine spirituality that results from a depth of relationship with God. The extent to which any local church is not primarily known for these qualities speaks to the challenge ahead of us.

The moment has come for the church to abandon, once and for all, a theology of judgement, a theology of in or out, sinner or saint, forgiven or not. We must more fully embrace a theology…which is able to celebrate the goodness of creation without ignoring the great problem of sin. The time has come for the church to ensure that the main thing is the main thing.

Generous churches see the good in others and respond with a spirit of kindness and open-handedness rather than judgement. Generous churches acknowledge the issue of sin in each individual’s life, but they do so within a context of recognizing their own daily battle in this area. Generous churches do not look down on people; they look across at people. A generous church, to rephrase the words of the famous nineteenth-century Baptist preacher, C. H. Spurgeon, is a group of beggars telling other beggars where to find bread.

We are not some kind universalist entity that says that everybody receives salvation whether or not they acknowledge Christ; instead we recognize the greatness and weakness in all people. None of us are perfect—all have fallen short. Generous mission starts with the simple but profound truth: ‘God loves you whoever you are, whatever you’ve done, however scarred you are by sin. God loves you!’ A generous church recognises that its tone and emphasis are as important as the core of its message.”

Steve Chalke in Intelligent Church: A Journey Towards Christ-Centred Community (Grand Rapids: Zondervan).

What’s your response to Chalke? I consider it a call to action. Generous churches are communities of generous Christ-followers living on generous mission. Who’s in?

“Praying is an act of stewardship in which even the smallest child can participate. Praying helps us focus on the idea that everything we do is done with God’s help and for God’s glory. If you’re not comfortable with making up a prayer, you can use the stewardship prayer in this book.”

Stewardship Prayer
Dear God, I thank you for everything you have given me. My gifts of time and talents are precious; help me use them to do your will. Please help me realize that I need to share all of my gifts with the Church and others. Help me be a generous, forgiving, and holy. I offer you this day all I think, and do, and say. With the help of Jesus, your Son, I will try to love everyone. Amen.

Elizabeth M. Johnson in The Catholic Kid’s Guide to Stewardship (Mystic, CT: Twenty-Third Publications, 2004) 7, 53.

What is the role of prayer in your understanding and practice of stewardship? How might this prayer shape your stewardship? Can you think of anyone you might share it with?