Barnabas of Cyprus: Mine

The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it. Psalm 24:1

“Share with your neighbor whatever you have, and do not say of anything, this is mine. If you both share an imperishable treasure, how much more must you share what is perishable.”

Barnabas of Cyprus (c. 540-604) in Letter as recounted Milton Walsh in Witness of the Saints: Patristic Readings in the Liturgy of the Hours (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2012) 391.

Our granddaughter, Eve, is starting to talk. While her vocabulary is small, I am glad “mine” is not yet in her vocabulary. She will learn it soon enough.

From a young age we tend to claim things as our own. The culture teaches us this. While I know her parents will teach her good stewardship, she will learn the word “mine” at some point.

Barnabas, the “Son of Encouragement” from Cyprus, who sold a tract land and set it at the Apostles feet declared otherwise with this act.

“That there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need. Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”), sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet. Acts 4:34-37

He said “God’s!” rather than “Mine!” to that piece of land. What do you have? What would it look like to declare “God’s!” rather than “Mine!” today?

Why do this? In short, everything that we might say belongs to us is “perishable” so it’s senseless to hold on to it. Think of perishable foods like tomatoes or apples. Would you keep it for 5 years?

Of course not. But eternal truths, imperishable things, like Bible verses or timeless promises of God. Would we keep those 5 years? Sure. We can hold onto them for eternity. See the difference.

Don’t let your tomatoes and apples rot this side of heaven. Store them up for eternity while you can. That’s what Barnabas reminds us.

“Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples. Luke 14:31-33

“I would like to urge you to forsake everything but that I do not presume to do. Yet, if you cannot give up everything of this world, at least keep what belongs to the world in such a way that you yourself are not kept prisoner by the world. Whatever you possess must not possess you; whatever you own must be under the power of your soul; for if your soul is overpowered by the love of this world’s goods, it will be totally at the mercy of its possessions”

Gregory the Great (c. 540-604) in Gospels 36 as recounted Milton Walsh in Witness of the Saints: Patristic Readings in the Liturgy of the Hours (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2012) 379.

In today’s Scripture, Jesus uses the illustration of kings about to go to war with each other to illustrate that you must not wage a war you have inadequate resources to win. Instead he urges disciples to choose a pathway of peace.

Likewise, those who try to hold on to and depend on worldly goods enter a battle they simply cannot win. They will soon, in Gregory’s words, be overpowered. They will become prisoners of this world. How do we avoid becoming a prisoner of the world?

To put it simply, Gregory adds, “we must not allow our possessions to possess us.” This happens when we fail to acknowledge the war going on and rightly choose the path of peace. It is only found by surrendering worldly goods to our Lord as His disciple.

When we do, He does not leave us penniless. We experience peace and welcome His provision as His disciples and put whatever He supplies to work. So, if you possess any worldly goods, I suggest you put them to work through giving. Or get ready for life in prison.

Cast your cares on the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken. Psalm 55:22

“Make room for Christ. When you possess Christ you are a rich man, for He is sufficient for you. He himself shall provide for you and faithfully administer all your cares.”

Thomas á Kempis (1380-1471) in Imitation of Christ as recounted Milton Walsh in Witness of the Saints: Patristic Readings in the Liturgy of the Hours (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2012) 586.

I am going fly fishing next weekend in Wisconsin with my good friend, John Stanley. There I will cast flies for trout.

But today’s Scripture calls for a different kind of casting.

We must give our cares to the LORD. LORD in Hebrew is Yahweh which means “to be” meaning He is the God who incomparably exists.

Notice how that relates to us and our generosity.

When we give our cares to the one who incomparably exists, He sustains us. Or, as Thomas put it related to Christ, we are rich. He is sufficient for us.

If you have cares today, give them to the LORD.

And then, with unswerving focus, make room for Christ. He will not only supply your needs and sort your cares, He will resource you for rich generosity.

Interestingly, our worry regarding our “cares” is what hinders the generosity of most people.

Don’t let that be you. Cast your cares on the LORD. He will sustain you and not allow you to be shaken. He will provide everything you need to live, give, serve, and love generously.

The LORD is gracious and merciful; Slow to anger and great in lovingkindness. Psalm 145:8

“Do not despair of His mercy, no matter how great your sins, for great mercy will take away great sins. For the Lord is gracious and merciful and prefers the conversion of a sinner rather than his death. Patient and generous is His mercy, He does not give in to human impatience but is willing to wait a long time for our repentance.”

Jerome of Stridon (c. 347-420) in Sermon 15 as recounted Milton Walsh in Witness of the Saints: Patristic Readings in the Liturgy of the Hours (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2012) 193.

I needed this post today.

Have you ever been wronged in a significant way? In such situations, our fleshly tendency is to respond in anger or to defend ourselves. Instead, when we take our pain to the Lord, He invites us to be gracious and merciful, to be patient and generous toward the wrongdoer.

Overcoming human impatience is easier said than done.

But rather than feeling torn up inside about it, we fell peace after making this choice. This peace passes all comprehension. It makes no sense. But it’s the pathway to freedom. So, if you despair, fix your hope in the One who showed mercy to you. His lovingkindness fills me with love to pray for the wrongdoer.

God, thanks for your patient and generous mercy.

After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before. Job 42:10

“The restoration of health and riches to Job prefigures the resurrection, which gives health and eternal life to those who believe in Christ… And just as Job fathered other sons, so too did Christ, for the apostles, the sons of the Lord, succeeded the prophets.”

Zeno of Verona (300-371) in Sermon 15 as recounted Milton Walsh in Witness of the Saints: Patristic Readings in the Liturgy of the Hours (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2012) 193.

If you find yourself in hard times, consider Job. He had good times, then the hardest of times, and then something happened. The Lord restored his fortunes. As Zeno notes, this story “prefigures of the resurrection” of Jesus Christ who gives health and life better than before to all who believe.

We must share this generous gift which brings hope to the hurting. God sees us in our brokenness and desires our flourishing. If you have not downloaded the devotional, FLOURISH, I recently co-authored with Jenni Hoag and Linda Maris, download it freely in English or Spanish from the GTP website today.

And I learned on Saturday that FLOURISH will soon be available in Ukrainian and Russian. This is great news in advance of my GTP travels and ministry in Ukraine and Moldova in June and July with my wife, Jenni. Few can relate to Job today more than war torn people of Ukraine or refugees that have flooded into countries like Moldova.

To support our efforts to bring hope and a vision of restoration to the hurting, please make a gift to GTP here today.

“It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” Mark 9:22-24

“When in your life of faith you are confronted with the deeper mysteries it is natural to become a little frightened. When this happens, take heart, faithful Christian. Do not raise objections, but ask with loving submission, “How can these things be?” Let your question be a prayer, and expression of love and self-surrender to God.”

William of Saint-Thierry (1085-1148) in Mirror of Faith as recounted Milton Walsh in Witness of the Saints: Patristic Readings in the Liturgy of the Hours (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2012) 185.

Notice how Jesus meets the boy’s father in today’s Scripture with grace. And yet, see also how He challenges Him to grow. Then look at the humble response of the boy’s father. He believes but acknowledges that He needs help with his unbelief.

I think Jesus meets us this same way related to generosity. He wants us to realize that everything is possible if we believe. And also, He stands ready to help us in our areas of unbelief. But only if we ask Him. To live generously requires us to grow deeper in faith.

For another example of a question with loving submission, see Luke 1:34. Here the angel has told Mary that she will conceive a son. Consider her reply: “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” 

Then we she receives the angel’s gracious explanation she replies Luke 1:38 with self-surrender to God: “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it happen to me according to your word.” Then the angel left her.

In what areas do you lack faith and need help in your unbelief? Form at least one question in loving submission. Ask Him to help you. The potential gain here is limitless. Don’t let fear hold you back from going deeper.

Now when Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to Him, and He began to teach them. He said: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Matthew 5:1-12

“Now even though we may have faith, hope, and love, none of us can attain this state of blessedness by ourselves… He alone can be said to come to true blessedness who, having resolved in his heart to rise to this state of happiness by the many stages of the virtues and good works, receives the help of your grace… God does help the blessed. For our lawgiver Christ, who gave us the law, gives now and will continue to give His blessings, the abundant gifts of grace, by which He will bless His own, that is, raise them to beatitude.”

Bruno of Cologne (c. 1030-1101) in Psalm 83 as recounted Milton Walsh in Witness of the Saints: Patristic Readings in the Liturgy of the Hours (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2012) 566.

Today, let’s focus on the generosity of Jesus Christ. He raises us to beatitude.

When we follow Jesus, it guides us to be be poor in spirit. We often mourn. We walk the path of meekness. We hunger and thirst for righteousness. We are merciful in a merciless world. We aim at purity of heart (not just our actions, but our thoughts and motivations). We bring peace and we will get persecuted.

Hearing all this may cause many to find the Christian journey too hard to make.

But Bruno reminds us as he reminded so many Christ followers in the middle ages: “God does help the blessed” and “He gives abundant gifts of grace” in the most unlikely places. So, as we think about generosity today, revel in the fact that the narrow way raises us to beatitude. It causes us to grasp true happiness.

It’s priceless and a gift we can only share with others once we have taken hold of it ourselves.

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us. 1 John 4:18-19

“If a person loves himself he seeks his own glory, but the man who loves God loves the glory of his Creator. Anyone alive to the love of God can be recognized by the way he constantly strives to glorify Him by fulfilling all His commandments and by delighting in his own abasement… Anyone who loves God in the depths of his heart has already been loved by God. In fact, the measure of a man’s love for God depends on how deeply aware he is of God’s love for him.”

Diadochus of Photice (c. 401-500) in Spiritual Perfection as recounted Milton Walsh in Witness of the Saints: Patristic Readings in the Liturgy of the Hours (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2012) 577.

Diadochus contributed to the famous work, the Philokalia, and his writings influenced many of the saints in the dark and middle ages to today.

Consider the power of his point today.

The reason people look after themselves, build an earthly kingdom, store up treasures on earth, is that they seek their own glory. It proclaims, “Look what I have done!”

Alternatively, anyone alive to the love of God aims at his or her own abasement. That person knows they are loved by God and has no fear.

Fear is the leading obstacle to our Christian obedience.

So, related to our generosity. Let’s revel in the love of God today and everyday, which drives out fear and helps us live in a way that announces, “Look what God has done!”

Abasement is the pathway to fulfilling Christ’s commands.

People who choose this path love God, have no fear because they know God loves them, and constantly strive (because it never gets any easier) for God’s glory.

Jenni and I head home from our time of rest this week in Western Colorado. Thanks for your prayers. It’s been refreshing.

This evening, I have a governance training with the Evangelical Alliance of the Caribbean. Pray for Spirit-filled teaching and receptive hearts. Thanks.

I urge you, as I did when I was on my way to Macedonia, to remain in Ephesus so that you may instruct certain people not to teach different teachings and not to occupy themselves with myths and endless genealogies that promote speculations rather than the divine training that is known by faith. But the aim of such instruction is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and sincere faith. 1 Timothy 1:3-5

“From the beginning God created man out of His own generosity. He chose the patriarchs to give them salvation. He took his people in hand, teaching them, unteachable as they were, to follow Him. He gave them prophets, accustoming man to bear His Spirit and to have communion with God on earth… In so many ways He was training the human race to take part in the harmonious song of salvation… He kept calling them to what was primary by means of what was secondary, that is, through foreshadowings, to the reality, through things of time to the things of eternity, through things of the flesh to things of the Spirit, through earthly things to the heavenly things.”

Irenaeus of Lyons (c. 130-202) in Against Heresies as recounted Milton Walsh in Witness of the Saints: Patristic Readings in the Liturgy of the Hours (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2012) 188.

There is so much in this reading from Irenaeus, who was discipled by Polycarp, who was discipled by the Apostle John. Let’s unpack it section by section.

God’s generosity to humankind goes all the way back to creation. He took His people by the hand and taught them, though they (like us today) were unteachable. Why teach and train them then or teach and train people now.

This is the part that relates to our generosity. God teaches and trains us for a purpose. It is to “take part in the harmonious song of salvation” both then and now. We are blessed to be a blessing.

Think about this in light of the person saying it, a disciple of Polycarp, who was a disciple of John.

God shows His glory by what we can see, by what is secondary. We see His gifts everywhere. But the gifts are not the end. The Giver is the primary and the One that the secondary gifts point us to. So John taught Polycarp who taught Irenaeus, who teaches us to take part.

Let us use the secondary things as good stewards and take part in the song of salvation so people come to know and love the primary. The God of creation and the One who accomplished our redemption.

Don’t be unteachable. Take part in the harmonious song of salvation with what you have.

Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance? Romans 2:4

“Since the very name you bear as Christians is a profession of love for men, imitate the love of Christ. Reflect for a moment on the wealth of his kindness. Before He came as a man to be among men, he sent John the Baptist to preach repentance and lead men to practice it. John himself was preceded by the prophets, who were to teach the people to repent, to return to God, and to amend their lives. The Christ came Himself… How did He receive those who listened to His call? He readily forgave them their sins; he freed them instantly from all that troubled them.”

Asterius of Amasea (c.350-410) in Homily 13 as recounted Milton Walsh in Witness of the Saints: Patristic Readings in the Liturgy of the Hours (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2012) 271.

I am having a week of resting with my wife, reflecting on God, examining myself, and thankful for the wealth, the riches, the generosity of God’s kindness toward me.

I don’t deserve it, yet it abounds toward me.

It inspires me to learn and to discern how I might be a better person. Today it nudges me in ways I an be a better husband and father as today our daughter turns 26.

Show me areas for growth today, Lord.

Sophie’s a beautiful and living imitation of the love of Christ. She has platinum blonde hair so we always encourage her to shine for Jesus like that hair shines.

I have two final thoughts as a result.

Firstly, Happy Birthday Sophie, wherever you are today. And secondly, let’s all reflect, soak up God’s kindness and discern areas for growth so we too shine for Jesus.