Isn't it funny how money seems to rule our lives? If you've got a pulse, then it's likely that you're aware of the HUGE Wall Street crisis, mortgage lender collapses, etc. I've been reading Erwin McManus' book, "Soul Cravings," and today I read an entry with a story about his conversation with a man who believed that the whole world revolves around economics. You know, he made a really convincing argument. Erwin countered, however, that economics is simply about "agreed upon value." If two or more people agree that something has value, you then can have commerce. (Now I finally understand why there is a market for baseball cards and comic books!) Money, he argued, is what people agree has value...ergo, economics.
As Christians, you'd think we'd have a handle on money. After all, the Bible speaks a lot about it. What I have discovered, however, is quite the opposite. As a church staff member, I come across a lot of people who view money like the world does. As a tool for perceived power. I've literally been told by someone that if we did "such and such," he'd stop giving to the church. I wish that were an isolated incident, but it has totally broken my heart to watch how our church's giving decreases when we make an unpopular decision. They believe they can force whatever they want by withholding money from the church...instead of wielding power, however, they are robbing God! (Unfortunately, many pastors bow to that pressure, themselves not fully trusting God to provide for their finances.) How little do people really understand about God and money. And while this is such a HUGE area of weakness in our churches today, it is probably the least addressed topic by pastors! Why is that? Why do we chronically avoid teaching on such an important thing as money?
Money is simply a tool that God allows us to have, give, or use as the case may be. Just like the other resources or gifts He gives us, God gives us money to be used for His purposes. In God's economy, money is just like mercy, singing, teaching children, etc. He has a plan to accomplish His purposes, and money is only a cog in the wheel...it is an important part, but still just a part...
Money is also a tool that God uses to grow faith in us. Since the world economy revolves around money (as was established earlier), our money (or lack of it) is a way that God chooses to help us learn to trust Him. Those who don't have a lot it must learn to give it to God and trust Him for their needs. Those who have a lot of it must learn to give it to God and trust Him for their needs as well - differently than those who don't have a lot of money, but still learning to trust as well, and arguably harder because of the temptation to put your trust in money instead of God.
So I beg the question again...why do we avoid this topic in church, when how we spend our money plays such a POWERFUL role in our relationship with God?
As Christians, you'd think we'd have a handle on money. After all, the Bible speaks a lot about it. What I have discovered, however, is quite the opposite. As a church staff member, I come across a lot of people who view money like the world does. As a tool for perceived power. I've literally been told by someone that if we did "such and such," he'd stop giving to the church. I wish that were an isolated incident, but it has totally broken my heart to watch how our church's giving decreases when we make an unpopular decision. They believe they can force whatever they want by withholding money from the church...instead of wielding power, however, they are robbing God! (Unfortunately, many pastors bow to that pressure, themselves not fully trusting God to provide for their finances.) How little do people really understand about God and money. And while this is such a HUGE area of weakness in our churches today, it is probably the least addressed topic by pastors! Why is that? Why do we chronically avoid teaching on such an important thing as money?
Money is simply a tool that God allows us to have, give, or use as the case may be. Just like the other resources or gifts He gives us, God gives us money to be used for His purposes. In God's economy, money is just like mercy, singing, teaching children, etc. He has a plan to accomplish His purposes, and money is only a cog in the wheel...it is an important part, but still just a part...
Money is also a tool that God uses to grow faith in us. Since the world economy revolves around money (as was established earlier), our money (or lack of it) is a way that God chooses to help us learn to trust Him. Those who don't have a lot it must learn to give it to God and trust Him for their needs. Those who have a lot of it must learn to give it to God and trust Him for their needs as well - differently than those who don't have a lot of money, but still learning to trust as well, and arguably harder because of the temptation to put your trust in money instead of God.
So I beg the question again...why do we avoid this topic in church, when how we spend our money plays such a POWERFUL role in our relationship with God?
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment