John Chrysostom: Sleek, beautiful, and vigorous

And the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. You fools! Did not he who made the outside make the inside also? But give as alms those things that are within, and behold, everything is clean for you. Luke 11:39-41

“For, “Give alms,” it saith, “of such things as ye have, and behold all things are clean unto you.” “Alms,” not covetousness, for that which proceeds from covetousness endures not, though thou give to those who need. For almsgiving is that which is free from all injustice, “this” makes all things clean. This is a thing better even than fasting, or lying on the ground; they may be more painful and laborious, but this more profitable. It enlightens the soul, makes it sleek, beautiful, and vigorous.”

John Chrysostom (347-407) in Homily 81 on John’s Gospel.

The Pharisees focused on following the letter of the law whilst their hearts were far from God and drawn toward money and personal gain. Here Jesus instructs them to give as alms the things that are within.

Chrysostom helps us see what’s happening in this text. The actions of the Pharisees flowed from covetousness or wanting things for themselves. So what is it that makes us sleek, beautiful, and vigorous?

In short, it’s wanting the best for and sharing our best with others. We do this and things are all good or all clean for us. This helps us move well through life in a sleek and vigorous way, not bogged down by wealth but using it beautifully.

My speaking at the inaugural CMA Standards Council Annual Address (the peer accountability group I helped form in Australia) and CMA Fundraising Network Launch event in Brisbane went great.

Headed to Melbourne now. Appreciate your prayers for continued fruitful work: 2 events down and 9 to go.

Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. Revelation 22:12

“If the day shall find us, whether it be the day of reward or of persecution, furnished, if swift, if running in this contest of charity, the Lord will never fail of giving a reward for our merits: in peace He will give to us who conquer, a white crown for our labors; in persecution, He will accompany it with a purple one for our passion.”

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

This statement concludes this treatise. I will move my attention to other famous Lenten writings.

But let’s consider Cyprian’s last words here. With them, I want to encourage you to live in anticipation of a white or purple crown for either attaining reward or enduring persecution.

All who give their lives to charitable works can anticipate one or the other, or maybe even both. We can count on rewards but we may also experience persecution along the way.

We must not give up when it happens. Instead, we can take heart in knowing that Christ warned us and assures us of reward linked to what we do in this life.

I am thankful to inspire old friends and meet new ones over the next three weeks in Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, and Adelaide. And at our own expense, I am glad Jenni will join me for service in three of the five cities.

Why do this? Our Aussie mates care deeply about God and about honoring Him in every aspect of their lives. We hope to inspire them to give themselves to God afresh and anticipate white and/or purple crowns.

Praying the same for you.

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed — not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence — continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose. Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky. Philippians 2:12-15

“An illustrious and divine thing, dearest brethren, is the saving labor of charity; a great comfort of believers, a wholesome guard of our security, a protection of hope, a safeguard of faith, a remedy for sin, a thing placed in the power of the doer, a thing both great and easy, a crown of peace without the risk of persecution; the true and greatest gift of God, needful for the weak, glorious for the strong, assisted by which the Christian accomplishes spiritual grace, deserves well of Christ the Judge, accounts God his debtor. For this palm of works of salvation let us gladly and readily strive; let us all, in the struggle of righteousness, run with God and Christ looking on; and let us who have already begun to be greater than this life and the world, slacken our course by no desire of this life and of this world.”

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

This is the pep talk of pep talks. This is the locker room speech of locker room speeches. Here Cyprian equates the “saving labor of charity” with a list of things. It’s so profound, I will bullet them for emphasis:

• a great comfort of believers,
• a wholesome guard of our security,
• a protection of hope,
• a safeguard of faith,
• a remedy for sin,
• a thing placed in the power of the doer,
• a thing both great and easy,
• a crown of peace without the risk of persecution;
• the true and greatest gift of God,
• needful for the weak,
• glorious for the strong,
• assisted by which the Christian accomplishes spiritual grace,
• deserves well of Christ the Judge, and
• accounts God his debtor.

Which phrase stuck out to you?

For me, the fact that “the saving labor of charity” serves both as “a comfort to believers” as it blesses people and “a thing both great and easy” showing anyone can do it.

If we were sitting in a pep rally or locker room with the Apostle Paul, he would say, you can do this! You can, and you will save yourselves from your own sinfulness and shine like stars in the process.

And Cyprian, if he was there too, would add remind us of the comfort our sharing brings and that the work is both great and easy. So what are you waiting for?

Ask God how He wants your charity, your grace-motivated generous giving, to grow this Lent. Follow the leading of the Spirit and take action today.

I will have arrived in Sydney and connected to Brisbane, Australia. I shot the new header photo near Mt. Tamborine Conference Center where I am staying. Thanks again for your prayers for safe travel and fruitful ministry here.

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.

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.

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.

“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.

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.

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.

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.