Tag: Faith

Why We Give

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For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. – 2 Corinthians 8:9

The gospel of Jesus Christ fundamentally changes the way we view our lives and relate to the resources entrusted to us – our time, money, possessions, and energy. Jesus came that we might have life to the full (John 10:10). By his poverty, we become rich (2 Cor. 8:9). By his work, we are brought from a place of vulnerability, scarcity, and fear into a kingdom of abundance, grace, and generosity.

In light of the riches we’ve received in Christ, we are free – compelled even – to use the resources we steward for the sake of his Kingdom, reflecting his generosity in our love.

Giving Is an Act of Worship

When we give in this way, in response to what He has done, we are giving in worship. We are worshipping. “In view of God’s mercy, offer yourself as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God. This is your true and proper worship” (Romans 12:1). The only viable response to God’s extravagant mercy revealed in Christ Jesus is complete surrender. We offer all that we are and all that we have to him as living sacrifices in worship.

Our offerings given in worship are holy and pleasing to God. By giving back of that which He has entrusted to us, we are acknowledging him as provider and relying on him for our “daily bread.”

Giving Facilitates the Worship of the People

From the early days, when God made a people for himself, He instructed them to tithe. Ten percent of all production was given to facilitate the corporate worship of God’s people. The tithed funds and resources provided a livelihood for the priests and Levites (Numbers 18:21–24) as well as furnishings and accoutrements for the Temple. In the New Testament, believers were instructed to give as they were able and even beyond their ability to support the work, worship, and growth of the Church (2 Cor. 8:3). Giving to support church leaders and elders was also encouraged (1 Cor. 9:14, Gal. 6:6).

For the people of God, worship is an essential and formational corporate endeavor. We all share in the responsibility of making worship a reality for the sake of our community.

Giving Empowers Ministry

The early Christian Church was distinguished by its radical generosity. “All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.” “And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:44-45, 47). The Roman emperor Julian wrote, “[The Christians’] success lies in their charity to strangers…the impious Galileans [Christians] support both their own poor and ours as well!” Our giving provides the pool of resources from which we care for one another and demonstrate the love of Christ in tangible ways to our hurting neighbors. In other words, the mission of the Church is funded by the Spirit-led generosity of individual believers. “Let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth” (1 John 3:18).

We give in honor and worship to the One who has given us everything, and He multiplies what we offer to build His Kingdom. It is our privilege and joy to trust Him in surrender.

Inadequate Comforts: A reflection on Psalm 91 in preparation for Lent

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He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
    will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
 I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress,
    my God, in whom I trust.”

Psalm 91:1-2

Scripture testifies to the faithfulness of God. People are fickle and rebellious, yet the Lord is faithful and trustworthy. He is our refuge and fortress, faithful to deliver us. Still, we turn to inadequate comforts.

I see it in myself. When there is pain or fear or anxiety, my impulse is to seek quick relief. Maybe I will escape into a movie or football game. Or I may create an well-designed action plan to feel like I have control over the situation. Sometimes I eat an indulgent, feel-good meal. Probably Mexican food. Probably with queso. These things are not inherently bad – there are far more sinister and destructive means of escape – but all our comforts are woefully insufficient.

For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler

And from the deadly pestilence.

Psalm 91:3

The Lord alone is Deliverer. In Lent we come to terms with the brokenness of the world, and we face into our own sin. We see our need for a deliverer, intentionally denying ourselves the inadequate comforts and means of escape with typically depend upon, so that we ultimately come to depend on the All-Sufficient Savior. Lent fasting prepares us for Easter feasting. When we acknowledge the magnitude of our sin and rebellion, we more fully appreciate the majesty of our deliverance.

In the first chapter of 1 Corinthians, Paul describes the despair the apostles felt as they faced persecution in Asia. “Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us.”

This is the posture of Lent. He has delivered us from the deadly peril of sin and death. And he will deliver us. He is Lord of all, and He is faithful. Therefore, let us hold fast in love to Our Deliverer (v. 14).

For an in-depth explanation and guide to Lent, read this post.

Hear Their Hurt

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My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.

James 1:19-20

If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame.

Proverbs 18:13

It happened often early in our marriage. My wife would share with me how she was feeling about a certain situation, but as she shared her feelings, I only heard my failures. She said, “I’m feel…” I heard, “You don’t do…” And in response some switch in me flipped. My heart rate spiked. Blood rushed to my head. The anger built. We were going to war.

No one ever won those battles. My defensiveness erupted as anger, and I could no longer hear anything. I just wanted to be right. My anger triggered her anger. Then neither of us could admit we were wrong. We could only walk away in a huff. I said things that were hurtful, things I didn’t even mean, and spent the next few days trying to get out from under my words. She felt betrayed and didn’t know if she could trust me with her feelings. It was painful and exhausting.

Then, in a group with men who have been married longer than me, who are wiser and more experienced, I learned a phrase that changed our marriage: “Shut up. Listen. Do not defend. Hear her hurt.” I eventually learned to recognize when I felt “accused” of something to just be quiet or to simply say, “I’m feeling defensive, but I want to hear what you’re saying.” And when I was quiet enough to listen, to hear what she was truly feeling, to hear her hurt, my defensiveness and anger quickly dissolved into empathy and compassion. I could suddenly see the ways I had hurt her and own my part in her hurt without feeling threatened. She felt heard and loved. I felt empowered. Unity, grace, forgiveness, and peace came in abundance.

Unfortunately, it feels like our society is stuck in a mode of anger, defensiveness, and self-righteousness. Pain is often expressed in accusation. We cannot hear one another’s pain because we are operating out of defensiveness to real or perceived, just or unjust accusation. We want to justify ourselves more than we care to hear another person’s suffering. And painfully, this seems to be equally true of those representing Christ. But as James says, “human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.”

Throughout his life, Jesus stood before many accusers, but he was never defensive. Rather than defending his life, he laid it down of his own accord (John 10:18). He lived for and received the Father’s approval. He epitomized humility. He came to serve. He saw the hurt of the people before him. He responded with compassion. His life was never in the hands of those who sought to kill him. Neither was it in the hands of those who sought to make him king. His life was lived unto the Father. He did not need to defend himself before men, because the one who willingly laid down his life also had the authority to take it up again. He knew he had the Father’s love, so he did not need the approval of men.

When we know that we truly have been justified by faith and truly have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1-5), we are free to listen. We no longer need to be defensive, because we are those who know that the shed blood of Jesus was necessary for us. Because of our sin. We begin in faith by readily acknowledging our wrongdoing. We don’t now need to act as if we are incapable of wrong. And we don’t need the approval of people, because through Christ we have the Father’s approval. And we don’t need to minimize our sin because grace has already been given in abundance. In Christ there is no reason to be defensive. So, we can be those who listen and hear the pain of others even when the expression of that pain feels like accusation. Let us walk in the footsteps of Jesus, setting aside our defensiveness to hear one another’s hurt.

The God Who Sustains

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“Even to your old age and gray hairs, I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.” Isaiah 46:4

In the past three years, the following has happened in my life:

I began working from home in 2017.

In 2019, I experienced pain so severe, it sent me to the hospital, who sent me to the GI doctor, who told me that 1- I am fine. and 2- About half of people with English, Dutch (that’s me), and Celtic cultural background lose half of their brush border enzymes in their mid 30’s. This means I cannot digest lots of various things the way I once could. Carbs and other sugars, dairy and hard fibers, etc.

Due to the poor absorption this can cause, I now take multiple supplements. Vitamin D, Ester C (which I was already taking) a strong probiotic/prebiotic as well as digestive enzymes throughout the day after eating. I can no longer eat beef and pork comfortably. It has been a two year and several doctors’ journey to get my digestion straightened out however, my gut health is much improved and my levels of virus protecting and other vitamins and supplements are at peak.

I read an article the other day on several things people can do to keep from contracting this Coronavirus that has the world’s figurative panties in a wad. Increase Vit D, increase Vit C, improve gut health, stay home. These were four of five things they recommended. Thanks, Lord. You set me up just right.

Oddly enough, my husband informs me of a major meat packing plant where 3k of 5k employees have tested positive for the virus. Guess which meats they are packing? Beef and pork.

So what is the fifth thing recommended in that article? Exercise. Not a surprise. What surprises me is that I now run/walk/jog 3-5 times/week (not by choice) with my 4 year old son who has recently discovered courageous enjoyment of his bike and pedal cart. He goes his speed and I keep up.

For two years, God has prepared me gently for what has been a big change in the world, for most people. A reminder to trust, to have faith and that there is indeed nothing to fear in this world, that God is not preparing us for. He does and will indeed, sustain us.

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