Fluency

(part 1)

Basic principles of stewardship and giving.

Paul laid out general principles of stewardship and giving in 1 Corinthians 16 and 2 Corinthians 8-9.

From 1 Corinthians 16

• Each believer responsible to give—”each of you” 16:2
• Planned and given regularly 16:2
• Proportional giving 16:2
• This process would prevent the need for an ineffective collection or for a “pressured” appeal to the givers. 16:4

From 2 Corinthians 8-9

8:1-5

• Sacrificial giving
  • Proportional—”according to their ability”
  • Sacrificial—”beyond their ability”
• Joyful giving
  • Their poverty no more impeded their generosity than their tribulation diminished their joy.
• Key—not the size of the gift but the attitude of the giver

• Summary
  • Generous beyond their means
  • Acted on their own initiative
  • Gave not only financially but gave themselves

8:9-12

• Willingness to give should be evidenced by actual giving
• Paul had challenged them to give in 1 Corinthians, they had stopped because of a conflict, now that the conflict was solved, it was time for them to finish what they started.
• When the giver is willing—heart attitude—than the proportional gift is acceptable.

9:5-15

• Give Generously 9:5-6
• Give freely (without compulsion) 9:7
• Give cheerfully 9:7
• Giving is an act of faith 9:8
  • God provides for the giver.  So give liberally, and live on what is left by God’s supply.
• Giving results in praise and thanksgiving to God 9:11-15
  • Their gift would supply the needs of the needy 9:12
  • Their gift would cause the recipient and others to praise God 9:11b, 12b, 13, 15
  • Notice that praise is offered less for the gift itself than for the spiritual virtues of the donors expressed in the gift.
• Giving is an acknowledgment that what we have is God 9:15

Key Point: The focus of New Testament giving is not on a percentage but proportional to income.

Summary

From Andy Stanley “Fields of Gold”

1. Priority giving – Giving to God before anything else
2. Percentage giving – 10% is a good start
3. Progressive giving – Keep growing as a giver
4. Prompted giving – Additional spontaneous giving as God leads
5. Purposeful giving – Giving to where it can make a difference

In a world driven by advertising–contentment seems to be increasingly a counter-cultural attitude.  But Scripture is clear about the benefit of and need for contentment.

1 Timothy 6:6–10 Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world.  But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.  But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.  For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. (ESV)

Hebrews 13:5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (ESV)

John Piper was asked, “If you could say one thing to the next generation of church leaders, what would it be?”

I think his answer is good for everyone.

Make the Bible the supreme intellectual and emotional authority in your life, for the sake of magnifying Christ in the fullness of his person and his work, so that generation after generation preserves the foundation and the capstone of the glory of God in Christ, and the grace that is the apex of that glory.

Today (Monday) is supposed to be my day off--but having missed most of May, I’m still catching up.  So while replying to email and studying, I’ve been enjoying good piano music.

Listen for yourself Play List

You can see other play lists at jonschimdt.com

My son exposed Jon Schmidt to me through one of his most familiar pieces, watch below.

I’m recovering from an 8 day stay in the hospital.  My appendix, which was perforated (they don’t burst, but burst sounds better), was removed and the infection hopefully contained.

I’ll spare you the time-line and the details–for fear of exaggeration–but do want to share observations and lessons.  I probably should wait for a time of more clarity and deeper reflection–but it is amazing how quickly the past becomes a blur to me.

Observations

1. Hospitals remove any sense of modesty, personal identity and individuality
   They make you remove all your cloths and give a contraption that must have been designed by a comedian with a warped sense of humor.  There is no way to put it keep it on modestly and comfortably.
   Then they remove anything that identifies you as you including your wedding ring so they can assign you a number on a band.
   Then finally they remove your ability to see–there go the glasses.
2. Hospitals remove any sense of intelligence
   Every individual that walks into the room, even if someone else is ask the question as they enter, will asks the exact same questions–”What is your name?” “What is your date of birth?”  After several days in the hospital you start to wonder yourself.
3. Hospitals remove any sense of propriety
   Every bodily function is discussed, measured and described–enough said.
4. Hospitals are designed to help you get better but not to help you rest
5. Hospital clocks don’t move at night
6. Hospital beds were not designed with comfort in mind only flexibility
7. Other thoughts
   How are you, in the middle of the night, supposed to quantify your level of pain on a scale of 1-10 and compare it to the worst pain you have ever had?
   Why can’t hospitals be more efficient?  Two procedures for the price of one would be a great idea.  I asked my surgeon, since she was operating on my belly if she could also do liposuction–no such luck.
   It’s amazing what you can do with a texting plan and a smart phone. 
   I’m way more conscious of what I eat now–that is a good thing.
   Why do we love to share horror stories?  No matter had bad your situation, some else had it worse (“When I had my …..!” see Brian Regan, “Me-Monster“).

Lessons

1. God’s grace is amazing
2. When everything is out of my control, it is wonderful to know that God has everything in His control
3. God’s timing is impeccable
4. The prayers of people are encouraging. Prayer is vital.  But I take great comfort in the fact that God’s answer to prayer–in whatever form–is not simply a reaction to the request but is filtered through is His all-love, all-gracious, fully-sovereign comprehensive plan.  And that the length of stay in the hospital or the severity of the problem is not a reflection on how much or little God cares.
5. In those few moments of clarity the thing that help the most was to pray for others
6. I am not as important as I like to think nor are many of the things I do as significant as I make them–but I do want to make an impact for the glory of God
7. While I did not experience what the Desert Fathers called “The dark night of the soul” I would say that the dark-slow-passing-night in a hospital is the hardest time. At least for the moment, I appreciate some of the simple things: sleep, companionship, clarity of mind and actually being able to focus, having a purpose and a job
8. When I was finally able to concentrate enough (without hiccups, long story)–my encounter with God in His Word was fresh and invigorating
9. Family and friends are a treasure–knowing people care and pray is awesome
10. The top lesson: Marry well. I’m glad I married well beyond myself.  I would not have made it through so well without my wonderful wife. She definitely got the “for worst” and I got the “for better.” What an amazing woman.  I love you!

A friend shared Psalm 25 in our staff devotions asking us to notice what David reveals about our attitudes toward God and our asking of God.

As I was looking at the Psalm I notice that, like most Psalms, one of the key questions we also need to ask is, what are the attributes of God revealed?

1. The attributes of God
2. Our attitude toward God
3. Our “asking” /requests of God

I’d encourage you to spend some time in this Psalm.

The Attributes of God

God has a plan (way, path, leads, teaches)
He is merciful, has steadfast love, faithful, forgives,
He is good, upright,
He keeps his covenant and testimonies
He is a friend of those who fear Him

Our Attitudes towards God

Because of who he is, we must
focus on (direct our desires), trust, wait, humble, fear the Lord, take refuge in, rest ….
All these terms have the concept of yielding or dependence

Our Asking of God

And because of who He is and what we need, we can ask for him to…
not allow us to be put to shame, nor allow our enemies to exult over us,
we can request that he lead us the humble, makes know His ways, teaches us His truth, forgive our sins, pardons
remains merciful, demonstrates steadfast love
we should request that he turn to us, would be gracious to us, bring us out of distress, consider our situation, guard and deliver us, protect our integrity because of our connection to him.

In all that David teaches us to ask of God, God is active.

His is able
We are needy
He can supply what we need

One of the aspects of my role that I enjoy most is helping/encouraging people to think…to think biblically.

So when I saw this image on Walt Muller’s excellent blog, I thought I had to post it.

This past Sunday I finish a brief 3 part series, Worship in the Book of Revelation.  Revelation gives us wonderful image of God—Sovereign Holy King (ch 4), Redeemer who gives hope (ch 5).  I have been reminded increasingly that worship, since it centers on God requires submission.  As I look through all the “worship hymns” in Revelation and see the way the book ends—I am reminded that an encounter with God always leads to worship.

Any “worship wars” or “crisis in worship” seem to have at their root a failure to encounter God.  When we encounter God, we are changed and He is worshipped.  When we encounter God our eyes are either fixed on Him or at least removed from us.  When we encounter God worship is always transformational.  When we encounter God worship is real and relevant.  When we encounter God worship is no longer about style.

Surveying the Crisis of Worship

from R.C. Sproul

There is a crisis of worship in our land. People are staying away from church in droves. One survey indicated that the two chief reasons people drop out of church are that it is boring and irrelevant.

If people find worship boring and irrelevant, it can only mean they have no sense of the presence of God in it. When we study the act of worship in Scripture and church history, we discover a variety of human responses to the sense of the presence of God. Some people tremble in terror, falling with their faces to the ground; others weep in mourning; some are exuberant in joy; still others are reduced to a pensive silence. Though the responses differ, one reaction we never find is boredom. It is impossible to be bored in the presence of God (if you know that He is there).

Neither is it possible for a sentient creature to find his or her encounter with God a matter of irrelevance. Nothing—and no one—is more relevant to human existence than the living God.

Coram Deo: Do you find worship boring and irrelevant? If so, pray for a renewed sense of God’s presence.

Psalm 95:6 “Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker.”

Psalm 34:1 “I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.”

Psalm 50:23 “Whoever offers praise glorifies Me; and to him who orders his conduct aright I will show the salvation of God.”

In His Presence

Sometimes I crawl into the presence of God

exhausted by life

beaten by the world

overwhelmed by the weakness of my flesh

and in His presence I find

refreshment for my heart

sustenance for my soul

redirection for my mind

empowerment for the strength of my body

Sometimes I run into the presence of God

rejoicing overwhelmed with His goodness

thankful to the Giver of every good gift

glorying in His sovereignty

and in His presence I find

He abounds even more

He is worshipped

Sometimes I fall on my face in the presence of God

desperate for his mercy

in need

in need of his cleansing and restoration

and in His presence

I meet infinite grace and mercy

I see love

I encounter faithfulness

Sometimes I back into the presence of God

self-sufficient and arrogant

looking away from the light into the darkness of my shadow

pushed by His unseen hand

and in His presence

I am overshadowed by Him

the scales on my eyes are removed

I am refocused

Sometimes I walk into the presence of God

to enjoy communion and fellowship

to rejoice in Him

to surrender to Him the center of my life

and in His presence I find

acceptance and fellowship

joyful communion

No matter how I enter the presence of God—in His presence I find HIM!

Living out of memory
Don’t minister out of memory, but do learn from the past.
Don’t minister simply out of memory, but based on past memories of God’s presence, power and provision, depend on Him now for your current needs.

Living in the moment
Don’t minister simply in the moment, but do be fully present for people.
Don’t minister simply in the moment, be conscience of the future–leave a legacy.

Living through mission
Don’t minister simply out of mission, but do be motivated by an eternal perspective.
Don’t minister without a mission, be purposeful in your mission and open to God’s working in the present.