Living by Faith?

For those who have spent anytime reading mission stories and biographies, it will come as no surprise that things were much different not so long ago when it came to the way missions was done. Often I wonder if some of what we have done or are currently doing or even planning on doing is due to expediency or because we believe that we are actually following biblical principles.

Throughout my life, I have been blessed to grow up in a home that first loved missions, then in a home that became the home of missionaries serving on a foreign field. Today, my parents still serve as missionaries after more than 30 years of service to the Lord. I was also blessed to have had the privilege to read missionary stories and biographies from shortly after I first learned how to read. Boyhood favorites included: C.T. Studd: Cricketer & Pioneer , Mary Slessor: White Queen of the Cannibals, and Jungle Pilot – just to name a few of the many I could easily recommend.

Sadly, as I look back, the one aspect that is often missing is the area of finances. Some stories do give accounts of times the missionaries had little to live on, but most seemed to bypass the subject as though it is taboo. As time goes by and I often reread some of these stories, I have come to the realization that the subject is not so much a taboo as it is that many of these true heroes of the faith learned that what is expected of them is best left in the Lord’s capable hands which stand ready to provide for His children whom He loves with an everlasting love. Their learning to live by faith was and often became an intensely humbling and private matter between them and their Master.

Many learned to live by faith in ways that are hard to imagine in today’s western church scene. Some months they had little to eat, but what they obtained from the land. Other months, a large expense was forthcoming and the Lord graciously provided in a way that left the donors often anonymous. The name of the Lord was many times praised because the need was never spoken of outside of hushed circles by the husband and wife, but He owns the cattle on a thousand hills and the hills themselves, knew what they needed long before they ever asked.

As we consider our move to Liberia, West Africa, I cannot help but wonder at what it truly means for my family and I to consider living by faith. How should we do this? What can we learn from the lives of others who have gone before? Am I willing to ask the Lord to increase my faith in whatever way He chooses so that He alone will be glorified in all that is said and done in our lives?

There are many options available to those wishing to serve on mission. Some missionaries serve with denominations whereby a stipend is received each and every month. Others write letters and ask for help from family, friends, etc. for a specific time-frame while they serve the Lord for normally a short-term mission endeavor. Others call pastors, make contact with churches, and visit hundreds of churches before finally raising enough support that they believe will allow them to be self-sustaining on the field. This last option is often controlled by mission boards that require a missionary to raise a certain amount or the mission board will not grant approval for the missionary to leave. Yet, others go fully supported by the church that commends them to the work. Finally, there are some who go without the publishing of any needs, and trust the Lord to provide what they may need.

Before I go any further, I want to say that each missionary is accountable first to the Lord whom he or she serves. Second, a biblical missionary will be directly accountable to their local church before they are ever accountable to a mission organization. To be accountable to the mission organization first is to put the cart before the horse. Each missionary is responsible for his family and must give account of whatever finances he or she receives as to whether they have been a good steward or not. So saying, this blogpost is simply my own personal thoughts on what the Lord is doing in our hearts, and is not to cast dispersion on a missionary who chooses a different path than another in the area of finances.

We must be careful that whatever decision is made, that we do not cross a line from faith to foolishness. In our prayer and meditation before the Lord, each missionary has to decide what direction the Lord has for him or her. For example, it may very well be foolishness for one to simply drop everything and move somewhere without even $1 in guaranteed support. But for another who has been called to a country or area where additional employment is not necessary, it may require faith on their part to trust that God will help them to raise the necessary funds.

Sadly, because there is little accountability or lack of knowledge about some locations in this world, there are millions of dollars every year that is given to missions where greed is the mode of operation. The missionary lives far above the people, has little contact with them, and has little need of depending on the Lord because the level of financial assistance each month allows them to live in whatever manner they so desire. We could write more on this and may do at a later time.

Regardless of the methods chosen for the receiving of finances, how does one learn to live by faith? Does it matter how the money is received? What impact will it have on the national pastor or church-planter who hears from the missionary that he must live by faith with no guarantee of a monthly salary? Is it right to tell such a man to depend on the Lord if we are not willing to do the same in some way?

Hebrews 11:6 has come often to my mind, “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” Is it pleasing to God when I must have all the answers to the problems that assail my little piece of the vast universe? Do I have to know not just what is required of me, but what talents and resources I must have to complete the job before I will be willing to face the tasks that without God are impossible?

A person who joins the military has no ability to go to Basic Training thinking they have all the answers necessary to be a good soldier. They do not bring their own equipment to the battle when facing the enemy, and the daunting task of facing that enemy only comes through the instructions and courage drilled into every step and action of the one being trained. When the soldier faces the enemy, he cannot tire himself worrying about whether he is going to receive his meals a week from now. He will lose heart if he spends time concerning himself with who will provide the next batch of ammunition that his weapons require when he runs out in the heat of battle.

No, the logistical nightmare of outfitting the army is not left to the soldier facing the frontlines. It is left to those who are trained in such procedures. That incredible responsibility is tasked to those who are thinking more than 1 day, 1 meal, and 1 bullet ahead. They are often considering 1,000,000 meals down the road, a 1,000,000 bullets to deliver, and extra clothing for each soldier as he needs to change.

So, why do we come to the spiritual life and find it so difficult to live in the same manner? Has not our Commander-in-Chief told us that the promise is to provide us with food and raiment? Nothing else has been guaranteed. There is no guarantee as to what hour we will receive our next meal, no guarantee as to when our next load of ammunition will be delivered, and certainly no guarantee that our life as a good soldier of Jesus Christ will be anything but a daunting task. He has promised to always be with us. He does promise that no temptation will overtake us but will with that temptation make a way for us to escape. He has lovingly guaranteed that He will lead us into battle and that at the end of all battles, victory will be ours in Christ Jesus. Whether by life or by death, we belong to the Captain of our souls.

2 Timothy 2:3-4 says, “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.” The affairs of this life must include what we will wear or what we will eat. The affairs of this life must include what we do with each day and whether Christ is the preeminent factor in every part of our life. We can seek to justify all we want in what we do, what we read, what we listen to, what we eat, and who we choose to spend our time with, but the end result is the same – “Just two choices on the shelf — Pleasing God or pleasing self!”

This means that whatever path each of us takes in our lives whether a missionary, a pastor, or a church member, we must be learning to please God. We must be learning to endure hardness. We must be learning to please the One Who chose us to be a soldier in the first place. We must learn the cost of sacrifice and what it means to cease from the entanglements of the world.

Where the walk of faith takes each of us is not ours to decide, but is from the Lord. Each of us will walk a different path, but the end result should be the same – eternal rest for the weary, war-torn, battle-scarred soldier when his Captain returns to take us to be with Himself. May our lives be filled with the joy that comes from pleasing the Master, even when it comes to living by faith. If our faith is lacking for the tasks ahead, may we pray with the disciples, “Lord, increase my faith!”