Pastors Help Believer’s Stay the Course By Michael Stewart Arthur Laffer, chief economist during the Reagan presidency, believes an already weakened economy will get worse. Terrence Aym, at Helium.com, states “Arther Laffer has analyzed the direction of the federal government over the past two years and hears alarm bells going off. The savvy economist has studied the potential impact of the historic debt, an economy hovering just above a depression, and the building pressure to raise interest rates when inflation rises in the future, and compares the ship of state to the Titanic”. While nothing in or of this world will destroy believers, followers of Jesus are not immune from a rough economy. Jesus’ mandate to go and make disciples is larger than ever before. How then, do pastors help their congregations find the balance between battening down their financial hatches and becoming generous givers through tithes and offerings? The answer is faithfully proclaiming the sovereignty and goodness of the Heavenly Father. When it comes to finances and faithfulness, believers need to hear the biblical truths once again. Timeless Truths in a Tough Economy…Keeping God’s House Fiscally Sound Maintain Sound Doctrine: Jesus is Lord. Not only is Jesus Lord over His Church, He is Lord over the economy as well. Scripture states that “the earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof and that He owns the cattle on a thousand hills.” If believers will return God’s tithe to him, they will not lack His blessings. The Psalmist stated, “I have been young and now I am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor His seed begging bread.” Jesus reiterated that truth when He said "Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you." Jesus had more to say about wealth and possessions than any other subject. Teach those truths and let the Holy Spirit do His work. Keep a Kingdom Focus: Kingdom-minded people are focused on honoring God and sharing the Gospel of Jesus. Kingdom-minded people remember that Jesus said, “I came to seek and to save that which was lost.” The economy should never be the believer’s focus. The economy is not an end in itself it is a means to an end. God gives believers the ability to make money to honor Him and to accomplish His purpose. The Apostle Paul said “let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him that has need.” When believers trust God’s Providence enough to be generous givers of tithes and offerings, gospel ministry will be accomplished and God’s love will be demonstrated to a lost and dying world.