I have been thinking about money and church. As best I can tell most churches need more money. I think money is good. I am not sure we are hitting the mark on motivating people to see that churches overloaded with money would be a good thing.
The church I am leading has plenty of requests for aid from people. It takes money to do the job. Some wonder why we don’t do more missions. Well, it takes more money. Why do churches see such turn over in their staff? There again it is money. We need money and lots of it. And people need to give it. Churches should be money magnets, period.
And how about all the energy church leaders spend praying for money to fuel their churches? Couldn’t the time in praying for money be better spent.
I find there are several different motivations people have with regard to money. We need to see if our talk about money is appealing to various types of people.
those motivated by a cause bigger than themselves…. they want to give to change the world,
institutional givers…. People who like to pay mortgages off and keep the lights on.
personality givers… people whole like to give to a program because they like the leader.
emotional givers….people who are moved by crisis when they give.
strategic givers ….people who like to make the big difference – see themselves as those who save the day and do.
Think about these types and ask yourself how can I appeal to these different types of people?
Thoughts above money:
- Give when you don’t have it expecting more – I Kings 17
- More blessed to give than to receive – Acts 20:35
- Give of resources you have management of – Barnabas – Acts 4:32-37
- You can hold the blessing when you give…Luke 6:38
- Don’t lie about money – Acts 5:3
Great conversation to start. . . money, issues of poverty, justice etc. is the 2nd most talked about issue in the Bible right after idolatry (Which I would argue, is also related to money issues). We need to talk about this issue.
Here’s my contribution: A latté in Seattle costs $3. The average Cambodian makes $1 a day. So. . . one latté equals three days of work. Meanwhile, American Christians give an estimated 2 cents out of every dollar for missions. Do we really believe in reaching the lost? Do we read passages like Isaiah 58 and take them seriously?
American Christians have been blessed with so much wealth, education, time, etc. We can use that to change the world. Why aren’t we doing more?
Doug
I would like for you to give me money
I will come and get some from you next time I visit Boise
I am so happy that you are leading a church
Now I know where to find you
Love
Jim Henderson
PS – Gary is playing at my gig in Nov http://www.offthemap.com/live