I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
-Phil. 4:13
The Apostle Paul understood economic woes too beloved. He knew what it was to abound and to be abased; to have prosperity as well as poverty (Phil. 4:10-12). To be homeless and to be honored as an Apostle. He was a choice servant of the Lord and the scum of the earth - the dregs of this world (1 Cor. 4:10-13). As having nothing yet possessing all things (2 Cor. 6:10).
Amen?
Live out loud,
Campi
This sounds so strange to our ears today doesn't it? For in light of the biblical record, for some to judge a ministry's efficaciousness by the size of its yearly offerings or fundraising abilities, is unbiblical, stunted thinking. And the unfortunate thing, if a ministry or church is going through some hard days, some might even suggest that God's hand of blessing is no longer on that work or that the ministry should fold entirely.
Balderdash - such logic is foolishness.
Balderdash - such logic is foolishness.
If that were the case, you would have to disregard most of the ministries represented in the NT as being "out of God's will" and utter failures. I wonder how our brothers and sisters serving the Lord today in Sudan, Congo, China, Western Africa, India, or in Arab countries would respond to such logic? After all, they live in the reality of physical persecution daily. They are being crucified openly in the streets, thrown into prison, beaten, scourged and tortured for the sake of the gospel - for just loving Jesus openly and unashamedly.
We had such a godly man visit our church a few weeks ago. He is a living testament of this reality - faithfulness through persecution and difficult days. He has been held at gun point, has witnessed the fingers and limbs of his own congregation being chopped off for not denying the gospel. He has been arrested, beaten, tortured himself and only by God's sustaining grace escape certain death. Did he talk about his ministry budget or latest fund raising market driven approach to up ones visibility or exposure in order to increase his annual giving? No way. His balance sheet was written in blood.
So dear friend in the Lord Jesus Christ, please know that I am not trying to minimize anyone's current weights they are carrying financially due to our nations real economic woes. I know these days of uncertainty are heavy ones to walk through - I know, I am struggling too as well. But I say this today as a matter of encouragement: if your local church is struggling financially, if some missionaries are behind in receiving their monthly support and are having trouble paying their bills, if you are personally experiencing financial thinness these days as well - whatever it may be, let's measure our lives and service for the King not on the basis of our ability to generate more funds or increase our bottom line. But may we measure our lives according to the standard and authority of God's Word and put our trust and hope in Him - even for the needs of today. For a man's "life consists not in the things which he possesses" (Luke 12:15).
So dear friend in the Lord Jesus Christ, please know that I am not trying to minimize anyone's current weights they are carrying financially due to our nations real economic woes. I know these days of uncertainty are heavy ones to walk through - I know, I am struggling too as well. But I say this today as a matter of encouragement: if your local church is struggling financially, if some missionaries are behind in receiving their monthly support and are having trouble paying their bills, if you are personally experiencing financial thinness these days as well - whatever it may be, let's measure our lives and service for the King not on the basis of our ability to generate more funds or increase our bottom line. But may we measure our lives according to the standard and authority of God's Word and put our trust and hope in Him - even for the needs of today. For a man's "life consists not in the things which he possesses" (Luke 12:15).
Is it important to pay our bills? Absolutely. To be good stewards of all that the Lord has blessed us with? Most certainly. To work hard and provide for our families? Yes! To support our local churches and other ministries with cheerfulness in response to how the Lord has blessed us? Without question. But our daily needs are ultimately supplied and met by the Lord. We can never be so arrogant as to think that we are the master's of our own universe; and that it is through our own ingenuity and financial smarts that we have created the Manna to sustain us today can we? "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." Now that takes humility, grace and complete dependence upon God and His Word to live like that... and isn't that the point?
So work hard, plan, be wise, study His Word, seek godly counsel, and pray for God's hand of provision through it all. And whether He answers that prayer with increase or decrease, may we all say with the Apostle Paul (who had to learn to be content himself - that in all things and in every circumstance) "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
Amen?
Live out loud,
Campi
