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.
Consider Fiscal Prudence: Most pastors realize “that it might be in the budget but that doesn’t necessarily mean it can be spent”. Pastors and staff must make financial decisions every day. There is a balance between funding current missions and ministries and creating new ones. Difficult times call for difficult decisions. The writer of Proverbs taught about working and saving when he said “go to the ant you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise, which, having no captain, overseer or ruler, provides her supplies in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest.” Therefore, be careful about debt. This may not be the best time to launch into a building program or create new ministries. As receipts tighten, prudence (wisdom) dictates that fiscal decisions are weighed very carefully. When God calls His people to a task He will provide the means to complete it. However, it is the responsibility of His people to remain faithful and obedient to receive the blessing. Jesus spent more time teaching about wealth and possessions than any other topic. The wise pastor will ensure that his congregation is being taught the biblical principles about money and possessions. Some pastors may not feel thoroughly equipped to teach about finances. Good news pastor. There are more individuals and groups developing biblical resources about making, spending and saving money than ever before. Dave Ramsey and Crown Financial Ministries are but two of the more prominent. When it comes to finances believers will adopt a secular world-view or a biblical world-view. The pastor who wants the best for his congregation will do what is necessary to “equip the saints” with a biblical world-view about money.
Michael Stewart is the Stewardship Strategist for the Louisiana Baptist Convention.