Boldly Ask

"You do not have, because do not ask."--James 4:2

McKenzie and Miller beg the question in Climb Higher, "If you truly believe in your clear and compelling vision, why would you not invite others to join you in fulfilling it?  If you truly believe you are being called by God to accomplish your ministry objectives, how could you not encourage others to get on board?"

I think we all know why... finances is a touchy subject.  There is a fine line between encouraging and bullying or guilting someone into giving financially to the church.  I agree with many in my own congregation who have said that if the church is made aware of a particular need or cause, they give generously.  But what about the common, everyday cause of building maintenance, paying the part-time staff, creating a cushion for future needs that are unforeseen?  Churches are in a precarious spot because when the the economy tanks oftentimes families have to cut back and tithing is one place where we can feel less guilty about it because God will understand, times are tough.  Believe me, I understand and sympathize with this line of thinking.  But, the cost of living, food, utilities, etc is going up for the church just as it is everywhere else!  There is an internal struggle in me between encouraging people to be thrifty in their lives, good stewards of their finances and also recognizing the need to 'boldly ask' folks to consider increasing their giving.

Because I do believe that we as a church are working toward a clear and compelling vision.  I do believe that we have wonderful ministries that we would be remiss to let go of in order to cut corners on our spending.  It is not as if we are hoarding money away, we want to use it to spread God's grace throughout the community.  

There is a fear in our lives today of giving away too much and not having enough for our own families... I resonate with that very much.  There is also a fear in churches I think that everyone will know how much we give and judge us for not giving enough.  What a horrible atmosphere to be in if we all looked over each others' shoulder to see how many bills we were putting in the plate... but I know that happens in some congregations (I hope not here).  Generosity should bring joy, not burden. This is not like giving dues to a club so that you can participate.  But it is about taking ownership for your church. It should not be about keeping up with the Jones' in the pew across the aisle. But it should be about investing in something that is important to you, if it is in fact a valued part of your life.  Give as you feel the Spirit leading you, because you too believe in the vision of the church, in the ministries that are happening!  

What you give is between you and God.  The Lord knows  your heart. I can't help but think of the parable of the widow's mite.  She gave such a small amount of money to the collection, but hers was the most valuable because she gave as much as she possibly could with a generous heart.  Stewardship is about more than giving of  your money, it is also about praying for the financial well being of the church.   Pray for our ministries, pray for our elders who make decisions, pray for our treasurers who work hard to keep our books in good order.  I have come to realize that it is not just me boldly asking church members to reconsider their giving.  It is also not the elders alone who are encouraging you to increase your tithe.  It is a conversation between you and God, one in which God is boldly asking you to consider the role that Christ's church plays in your life and how you will commit to it.  

I take this opportunity to praise God for the many ways in which our congregation does support the church financially.  We are able to do wonderful things!  I thank God every day that our congregation has put a roof over our heads and food on our table.  We are fortunate to be able to work together, there are so many churches who are struggling to stay alive, to keep their doors open.  I am thankful for the thoughtful conversations we have had and will continue to have as we envision a future for our church.  I am thankful for the ways in which the congregation has and will commit to our ministries through giving of their time, their finances, and their prayers.  May you be blessed and be a blessing.