Kar Yong Lim: Paul’s Theology of Generosity and Care for the Poor

“Paul’s understanding of generosity requires that there must be equality in the body of Christ where the wealthy are required to provide for the needs of the poor…it is through one’s generosity that the confession of the gospel is authenticated [cf. 2 Cor 8:24].

Paul’s understanding of generosity…is timely today especially in many instances where the rich are getting richer, and the poor, poorer. Christian generosity would require that a relative proportion of giving should be guided accordingly.

The wealthier should be challenged to give more in terms of higher percentage, compared to those who are poorer so that the confession of the gospel of Jesus Christ can be authenticated through love in action.”

Kar Yong Lim, excerpts from PDF entitled: Paul’s Theology of Generosity and Care for the Poor.

“The greatest issue facing the world today, with all its heartbreaking needs, is whether those who, by profession or culture, are identified as ‘Christians’ will become disciples – students, apprentices, practitioners – of Jesus Christ, steadily learning from him how to live the life of the Kingdom of the Heavens into every corner of human existence.”

Dallas Willard, The Great Omission: Reclaiming Jesus’ Essential Teachings on Discipleship (San Francisco: HarperCollins, 2006) xv.

“You lead people to become disciples of Jesus by ravishing them with a vision of life in the kingdom of the heavens in the fellowship of Jesus. And you do this by proclaiming, manifesting, and teaching the kingdom to them in the manner learned from Jesus himself. You thereby change the belief system that governs their lives.”

Dallas Willard, Divine Conspiracy: Rediscovering Our Hidden Life in God (San Francisco: HarperCollins, 1998) 305.

Today’s two-part meditation is honor of a brilliant scholar and beloved disciple of Jesus Christ who befriended and inspired me many years ago in a long conversation together in Long Beach, CA.

While I was seeking advice on teaching stewardship and generosity in the seminary setting, Willard paused, then expressed: “it may be one of the most important if not the most important topics you could teach.”

From there Dallas was generous with wisdom on making our churches and schools places where followers of Jesus are taught to handle possessions according to the Master’s instructions, by leaders who are living out the gospel.

Undoubtedly, Dallas Willard (September 4, 1936 – May 8, 2013) heard these words yesterday: “Well done, good and faithful steward. Enter into the joy of the Lord.”

“We are committed to being good stewards of God’s grace and your gifts.”

Hector Rivas, Potter’s House 2012 Annual Report, 9.

Visit the Potter’s House Guatemala website to view the 7-minute Annual Report video or to view the report in pdf form. Please take a moment to view the video and/or the report to see the place my family is returning from May 25-June 1 and to see how God is at work in the garbage dump.

Who can be compared with the LORD our God, who is enthroned on high? Far below him are the heavens and the earth. He stoops to look, and he lifts the poor from the dirt and the needy from the garbage dump. He sets them among princes, even the princes of his own people! Psalm 113:5-8 NLT

“True greatness, true leadership, is achieved not by reducing men to one’s service but in giving oneself in selfless service to them. And that is never done without cost.” (cf. Mark 10:42-45)

J. Oswald Sanders, Spiritual Leadership (Chicago: Moody Press, 1986) 20.

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Matthew 7:7-8

“Ask, as a beggar asks alms.’’ Those that would be rich in grace, must betake themselves to the poor trade of begging, and they shall find it a thriving trade. “Ask; represent your wants and burdens to God, and refer yourselves to him for support and supply, according to his promise [in Matthew 7:7-8].”

Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible, notes on Matthew 7:7-11.

“No one would remember the Good Samaritan if he’d only had good intentions. He had money as well.” (Cf. Luke 10:25-37)

Margaret Thatcher, British Prime Minister, in Television Interview with Brian Walden on January 6, 1986.

“How do we know about God’s love, God’s generosity, God’s kindness, God’s forgiveness? Through our parents, our friends, our teachers, our pastors, our spouses, our children … they all reveal God to us. But as we come to know them, we realize that each of them can reveal only a little bit of God. God’s love is greater than theirs; God’s goodness is greater than theirs; God’s beauty is greater than theirs.

At first we may be disappointed in these people in our lives.  For a while we thought that they would be able to give us all the love, goodness, and beauty we needed.  But gradually we discover that they were all signposts on the way to God.”

Henri Nouwen (1932-1996) in Bread for the Journey entry for May 4 (San Francisco: Harper, 1997).

“The governing principle of life in the Christian community is love, for God and for one another. The two can be distinguished but never separated, and Christians must learn that their professed love for God in heaven will be judged by their behavior toward their fellow believers here on earth.”

Gerald Bray, Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture: James, 1-2 Peter, 1-3 John, Jude (Downers Grove: IVP, 2000) xxiii.

“Have you ever thought about this before? “I need to be careful how much I give away because I don’t want to end up not having enough for myself.” If you have, you’ve got lots of company. My first response to this fear-based comment is, “Where is our trust – is it in our provisions or in our Provider?”

But just for the sake of discussion, let’s say you actually became so wildly generous that you ended up with no surplus, no reserves and not even enough to take care of your own personal needs for the future. Here is my question for you, “What would be wrong with living a hand to mouth existence, if it is God’s hand to your mouth?”

E. G. “Jay” Link, The Better Way Giving Series, p. 6. Download it in pdf form at:

http://www.stewardshipministries.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Better-Way-Giving-Sermon-Guide.pdf

Lord Jesus,
You came to show us that the meaning of life consists in giving. You told us that those who cling too tightly to what they have, without thought of You or others, end up losing everything.

You offered us new values by which to measure the worth of a person’s life. Help us to realize it is not temporal success or riches or fame that gives life meaning. Rather, it is the service rendered to You and others that brings fulfillment and makes our lives worthwhile.

May all our service help build the kingdom of God, and may our obedience bring true freedom, our generosity increase love, our sacrifices bear much fruit, and our death lead to eternal life.
Amen.

ICSC Stewardship Prayer for Generosity