Symeon the New Theologian: Good things from God

“Our good Master gives Himself to His true servants and fills their every desire and longing, as much as they want and beyond, and fills them with every good thing, keeping nothing back, and generously provides them unceasingly with incorruptible and everlasting delight.”

Symeon the New Theologian (c. 949-1022) in Ethical Discourses as recounted in The Quotable Saint, ed. R.E. Guiley (New York: Visionary Living, 2002) 221.

Some experiences can only described as gifts from God. After returning from an amazing trip to Korea, I am off to KC this morning to attend World Series game two tonight with my close friend and MLB historian, Dan Busby. Many know him as president of the ECFA. Through him, God has provided a ticket to my 17th World Series, and even better, we get to enjoy a day of fellowship together!

“What regret would be yours at the hour of death, should you see yourself deprived of the crown which awaits you if you are faithful in generously following the light that our Lord gives you. And, to tell the truth, you will only find peace and rest when you have sacrificed all for God.”

Mary Margaret (1647-1690) in Life and Writings of St Margaret Mary as recounted in The Quotable Saint, ed. R.E. Guiley (New York, 2002) 233.

Let’s live with no regrets and sacrifice all for God. Except it’s not really a sacrifice because in the words of Paul to the church in Philippi. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain! Philippians 1:21

“Do not let your peace depend on what is outside you; you will see that our Lord will supply for everything when you are satisfied with Him alone, and you will find more in Him than all creatures together.”

Claude de la Colombière (1641-1682) in a letter as recounted in The Quotable Saint, ed. by R. E. Guiley (New York, 2002) 197.

Do we live and give like we believe God is our supply and satisfaction? When we don’t, our fearful hoarding, materialistic spending, and/or lack of generosity are likely symptoms of spiritual heart trouble. When we do, we take hold of peace and are positioned for generosity. This week in Korea we have been blessed to meet Christian leaders who exhibit peace rooted in the belief God is their supply and satisfaction.

Dear [Gaius], you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers and sisters, even though they are strangers to you. They have told the church about your love. Please send them on their way in a manner that honors God…We ought therefore to show hospitality to such people so that we may work together for the truth. 3 John 5-6, 8

“Gaius…had gone out of his way to be generous. Those from John’s church who had visited Gaius had come back with a glowing report, and part of the reason for this letter seems to be to thank him. This is love in action…love for the early Christians was not primarily something you did with your heart and emotions. It was something you did with your whole life, not least your money and your home. So it had been with Gaius.”

N. T. Wright in Early Christian Letters for Everyone: James, Peter, John, and Judah (Louisville: WJKP, 2011) 185.

I must pause in Seoul today to honor Sung Wook Chung.

Like Gaius, he faithfully serves the Korean church as a leading theologian and author. This week, he has assisted John Van Drunen and me in opening the doors of ministry between the ECFA in the USA and churches and ministries in Korea through the formation of the CCFK.

Though we don’t return to the USA until Tuesday, we (like the delegation from John’s church in 3 John) will have a glowing report thanks to his assistance, his love in action, and the hospitality of Sarang Church.

Let’s all be like Gaius and go out of our way to be generous and to work together as individuals and congregations for the sake of the gospel.

“Churches that nurture the practice of extravagant generosity take seriously the stewardship of the resources entrusted to them by their members. They take extraordinary precautions to protect the integrity of their financial systems by providing proper checks and balances for those who handle money, preparing regular and accurate financial reports for church leaders and for anyone who requests them and furnishing annual audits to appropriate trustees and financial officers. They operate with transparency, knowing that trust is the currency of financial leadership in the church and that confidence in the motives and competence of staff and volunteers is essential to cultivate giving.”

Robert Schnase in Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations (Nashville: Abingdon, 2007) 122.

Today is a historic day for God’s church in Seoul, South Korea. On behalf of Dan Busby, president of the ECFA, and joined by John Van Drunen, VP and General Counsel of the ECFA, I am signing an MOU to extend encouragement and commendation to Korean leaders for the formation of the CCFK, the Christian Counsel for Financial Transparency in Korea, a separate and distinct entity to serve Christian ministries in Korea.

Like the ECFA in the USA, the CCFK will help churches and ministries enhance trust through greater financial transparency and avoid issues that can hinder (and have hindered) the the spread of the gospel. Through the collective commitment of CCFK members to faithful administration, we pray that God’s people will generously participate in God’s work and ministries will be positioned for Kingdom fruitfulness for God’s glory.

“We cannot belong to ourselves: we must belong to God or to our passions. We have only the one choice of the one yoke or the other. Which appears the most honorable?”

Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556) in Spiritual Exercises as recounted in The Quotable Saint, ed. by R. E. Guiley (New York, 2002) 179.

Many of us spend ourselves pursuing our passions rather than pursuing God and this shows in our credit card statements. We often do this because we have the misconception that if we choose God, we lose enjoyment. Alternatively, God’s Word teaches us that when we sacrifice everything to take hold of Christ’s life [zoe], we will enjoy one hundredfold blessings mixed with suffering now (cf. Mark 10:29-30) and we will enter the unfathomable eternal joy of our Master (cf. Matt 25:21, 23; 1 Cor 2:9). Please choose wisely (cf. Mark 8:36).

“When we coddle the flesh in order to foster its desires, then the passion becomes evil and self-indulgence gives rise to the carnal passions and renders the soul diseased.”

Gregory Palamas (1296-1359) in a letter To The Most Reverend Nun Xenia as recounted in The Quotable Saint ed. R.E. Guiley (New York, 2002) 192.

With all the concern about physical infections like ebola, perhaps we should be mindful of protecting our souls from spiritual disease? To do this we must mortify rather than foster the desires of the flesh, as such activity “diseases” the soul (cf. 1 Timothy 5:6) leading to self-indulgence rather than unselfish generosity and sharing. God help us.

“We have not got Zoe or spiritual life: only Bios or biological life, which is presently going to run down and die. Now the whole offer which Christianity makes is this: that we can, if we let God have His way, come to share in the life of Christ.

If we do, we shall then be sharing a life [Zoe] which was begotten, not made, which always has existed and always will exist. Christ is the Son of God. If we share in this kind of life we also shall be sons of God. We shall love the Father as He does and the Holy Ghost will arise in us.

He came to this world and became a man in order to spread to other men the kind of life [Zoe] he has–by what I call “good infection”. Every Christian is to become a little Christ. The whole purpose of becoming a Christian is simply nothing else.”

C.S. Lewis (1898-1963) in Mere Christianity (New York: HarperCollins, 1980) 177.

I pray readers today grasp the generous gift, the great exchange that Christ offers us, which is often lost in translation (Greek to English), but made abundantly clear by Lewis this morning.

We give up our life [Bios] which is destined for a dead-end, in exchange for Christ’s life [Zoe] and we’ve got the “good infection” which sets us on a path of becoming or conforming to the image of Christ who is loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, and generous…

While everyone is worried about ebola, let’s share life [Zoe], the “good infection” with the world, shall we? Why? Barring Christ’s return, we will all come to the end of our Bios from ebola or some other malady, but those who are partakers of Christ’s Zoe will never die.

This comment is linked to the three servants in the parable of the Talents in Matthew 25:14-30.

“The first two servants are true disciples; the third one is not. A person’s faithfulness is evidence as to whether he or she is truly one of Jesus own.”

Michael J. Wilkins in NIV Life Application Commentary (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2004) 808. Michael was one of my profs back in seminary. I love his straightforward tone.

The third servant clearly did not know the Master. He thought the master who owned everything was “harsh” (25:24). No wonder he responded by hoarding rather than putting to work the Master’s money.

So what’s the secret to entering the abundant joy of the Master? You got to know the Master. Those who do function from a place where they know the Master, will put the money He has given us to work.

Are you the real deal?

If so, it should show by how you are putting the Master’s money to work. If this sounds convicting, know that it is not what I want from you, but what I want for you…to enter the Master’s joy!

God has opened the door for me to preach a sermon on this text in all four services at Sae Ro Nam Church in Daejeon, South Korea, this Sunday. I appreciate your prayers for safety and strength as I travel to Seoul, Pohang, and Daejeon, South Korea this week.

“Wealth is regarded as a good thing by most people. But that is not entirely true: it depends how you use it. If wealth were a good thing in itself and on its own account, then everyone who possesses it out to be good. Yet not all rich people are virtuous, one those who manage their money in a responsible way. Therefore wealth is not a good thing in itself, it is only an instrument for doing good.”

John Chrysostom (347-407) in Commentary on Isaiah as recounted in The Quotable Saint ed. by R. E. Guiley (New York, 2002) 179.

I appreciate where Chrysostom goes with this idea. I also appreciate how it syncs with biblical teaching. What does our Lord say to those with wealth? Share it with the needy (cf. Mark 10:21-22)! What does the Apostle Paul echo? Enjoy and share it (cf. 1 Tim 6:17-19)! When wealthy people do this, wealth serves it’s intended purpose as an instrument of good for all.

Some debate this notion saying God made all of creation and declared it “good” so isn’t wealth “good” too? We must remember that God gave us the ability to produce wealth and instructions on what to do with it (cf. Deut 8:18). Sadly, His people in the OT failed to obey His instructions for the use of wealth, and my prayer is that we don’t forget today because our actions show whether we are His disciples or not.