Carlo Leget echoes Thomas Aquinas: All creation is a gift that reflects God’s generosity

“Creation has its origins in God’s own overflowing goodness. It is purely a gift, ‘grace’ in a sense. It did not have to be there and its existence has no other purpose than the reflection and manifestation of God’s goodness.”

Carlo Leget, Living with God: Thomas Aquinas on the Relation between Life on Earth and ‘Life’ after Death (Thomas Insitituut Utrecht, 1997) 70.

“Those who are rich must see God giving them their riches, and giving them to enjoy them richly; for many have riches, but enjoy them poorly, not having a heart to use them…Those are truly rich who are rich in good works…Ministers must not be afraid of the rich; be they ever so rich, they must speak to them, and charge them. They must caution them against pride, and vain confidence in their riches. Stir them up to works of piety and charity. This is the way for the rich to lay up in store for themselves for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.”

Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible. Notes from 1 Tim 6:17-19.

Today I want to honor my “truly rich” mother, Patsy Hoag. It’s her birthday! Few people enjoy and share material and spiritual blessings with such Christ-like generosity. Thanks for being a great example.

“Generosity is a spontaneous movement of the heart to give of oneself and share one’s resources. “What shall I give to the Lord for all the Lord has given to me?” (Psalm 116:2). Christian generosity is first a response to the generosity of God toward us…We have nothing that we have not receive from God. All of this flows from God’s boundless generosity. The very nature of God is to give in unmeasured love.”

Gerald Fagin, Putting on the Heart of Christ (2010) 81.

“What is the burden of poverty? The having of nothing. What is the burden of riches? The having more than is necessary. Both he is laden, and thou art laden.

Bear with him the having nothing, let him bear with thee the having superfluity; that your burdens may be made equal. For if thou givest to the needy, thou dost lessen to him who hath nothing his burden, which was the having nothing; if thou hast given to him, he begins to have; his burden which is called the having nothing is lessened; and he too lessens thy burden, which is called the having superfluity.

Both of you are walking on God’s way in the pilgrimage of this world; thou wast bearing great superfluous wealth, and he had none; he hath joined himself unto thee, desiring to be thy companion; do not neglect, do not despise, do not abandon him. Dost thou not see how much thou art bearing? Give something of it to him who is bearing nothing, and hath nothing, and thou wilt at once assist thy companion, and relieve thyself.”

Augustine (354-430), Bishop of Hippo, Sermon 114 on Galatians 6 “Bear Ye Another’s Burdens” excerpt from section 9.

If I give all I possess to the poor…but do not have love, I gain nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:3

“Though I divide all my real and all my personal estate into small portions (so the original word properly signifies) and diligently bestow it on those who, I have reason to believe, are the most proper objects; yet if I am proud, passionate, or discontented; if I give way to any of these tempers; whatever good I may do to others, I do none to my own soul. O how pitiable a case is this!

Who would not grieve that these beneficent men should lose all their labour! It is true, many of them have a reward in this world, if not before, yet after their death. They have costly and pompous funerals. They have marble monuments of the most exquisite workmanship. They have epitaphs wrote in the most elegant strain, which extol their virtues to the skies. Perhaps they have yearly orations spoken over them, to transmit their memory to all generations.

So have many founders of religious houses, of colleges, alms-houses, and most charitable institutions. And it is an allowed rule, that none can exceed in the praise of the founder of his house, college, or hospital. But still what a poor reward is this! Will it add to their comfort or to their misery, suppose (which must be the case if they did not die in faith) that they are in the hands of the devil and his angels.

What insults, what cutting reproaches, would these occasion from their infernal companions! O that they were wise! That all those who are zealous of good works would put them in their proper place; would not imagine they can supply the want of holy tempers, but take care that they may spring from them!”

John Wesley (1703-1791) excerpt from On Charity, Sermon 91.8.

“You want to change the world? … Stop what you are doing, thrust your body and your wealth in, and let’s get rolling. Are you truly in? Or are there other financial and family constraints holding you back today? … I fear that many people’s legacy will be that “He Worried Better than Anyone Else” … I can hear it now … that will be the theme at our funerals. “He watched CNN, or Fox News, or read the NY Times more than anyone I know. He knew all the issues and looked them up in Wikipedia and Google and cared so much … but DID nothing. This is his “Legacy”. Really?

… Having personal goals that specifically align with your wealth are so much more important than the worries of today. So how do we stay focused? Let’s get in the game of living and nailing these goals and not be someone that leaves this world with regrets and concerns. I would love to walk alongside you serving others that are most important to you, using our wealth to better the world instead of hoarding it, and trusting that history will repeat itself in both the good and the bad. Let’s be the ones to “Finish Well” and die well!”

John A. Scott, excerpt from Q3 edition of Cedrus 180: A Reverse Angle, Well Balanced.

I don’t quote many financial advisors because so few sound like Jesus. Few tell the rich to “thrust their wealth in” and urge generosity “instead of hoarding”. I cite him because he’s a follower of Christ who gives counter-cultural advice. Listen to him. Don’t worry better than anyone else. Put whatever you’ve got in play, and God may change the world through you! For doing so, may we all hear the words: “Well Done!”

“Your giving can effect extraordinary change. Pick a need, country, people group, an organization focused on empowerment and sustainable independence. You could be an answer to countless prayers. The poor don’t lack ambition, imagination, or intelligence; most simply lack resources. We have what they require and more than we need. We could share.”

Jen Hatmaker, Seven: Clothes, Spending, Waste, Stress, Media, Possessions, Food – An Experimental Mutiny against Excess (Nashville: B&H Publishing, 2012) 169.

What am I doing for the poor today? I’m speaking at the Peoria Rescue Ministries annual Stewardship celebration, and in my remarks, I too will share the Gospel. Pray with me that God will open hearts to Him and to generously share with the poor in Peoria, IL.

Meanwhile, my wife, Jenni, posted this quote on her Facebook page last night. Along with it she reminded everyone she knows to give to Potter’s House in support of VBS among the Treasures (the destitute poor of the garbage dump) of Guatemala City.

Every $20 helps one of 2,000 children go through the VBS curriculum Jenni wrote. The theme is: “Who is God?” Also, mark your calendar to pray as VBS runs through Thanksgiving. Ask God to lift the Treasures out of the dump and draw them to Himself.

He lifts the poor from the dust and the needy from the garbage dump. He sets them among princes, placing them in seats of honor. For all the earth is the LORD’s, and he has set the world in order. 1 Samuel 2:8

“Seek first the kingdom of God—and then your amusements will regulate themselves. But if you will not do this; while I exhort you to act as those who must give account at the judgment bar of God—suffer me as a fellow mortal bound to appear at the same tribunal, now to tell you.

That all amusements which prepare the soul for the duties of religion are right, and every Christian is bound to engage in them, and those which do not, will be condemned at the bar of God. But if you do not repent of your sins and turn to God, whatever course you may take—whatever your amusements may be—turn which way you will, God is a consuming fire. You sport on the brink of ruin…

Why are you anxious about your amusements? You cannot long retain them. You are liable to be stripped of all in a moment. Then take them away. And would you not then exclaim—all my joys are gone. Ye have taken away my gods and what have I more? If such desponding thoughts arise, your case is truly alarming. If you have now no better portion you are poor indeed—poor indeed, without a Saviour…

Life and death are now before you and God is witness to your choice. If a bleeding Saviour has no charms for you—if the thunder of his vengeance does not strike terror through your guilty soul; then go on—March on your way rejoicing—Trample under foot the Son of God—Sport with eternal vengeance and deny the thunder of his power. Your fair morning will soon be turned into darkness, your course run—your bodies fall in the grave, and your souls into the hands of the living God.”

Asahel Nettleton (1783-1844), excerpt from sermon “Rejoice Young Man…” in Sermons from the Second Great Awakening (Ames: International Outreach, 1995).

“Most holy and eternal God, Lord and Sovereign of all the creatures, I humbly present to your Divine Majesty myself, my soul and body, my thoughts and my words, my actions and intentions, my passions and my sufferings, to be disposed by you to your glory; to be blessed by your providence; to be guided by your counsel; to be sanctified by your Spirit; and afterwards that my body and soul may be received into glory: for nothing can perish which is under your custody; and the enemy of souls cannot devour what is your portion, nor take it out of your hands. This day, O Lord, and all the days of my life, I dedicate to your honour, and the actions of my calling to the uses of grace, and the religion of all my days to be united to the merits and intercession of my holy Saviour Jesus, that in him and for him I may be pardoned and accepted. Amen.

Jeremy Taylor (1613-1667), The Rule and Exercises of Holy Living (Philadelphia: J.W. Bradley, 1860) 70.

“Let God be acknowledged the supreme, the original Benefactor of the world, and the proper Author of all our blessings! And let all his creatures, in the height of their benevolence and usefulness, own that they are but the distributors of his alms, or the instruments of conveying the gifts of his hand.

Let us acknowledge the light of yonder sun, the breath that now heaves our lungs, and fans the vital flame, the growing plenty that is now bursting its way through the clods of earth, the water that bubbles up in springs, that flows in streams and rivers, or rolls at large in the ocean; let us own, I say, that all these are the bounties of his hand, who supplies with good the various ranks of being, as high as the most exalted angel, and as low as the young ravens, and the grass of the field…

One prayer, and I am done. May our divine Benefactor, among his other blessings, bestow upon us that of a thankful heart, and enable us to give sincere, fervent, and perpetual praise to his name, through Jesus Christ, his unspeakable gift! Amen.”

Samuel Davies (1723-1761) excerpt from his short, passionate sermon, “Ingratitude to God—a Heinous but General Iniquity.”