Firm Foundations

…because inflation was at a higher rate than the interest on their money, they actually lost purchasing power…meaning their $300,000 was worth less in 2021 than it was in 2009. That doesn’t feel very good.

Truly, the sign of a good steward isn’t just in achieving for God…sometimes it is about letting go for God.

A profound truth about life is that we don’t tend to see things as they are. We see them as we are!

Being able to be content in any and every situation—now that is worth more than money!

There is a voice within your heart, a voice that comes to us when we desire to live in the will and way of the Lord.

A long time ago someone told me, “People don’t give to support your dreams. They give to support their dreams.” Perhaps we would do better to say that people give to support God’s dream living in them.

What you worship is what you become.

Just because someone is a strong giver doesn’t mean they don’t want the pastor’s mentoring and advice.

The Bible does not teach thus, and certainly the Bible gives us so many examples of stewardship that we couldn’t preach them all in a year.

A competent pastor doesn’t need to have a business degree or understand the ins and outs of bookkeeping

Giving is a pathway to greater ministry, and greater joy. “Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your Master.” There is nothing better than the joy of being used and filled by the grace of God. Joy is the right word.

Many of the best examples of life-changing ministry come from some of our smallest and most out-of-the-way churches. They are feeding people, praying up miracles, or giving a kid the only real love he or she knows.

Great laity make great churches. They have a joyful commitment to their church. They also know that pastors need their leadership and support for the church to do its job.

In our anxiety over money, churches tend to avoid not just conversations about money, but also the topic of how to treat our strongest and most dedicated givers.

So, why would givers create a DAF? One reason might be they want a tax benefit, but do not yet know the places or times they will give.

There is a spring, friends. It flows every day with life and possibility. You can’t capture it, but you can drink it, enjoy it, and let it flow through you into God’s world. Go ahead, take a drink.

Near the end of a year, it is good to share this through the congregation, as folks are wanting to consider their tax consequences. Perhaps once yearly someone could stand in front of the congregation and share how they gave stock instead of cash.

This kind of prayer reveals a person whose life is his or her own, and God is in a compartment off to the side—and a not-too-relevant compartment at that.

It is that time of year again—time to give the minimum. Not only should you not feel guilty about it—I am actually encouraging it.

The word is TRANSPARENCY. That means folks can SEE what is happening with finances. When people can’t see they don’t TRUST. When people don’t trust they don’t GIVE.