Podcasts

Which One are You?

Published on: by Joe Galloway Comment

It got me again, the parable of the Prodigal. I enjoy those retreat break-out sessions where we’re asked, “Which one are you?” I find it hard to comprehend, but still, very comforting to know the lavish love God gives me and all of us prodigals. But truly, I am more like the older brother.

The prodigal’s brother needed to change his way of thinking (Luke 15:27-32). I know I can get a little self-righteous myself, thinking, “Look at me. Look at all the good I do.” And like the Pharisee, “Thank you, Lord, that I’m not like that publican.” Hmm…I need a conversion from my self-righteous way of thinking like that big brother.

Living a stewardship life is a conversion journey. As a disciple of Jesus Christ, embracing stewardship changes our way of thinking about what we have, how we get it, and what we do with it. In essence, we become a new creation. As St. Paul tells us in 2 Cor 5:17-21, when we’re in Christ, our old stuff goes away and we become new. Living stewardship does that. Our old life passes away as we live a stewardship life.

As good stewards, we embrace the truth that everything we have is a gift to us from God. We receive God’s gift of love and we return His love by giving. When we actively love by giving to and serving others, we are the new thing that comes to them. We bring Jesus to them in our new, fresh, enthusiastic stewardship life, thus glorifying God and building His kingdom. How will you bring your new self to others, helping those most in need and thereby making a loving return to the Lord?

                                                                                                                                                                                                 Photo Credit: Robert Davis

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What Makes you Feel Safe and Secure?

Published on: by Joe Galloway Comment

What makes you feel safe and secure? What do you need to have to feel like life is good, that you have no worries? I confess that for me it is having enough money to support my lifestyle. So I go out and strive to make money. I often justify that effort with the good intention of providing for my family. And when I achieve a measure of success and accumulate some wealth, I risk becoming haughty of heart, thinking I’ve made all this money because of my own efforts. Have you ever felt this way?  We forget, or worse, ignore the truth that God gives us everything, including the talent and ability, and the time, to work,  to achieve, and accumulate (Dt. 8:18).

St. Paul warns against thinking. He tells us in 1 Cor 10:12, “Therefore, whoever thinks he is standing secure should take care not to fall.” It is not our bank account that helps us to stand secure. Large and growing investment accounts do not give us the safety and security we need. God is our safety and security.

Of course – we know this. In overwhelming humility and gratitude, we should remember that all we have and all we are is because of God’s gifts to us. The appropriate response to God is to say along with the Psalmist, “Bless the Lord, oh my soul, and forget not all His benefits.” (Ps. 103:2) We should ask, “How can I repay the Lord for all the good done for me?” (Ps. 116:12)

How can we repay the Lord? By praising Him for all His benefits. Giving alms is praising God (Sir. 35:4). Giving sacrificially is your declaration that you stand secure in the love of God. Generosity is the best expression of your gratitude and trust in God to provide. Give to the Lord for all the good done for you. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                Photo Credit: Robert Davis

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God’s Amazing Generosity

Published on: by Joe Galloway Comment

We read in Genesis 15:5-6,18 of God’s amazing generosity. He said this to Abraham, “Look up at the sky and count the stars, if you can. Just so, he added, will your descendants be. Abram put his faith in the LORD, who attributed it to him as an act of righteousness. On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying: To your descendants I give this land.”

What a great illustration of how God is a giver. He gives lavishly, extravagantly – as much as all the stars in the lsky. Think about it this way – can you count the leaves on the trees in your yard, or even all the blades of grass in your lawn? God gives all of that to you. Just as He gave Abram all that land and all those descendants, He gives us everything: every moment of time; every measure of talent; every ounce of treasure. Everything!

Abraham is an excellent role model for us. We should follow his example of trust. We should put our faith in God as Abraham did and have it accounted to us as righteousness. And as disciples, we should strive to emulate God and give lavishly as He gave to Abraham. We should give courageously, sacrificially – trusting that God will provide! When our giving is sacrificial, just at the edge of what we think we can afford, then in our small-scale way, our giving approaches the sacrificial giving of Jesus on the cross. 

This is the life-cycle of living Stewardship: From->Through->To. Everything comes from God which we receive gratefully and develop as best as we can. And then through us, we give to the needs of others–alms. Embracing the truth that God gives us everything, and believing in how God employed this truth in Jesus – Jesus coming from God, and through Jesus and what He did for us by suffering and dying on the cross – He gives to us eternal life. 

What, then, can we return to God for all the blessings and benefits He gives to us? Again, Abraham gives the best example. We know from the previous chapter, Genesis 14:20, that Abraham gave a tenth of everything. In utmost humility and gratitude, we, too, should give 10%. For most of us, that would be sacrificial. Tithing is hard to do. But can you step out in faith, trust in God as an act of righteousness, and give? 

Giving is the best demonstration of our gratitude. So give. Bring this to prayer and ask God what He wants you to give, what is sacrificial for you. Then give that amount. In Malachi 3:10 we hear God challenge us. It says to Try Him in this and see if in your obedience to God’s commands to give, just as Abraham was obedient, He doesn’t pour down blessings without measure.

                                                                                                                                                                                            Photo Credit: Robert Davis

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How to Be the Best Disciple You Can Be

Published on: by Joe Galloway Comment

The season of Lent provides the perfect framework to reflect on your life. It is the season to ask if you are the best disciple of Jesus Christ that you can be? Is God truly first in your life, in every area of your life? Even in trials and difficulties, can you look back and find that God has blessed you? How do you respond to Him for those blessings?

As stewards, as disciples of Jesus, we acknowledge that the greatest gifts that God gives us are mercy, forgiveness, and unconditional love. And the grandest of all gifts is that our faith in Him brings us to eternal life with Him in heaven. Our best response, in all humility and overwhelming gratitude, is the intentional practice of Prayer, Fasting, and Almsgiving. 

Prayer purifies our intentions and relates everything we do to God.

Fasting detaches us from ourselves and our comforts.

Almsgiving is giving to the needs of the poor and reflects our brother/sisterhood with them. It is imitating the generosity of Jesus and reminds us that our wealth is not in things, but in the love of God. Here are a few Bible verses on giving alms:

  • Matthew 19:21   Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to [the] poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
  • Luke 11:41   But as to what is within, give alms, and behold, everything will be clean for you.
  • Proverbs 22:9   The generous will be blessed, for they share their food with the poor.
  • Sirach 7:10   Do not be impatient in prayer or neglect almsgiving.
  • Sirach 35:4   One who gives alms presents a sacrifice of praise.

This Lent, and always, put God first in every facet of your life:

            First in your Time – offering your day to God in prayer.

            First in your Talents – using them to serve others; fasting from self-serving intentions.

            First in your Treasure – giving alms to help the most vulnerable amongst us. 

May God bless you this Lenten season. 

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Blessed are You who are Poor

Published on: by Joe Galloway Comment

Luke’s Gospel addresses the real economic and social conditions of our lives. At Chapter 6, v20 he recounts Jesus saying, “Blessed are you who are poor.” Luke sees the poor as those who are dependent on God. They trust that God knows their needs and will provide. Their joy is the hope in God’s promise of eternal life. 

By contrast, at v24 Jesus says, “But woe to you who are rich.”  The rich feel comfortable in their situation. They look to their wealth to bring them joy. They are self-satisfied that it is by their own efforts and abilities  that they have accomplished their feats and accumulated their wealth. They have no need for anyone’s help. They are independent of God and everyone else. 

You may have millions in your bank and investment accounts. But are you happy? Do you have peace? No matter how much money you have, do you acknowledge God as the one who gives you the power to obtain wealth (Dt. 8:18) and admit your dependence on Him?

The Old Testament readings for this past Sunday tell us where to find our joy. Jeremiah 17:7-8 tells us, “Blessed are those who trust in the Lord. They are like a tree planted beside a stream.” Psalm 1 similarly says the one who meditates on the law of the Lord finds their joy. He is like a tree planted near water. Trusting God and obeying the commandments is what brings us the peace and happiness we seek – not money. 

In gratitude for His blessings, God commands that we put Him first in every area of our lives. In our financial life, that means we give to God first before any other expense. We give from the first fruits. We give sacrificially. Giving sacrificially causes us to be mindful of our dependence on God. Giving sacrificially is using money as a tool to grow closer to God. It deepens our faith and trust in Him rather than in our own abilities. 

We all need philanthropy. Philanthropy gives meaning and purpose to our life. It brings us a sense of satisfaction. So give to further the mission of the church and build God’s kingdom here on earth. Give sacrificially. Give joyfully. Try Him in this (Mal 3:10) and see if then you find the sense of peace and happiness that is beyond understanding.  

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