Dietrich Bonhoeffer was an amazing young man.
His writings have become widely influential, especially his book The Cost of Discipleship. Let me briefly share with you some of the information about his life (you can read a more complete account here at Wikipedia) before providing you with my “daily quote” thought for the day.
Bonhoeffer was an outstanding student and theologian. He completed his studies, which included two doctorate degrees, by the age of 24. He then began a promising career in ministry, but it was dramatically altered by the Nazi regime’s rise to power.
He was a determined opponent of Hitler and the Nazis from the beginning. In April 1933, Bonhoeffer was one of the first to state that the church must resist Hitler’s persecution of Jews, declaring that the church must not simply “bandage the victims under the wheel, but jam the spoke in the wheel itself.”
Due to persecution, Dietrich left Germany for the United States, but soon regretted his decision and returned to Germany writing: “I have come to the conclusion that I made a mistake in coming to America. I must live through this difficult period in our national history with the people of Germany. I will have no right to participate in the reconstruction of Christian life in Germany after the war if I do not share the trials of this time with my people… Christians in Germany will have to face the terrible alternative of either willing the defeat of their nation in order that Christian civilization may survive or willing the victory of their nation and thereby destroying civilization. I know which of these alternatives I must choose but I cannot make that choice from security.” He returned to Germany on the last scheduled steamer to cross the Atlantic, and was soon imprisoned for his opposition to the leadership of Nazi Germany.
For a year and a half, Bonhoeffer was imprisoned at Tegel military prison, where he followed Paul’s example from prison, continuing in ministry among both his fellow prisoners and the prison guards. In fact, sympathetic guards helped smuggle his letters out of prison, which have now been published in a book titled Letters and Papers from Prison. After the 1.5 years at Tegel, he was transferred to a Nazi concentration camp, and was executed by hanging in April 1945.
Bonhoeffer died at age 39.
This man had such strong convictions and deep theology for his young age, and many of the things he wrote are so very challenging, including this statement that I want to share today, which flies in the face of much of what we practice here in America:
Earthly goods are given to be used, not to be collected.
In the wilderness, God gave Israel the manna every day, and they had no need to worry about food and drink. Indeed, if they kept any of the manna over until the next day, it went bad. In the same way, the disciple must receive his portion from God every day. If he stores it up as a permanent possession, he spoils not only the gift, but himself as well, for he sets his heart on his accumulated wealth, and makes it a barrier between himself and God. Where our treasure is, there is our trust, our security, our consolation and our God.
Hoarding is idolatry.
–Dietrich Bonhoeffer
When I read the first and last sentences of this quote, they shock me, and my mind fights against them, because I have been taught that I should save up for a rainy day. And though there may be nothing wrong with having some savings to help carry us through to the end of life, I wonder how many of us (myself included) are going beyond simple savings into hoarding, collecting up more earthly goods than we could ever use in this life?
Honestly, my conservative American sensibilities are offended by his statement as it attacks some of the underpinnings of my own beliefs. But as I think about his statement and how it stacks us biblically, instead of Americanly, I believe that he is right on track. Our money and possessions have been given to us by God to be used for HIS kingdom – to expand His kingdom and continue to share the truths of the gospel with this lost and dying world. But instead of obeying Him by using my goods to advance His kingdom, I may be using my money and possessions to hoard for the possibility of my own use and my own security, hedging my bets that God cannot take care of me, so I better take care of myself. Therefore, I save up more money than I could possibly use in my lifetime and trust in my wealth more than in God, who has asked me to spend myself and the blessings He has given me on making Him known.
And that is why Bonhoeffer says that hoarding is idolatry – it is trusting in that which I have stored up (the gifts) more than in the Giver.
God, help me to continue to wrestle with this statement.
Help me to be willing to spend myself and all the gifts You have given to me on making You known to this world.
Help me to trust that when I spend all that I have on You, that You will take care of me.
Help me to have a bold faith like Dietrich Bonhoeffer (and the widow who offered You all that she had to live on).
What do you think about Bonhoeffer’s statement?
Is it difficult for you?
Does it offend you?
More importantly… Is it biblical?