Cyprian of Carthage: Labor Charitably

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Cyprian of Carthage: Labor Charitably

For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. 1 Corinthians 3:11-14

“What, dearest brethren, will be that glory of those who labor charitably — how great and high the joy when the Lord begins to number His people, and, distributing to our merits and good works the promised rewards, to give heavenly things for earthly, eternal things for temporal, great things for small; to present us to the Father, to whom He has restored us by His sanctification; to bestow upon us immortality and eternity, to which He has renewed us by the quickening of His blood; to bring us anew to paradise, to open the kingdom of heaven, in the faith and truth of His promise! Let these things abide firmly in our perceptions, let them be understood with full faith, let them be loved with our whole heart, let them be purchased by the magnanimity of our increasing labors.”

Cyprian of Carthage (190-258) in his Treatise 8, On Works and Alms, 26.

I am sad to draw near the end of this treatise by Cyprian of Carthage. Reading it has been the perfect way to prepare for and start Lent in 2024.

Here Cyprian says to “let these things abide firmly in our perceptions” so our charitable labor will increase and so we can anticipate eternal reward.

Think about it. Seriously, stop what you are doing and think.

If you received a reward that would perish in minutes, you would label it worthless, right? It would be a waste of time and money to pursue.

But if I gave you a reward that would last for millions of years, how would you respond? I hope you would give yourself and the resources you steward toward it.

That’s what Lent is all about. We learn to labor charitably and to direct all we are and all we have away from earthly and toward eternal purposes.

I will give you an opportunity to do this right now. Some have asked me if GTP received sufficient funds to activate the work of a $1.25 million grant at year end.

The answer is no. As I have surrendered this need to God, He has reminded me to trust Him to move people to give in His timing. I am waiting on the LORD.

The need is great, around six figures. And I feel led today to remind you to consider giving to activate this work to serve Spanish and Chinese churches worldwide.

Please pray and give as God leads according to your ability. And when you do, praise God that you are on the giving side as it is better to give than receive.

Even if you have already given, give again. When you give, you store up treasures in heaven and can anticipate eternal reward. As part of Lent is growing in giving, please click here to make a gift to GTP today.

And pray for my safe travel. As you read this, I will be over the Pacific flying to Australia for 3 weeks of work in Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, and Adelaide.

Jenni will join me for 2 weeks of the trip, for the Sydney, Perth, and Adelaide portion. Reply for a copy of my trip prayer schedule. And please do make a gift today.

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Cyprian of Carthage: Common

And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but all things were common property to them. Acts 4:32

“Let us consider, beloved brethren, what the congregation of believers did in the time of the apostles, when at the first beginnings the mind flourished with greater virtues, when the faith of believers burned with a warmth of faith as yet new. Then they sold houses and farms, and gladly and liberally presented to the apostles the proceeds to be dispensed to the poor; selling and alienating their earthly estate, they transferred their lands thither where they might receive the fruits of an eternal possession, and there prepared homes where they might begin an eternal habitation. Such, then, was the abundance in labors, as was the agreement in love, as we read in the Acts of the Apostles: “And the multitude of them that believed acted with one heart and one soul; neither was there any distinction among them, nor did they esteem anything their own of the goods which belonged to them, but they had all things common.” This is truly to become sons of God by spiritual birth; this is to imitate by the heavenly law the equity of God the Father. For whatever is of God is common in our use; nor is any one excluded from His benefits and His gifts, so as to prevent the whole human race from enjoying equally the divine goodness and liberality. Thus the day equally enlightens, the sun gives radiance, the rain moistens, the wind blows, and the sleep is one to those that sleep, and the splendor of the stars and of the moon is common. In which example of equality, he who, as a possessor in the earth, shares his returns and his fruits with the fraternity, while he is common and just in his gratuitous bounties, is an imitator of God the Father.”

Cyprian of Carthage (190-258) in his Treatise 8. On Works and Alms, 25.

As I lean into the idea of giving and sharing in Lent, I am moved by the way in which Cyprian, an early third century bishop, quotes the book of Acts and calls us to be imitators of God.

He does so by celebrating how the early church viewed everything as “common” and how God supplies to all of creation all that we need in “common” so when we are “common and just” in our generosity, we imitate Him.

This is thoroughly un-American thinking. In my culture, people focus on owning possessions. When God owns everything, this represents toxic thinking. Nothing could be more unhealthy for Christians.

Everything we possess came to us as a gift from God who gives us the ability to produce wealth. We must see all we have as common. This mindset change is vital as we begin Lent.

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Cyprian of Carthage: With devoted mind and continual labor

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9

“And therefore, dearest brethren, whose fear is inclined towards God, and who having already despised and trampled under foot the world, have lifted up your mind to things heavenly and divine, let us with full faith, with devoted mind, with continual labour, give our obedience, to deserve well of the Lord. Let us give to Christ earthly garments, that we may receive heavenly raiment; let us give food and drink of this world, that we may come with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob to the heavenly banquet. That we may not reap little, let us sow abundantly. Let us, while there is time, take thought for our security and eternal salvation, according to the admonition of the Apostle Paul, who says: “Therefore, while we have time, let us labour in what is good unto all men, but especially to them that are of the household of faith. But let us not be weary in well-doing, for in its season we shall reap.”

Cyprian of Carthage (190-258) in his Treatise 8. On Works and Alms, 24.

Lent is a season to have a “devoted mind” and to apply “continual labor” toward heaven. Today’s giving links to making wise exchanges.

We give earthly garments for heavenly raiments. We give earthly food for a seat at the heavenly banquet. We give time in this life to things that matter in the next.

And we can be tempted to grow weary in this. Don’t let it happen to you. Find spiritual nourishment for the journey. And go through Lent with at least one other person.

Hold each other accountable to say no to earthly things and yes to heavenly ones. This will not only help you grow in generosity, it will cause you to gain new strength as the journey progresses.

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Cyprian of Carthage: Stimulate

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ Matthew 25:40

“What more could Christ declare unto us? How more could He stimulate the works of our righteousness and mercy, than by saying that whatever is given to the needy and poor is given to Himself, and by saying that He is aggrieved unless the needy and poor be supplied? So that he who in the Church is not moved by consideration for his brother, may yet be moved by contemplation of Christ; and he who does not think of his fellow-servant in suffering and in poverty, may yet think of his Lord, who abideth in that very man whom he is despising.”

Cyprian of Carthage (190-258) in his Treatise 8. On Works and Alms, 23.

Cyprian asks good questions when he says, “What more could Christ declare unto us? How more could He stimulate the works of our righteousness and mercy, than by saying that whatever is given to the needy and poor is given to Himself, and by saying that He is aggrieved unless the needy and poor be supplied?”

Jesus wants to stimulate us to action in service to those in need by telling us that what we do for them we do for Him. It’s true, He could not say anything stronger than that.

Today marks Ash Wednesday. It’s the start of Lent. Download Lent Companion here. It’s the season we focus on giving, prayer, and fasting. Journey with GTP through Lent here.

And the lesson for Opening Day is this. To stimulate your giving this Lent, remember that you are giving not to the poor or charities but to Christ. Don’t give your last and worst but your first and best to Him.

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Cyprian of Carthage: Perpetual Reward

So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. Matthew 6:2-4

“What sort of gift is it, beloved brethren, whose setting forth is celebrated in the sight of God? If, in a gift of the Gentiles, it seems a great and glorious thing to have proconsuls or emperors present, and the preparation and display is the greater among the givers, in order that they may please the higher classes; how much more illustrious and greater is the glory to have God and Christ as the spectators of the gift! How much more sumptuous the preparation and more liberal the expense to be set forth in that case, when the powers of heaven assemble to the spectacle, when all the angels come together: where it is not a four-horsed chariot or a consulship that is sought for the giver, but life eternal is bestowed; nor is the empty and fleeting favour of the rabble grasped at, but the perpetual reward of the kingdom of heaven is received!”

Cyprian of Carthage (190-258) in his Treatise 8. On Works and Alms, 21.

The ancient pattern related to giving included a big show in front of people. Cyprian echoes the teaching of Jesus in the heart of the Sermon on the Mount to make heaven and not humans the audience.

What sort of gifts will you give during Lent 2024? And before whom will you do this giving?

The reality then and now is that we can get lots of glory for our good deeds on earth. But that must not be our motivation. We must do them, with intentionality, seeking only the perpetual reward of the kingdom.

Today marks a “Last Call” if you want to start Lent from the beginning.

Register here to journey with GTP through Lent, starting tomorrow. To get a head start, download Lent Companion here and think about what you will fast from this Lent to make more space for Jesus.

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Cyprian of Carthage: The Example of Tobias

Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. Matthew 5:42

“Be rather such a father to your children as was Tobias. Give useful and saving precepts to your pledges, such as he gave to his son; command your children what he also commanded his son, saying: “And now, my son, I command thee, serve God in truth, and do before Him that which pleaseth Him; and command thy sons, that they exercise righteousness and alms, and be mindful of God, and bless His name always.” And again: “All the days of thy life, most dear son, have God in your mind, and be not willing to transgress His commandments. Do righteousness all the days of thy life, and be not willing to walk in the way of iniquity; because if thou deal truly, there will be respect of thy works. Give alms of thy substance, and turn not away thy face from any poor man. So shall it be, that neither shall the face of God be turned away from thee. As thou hast, my son, so do. If thy substance is abundant, give alms of it the more. If thou hast little, communicate of that little. And fear not when thou doest alms; for thou layest up a good reward for thyself against the day of necessity, because that alms do deliver from death, and suffereth not to come into Gehenna. Alms is a good gift to all that give it, in the sight of the most high God.”

Cyprian of Carthage (190-258) in his Treatise 8. On Works and Alms, 20.

Cyprian gets today’s quotes for his treatise from Tobit, a wisdom literature text (dated to the second or third century B.C) that ranks among the Deuterocanonical books, also known as the Apocrypha.

For Protestant Christians, Tobit is not included in the list of canonical texts, though it finds a home in Jewish Scriptures and in the canon for Roman Catholics and most Orthodox traditions.

Regardless, the content from Tobit, provided Cyprian, and provides us today with a great ancient example of the importance of a father teaching his children about the importance of almsgiving, or giving to the poor.

The advice from Tobias echoes the teaching he would have received from Deuteronomy 15:7-8.

“If anyone is poor among your fellow Israelites in any of the towns of the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward them. Rather, be openhanded and freely lend them whatever they need.”

And it mirrors the words of Jesus in today’s Scripture.

Whether we have a little or a lot, almsgiving is part of our identity as Christ followers. We must let fear of running out ourselves keep us from this practice. It is so vital to our faith, the early church included it as a discipline in Lent.

As Christ fasted for 40 days before His earthly ministry, the early church adopted the same timeframe and determined to practice annually the three disciplines in the heart of the Sermon on the Mount: giving, prayer, and fasting.

Don’t forget to register here to journey with GTP through Lent, starting on Wednesday. To get a head start, download Lent Companion here and think about what you will fast from this Lent to make more space for Jesus.

And thanks again your prayers for our GTP work in Cayman Islands. John Roomes returns to Jamaica today and I return to Denver. Pray for safe and uneventful travel home. And reply here for a copy of the trip report.

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Cyprian of Carthage: Unfair and Traitorous

I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread. They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be a blessing. Psalm 37:25-26

“Neither should you think that he is father to your children who is both changeable and infirm, but you should obtain Him who is the eternal and unchanging Father of spiritual children. Assign to Him your wealth which you are saving up for your heirs. Let Him be the guardian for your children; let Him be their trustee; let Him be their protector, by His divine majesty, against all worldly injuries. The state neither takes away the property entrusted to God, nor does the exchequer intrude on it, nor does any forensic calumny overthrow it. That inheritance is placed in security which is kept under the guardianship of God. This is to provide for one’s dear pledges for the coming time; this is with paternal affection to take care for one’s future heirs, according to the faith of the Holy Scripture, which says: “I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed wanting bread. All the day long he is merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.” And again: “He who walketh without reproach in his integrity shall leave blessed children after him.” Therefore you are an unfair and traitorous father, unless you faithfully consult for your children, unless you look forward to preserve them in religion and true piety. You who are careful rather for their earthly than for their heavenly estate, rather to commend your children to the devil than to Christ, are sinning twice, and allowing a double and twofold crime, both in not providing for your children the aid of God their Father, and in teaching your children to love their property more than Christ.”

Cyprian of Carthage (190-258) in his Treatise 8. On Works and Alms, 19.

These last few days, the Scriptures and this treatise have really opened my eyes to something. Let me explain. The human tendency says that I have to look after my children.

This often leads to spoiling them with material possessions and leaving them a measure of wealth.

This says some thing different. What comes into view as the best way to bless my children is to choose the path of righteousness and generosity and watch God supply for me and them as a way of life.

Notice in today’s Scripture that the children of the one who is generous and lends freely will be a blessing.

Want your children to connect to the person of Christ instead of property? Don’t be an “unfair and traitorous” parent. Show your children righteousness and generosity as the only way to live.

I have hope for the next generation in the Cayman Islands because of the group pictured above.

Yes, that’s me in the back right side with the community of stewards that will collaborate to form a peer accountability group for the Cayman Islands as a light to the Caribbean and the world. It was an impressive group.

They want to exhibit greater accountability, transparency, and integrity to win the generosity and the engagement of the community and especially the next generation. It will happen by the grace of God.

Thanks for your prayers for our GTP meetings in this beautiful place with amazing people.

And don’t forget to register here to journey with GTP through Lent, starting on Wednesday. To get a head start, download Lent Companion here and think about what you will fast from this Lent to make more space for Jesus.

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Cyprian of Carthage: Greater outlay

Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Deuteronomy 11:19

“Moreover, also, (you say) there are many children at home; and the multitude of your children checks you from giving yourself freely to good works. And yet on this very account you ought to labor the more, for the reason that you are the father of many pledges. There are the more for whom you must beseech the Lord. The sins of many have to be redeemed, the consciences of many to be cleansed, the souls of many to be liberated. As in this worldly life, in the nourishment and bringing up of children, the larger the number the greater also is the expense; so also in the spiritual and heavenly life, the larger the number of children you have, the greater ought to be the outlay of your labors.”

Cyprian of Carthage (190-258) in his Treatise 8. On Works and Alms, 18.

Don’t overthink this one. If you have children, you should get it quickly.

The more children you have, the more times you need to repeat yourself. We don’t give an example once to children to make something a way of life. And the more children we have, the greater the outlay.

Yesterday John Roomes and I got to facilitate Stations of Generosity for the youth of Grand Cayman.

We did the seven stations over and over with motions: (1) God owns everything. (2) God provides enough. (3) God gives generously. (4) We respond lovingly. (5) We hear God. (6) We find joy. (7) We store treasure.

We did not say these once. Not twice. But dozens of times with motions. In time, they got it.

And, As today’s Scripture notes, we don’t just do this at church. We repeat ourselves and model the way in various settings of everyday life so our children make generous living a part of their everyday lives.

Today we facilitate a launch event to form a peer accountability group for the Cayman Islands like ECFA in USA. Appreciate you prayers for a great meeting.

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Cyprian of Carthage: No hesitation or preference

The wife of a man from the company of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that he revered the Lord. But now his creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves.” Elisha replied to her, “How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?” “Your servant has nothing there at all,” she said, “except a small jar of olive oil.” Elisha said, “Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few. Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side.” She left him and shut the door behind her and her sons. They brought the jars to her and she kept pouring. When all the jars were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another one.” But he replied, “There is not a jar left.” Then the oil stopped flowing. She went and told the man of God, and he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left.” 2 Kings 4:1-7

“Thus that widow in the book of Kings, when in the drought and famine, having consumed everything, she had made of the little meal and oil which was left, a cake upon the ashes, and, having used this, was about to die with her children, Elisha came and asked that something should first be given him to eat, and then of what remained that she and her children should eat. Nor did she hesitate to obey; nor did the mother prefer her children to Elisha in her hunger and poverty. Yea, there is done in God’s sight a thing that pleases God: promptly and liberally is presented what is asked for. Neither is it a portion out of abundance, but the whole out of a little, that is given, and another is fed before her hungry children; nor in penury and want is food thought of before mercy; so that while in a saving work the life according to the flesh is contemned, the soul according to the spirit is preserved.

Therefore Elisha, being the type of Christ, and showing that according to His mercy He returns to each their reward, answered and said: “Thus saith the Lord, The vessel of meal shall not fail, and the cruse of oil shall not be diminished, until the day that the Lord giveth rain upon the earth.” According to her faith in the divine promise, those things which she gave were multiplied and heaped up to the widow; and her righteous works and deserts of mercy taking augmentations and increase, the vessels of meal and oil were filled. Nor did the mother take away from her children what she gave to Elisha, but rather she conferred upon her children what she did kindly and piously. And she did not as yet know Christ; she had not yet heard His precepts; she did not, as redeemed by His cross and passion, repay meat and drink for His blood. So that from this it may appear how much he sins in the Church, who, preferring himself and his children to Christ, preserves his wealth, and does not share an abundant estate with the poverty of the needy.”

Cyprian of Carthage (190-258) in his Treatise 8. On Works and Alms, 17.

This may be a long post and may employ somewhat archaic English but don’t miss the powerful message. The widow did not do two things we also must not do.

Firstly, she did not hesitate. In our generosity to God’s work, we must not hesitate. Not for a minute. When God whispers, nudges, moves us to give, or puts opportunities before us to deploy His resources, we must not hesitate.

Secondly, she gave no preference. This may even offend some people. But hear this. We must put God ahead of our family. God will also call us to care for our family but we must never say family first but rather God first in all things.

If we do not hesitate and show no preference, God will look after us and our families like he did look after the widow. This is what Christ will do for us.

Our role is to live, give, serve, and love with no hesitation and no preference trusting Christ to care for us and our families better than we can. Let’s do this.

And pray for God’s blessing today on the Stations of Generosity Youth event serving the young people of Cayman Islands. Thanks. We pray a movement starts here from their radical obedience.

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Cyprian of Carthage: Not how much, but from how much

[Jesus] looked up and saw rich people putting their gifts into the treasury; He also saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. He said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them, for all of them have contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on.” Luke 21:1-4

“But you who are such as this, cannot labour in the Church. For your eyes, overcast with the gloom of blackness, and shadowed in night, do not see the needy and poor. You are wealthy and rich, and do you think that you celebrate the Lord’s Supper, not at all considering the offering, who come to the Lord’s Supper without a sacrifice, and yet take part of the sacrifice which the poor man has offered?

Consider in the Gospel the widow that remembered the heavenly precepts, doing good even amidst the difficulties and straits of poverty, casting two mites, which were all that she had, into the treasury; whom when the Lord observed and saw, regarding her work not for its abundance, but for its intention, and considering not how much, but from how much, she had given, He answered and said, “Verily I say unto you, that that widow hath cast in more than they all into the offerings of God. For all these have, of that which they had in abundance, cast in unto the offerings of God; but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.”

Greatly blessed and glorious woman, who even before the day of judgment hast merited to be praised by the voice of the Judge! Let the rich be ashamed of their barrenness and unbelief. The widow, the widow needy in means, is found rich in works. And although everything that is given is conferred upon widows and orphans, she gives, whom it behoved to receive, that we may know thence what punishment, awaits the barren rich man, when by this very instance even the poor ought to labour in good works.

And in order that we may understand that their labors are given to God, and that whoever performs them deserves well of the Lord, Christ calls this “the offerings of God,” and intimates that the widow has cast in two farthings into the offerings of God, that it may be more abundantly evident that he who hath pity on the poor lendeth to God.”

Cyprian of Carthage (190-258) in his Treatise 8. On Works and Alms, 15.

Let Cyprian’s words sink in.

Jesus cares “not how much, but from how much” we give. Or in plain terms, He cares not about how much we give, but about how much we hold back and what that says about our hearts.

If you have an abundance, let me suggest a place to put it.

Share it with the poor of the world, but not as a handout that creates a dependency. Give them a hand up to build them as disciples who can build up others. Give to GTP here.

That’s our work at GTP. Let me explain.

We have workers in places like Albania, Brazil, and Japan begging for GTP to engage translation work of resources to help them strengthen administration, local resource development, and biblical governance of ministry.

They don’t want to rely on handouts from outsiders. They want to be taught and trained to aid others.

That’s partly what I am doing in Cayman Islands this week (pictured above). At GTP, we’ve poured into workers like Rev. Dr. Sylvia Wilks. She has passed the instruction on to others.

It’s resulted in a movement to form a peer accountability group here.

But let’s go back to your situation. If you are sitting on earthly wealth, then Cyprian’s words are fitting for you. Don’t be overcome by “barrenness and unbelief” but put in all you have so that you too may be “praised by the voice of the Judge.”

You never realize that Christ is all you need until He’s your only hope for today and the future.

If this seems radical to you, I want to invite you to journey through Lent with me and GTP. I wrote a devotional book called Lent Companion, and will be doing three instructional zooms during Lent on Giving, Prayer, and Fasting.

Click here to register to join this global Lent cohort at no cost.

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