Tertullian: Can a poor Christian be rich?

Home » Meditations

Tertullian: Can a poor Christian be rich?

“But that many of us are called poor, this is not our disgrace, but our glory; for as our mind is relaxed by luxury, so it is strengthened by frugality, and yet who can be poor if he does not want, if he does not crave for the possessions of others, if he is rich towards God? He rather is poor, who, although he has much, desires more.”

Tertullian (160-220) in Apologetical Works, Argument XXXVI.

Read more

Randal Wiedemann: Why do Christians call this “Good Friday” anyway?

“I’ve always wondered why they call it Good Friday, when in fact, it was bad Friday, dark Friday, evil Friday…Perhaps the Church Fathers wanted to deny Satan any credit of victory in the Easter story. Although it was bad at the time, it ultimately turned into the greatest victory mankind has ever witnessed. Christ defeated death, defeated sin, and won for us eternal life. It culminated on Good Friday. Good Friday gave us the cross of Jesus Christ…We would not know of His ultimate generosity and love unless this story were told.”

Randal Wiedemann, Five Minutes with Jesus: Transforming Power (Bloomington: CrossBooks, 2011) 48.

Read more

Dixie Fraley: When is the Christian most like Christ?

“We’re most like God when we’re giving.”

Dixie Fraley at Generous Giving Conference 2001, Phoenix, AZ.

Read more

Matthew Henry: What business should the Christian be about each day?

“It ought to be the business of every day to prepare for our last day.”

Matthew Henry as cited by Richard J. Krejcir in Contemporary thoughts amongst Evangelical Leaders why Stewardship is Declining.

Read more

Eric Fromm: What is the definition of a rich Christian?

“In the sphere of material things giving means being rich. Not he who has much is rich, but he who gives much.”

Eric Fromm, The Art of Loving (New York: Continuum) 22.

Read more

Tricia Mayer: What happens within a Christian when they give?

“Giving produces freedom 100% of the time: freedom from the bondage of things, freedom to receive more from God, and freedom to be a conduit of blessing to others.”

Tricia Mayer as cited by Richard J. Krejcir in Contemporary thoughts amongst Evangelical Leaders why Stewardship is Declining.

Read more

John Calvin: What happens when riches find their way into the heart of the Christian?

“Where riches hold the dominion of the heart, God has lost His authority.”

John Calvin, Commentary on the Harmony of the Evangelists: Matthew, Mark, and Luke trans. William Pringle (Edinburgh: Calvin Translation Society, 1845) 337.

Read more

Rick Warren: What should Christian leaders be teaching?

“One of the single-most important tasks of leadership is to teach people to give.”

Rick Warren, Teaching Your People to Be Generous. Exponential ’04.

Read more

Ken Williams: Why don’t Christians give to the church?

“The reason Christians don’t give to their church is not because of apathy but because of ignorance. They have never been taught what God’s word says about good stewardship.”

Interview with Ken Williams by Generous Giving. Generous Giving Journal: Pastors Edition, October 2003.

Read more

Randy Alcorn: Should Christians store up treasures?

“Jesus didn’t tell us not to store up treasures. On the contrary, he commanded us to. He simply said, “Stop storing them up in the wrong place, and start storing them up in the right place.”

Randy Alcorn, Money, Possessions, and Eternity (Tyndale 2003) 94.

Read more
« Previous PageNext Page »