Archives For money

Six Traditions That Are Killing the Church (Part 2)

March 13, 2013 — 1 Comment

3.11.13Last post I started a three part series on Six (Modern-Day) Traditions That Are Killing the Church. These traditions have nothing to do with style of music, whether the pastor uses a pulpit or round table, or whether the people come dressed in suits or blue jeans. There are great churches on both sides of those divides. These traditions are a little more insidious, a little more difficult to unearth. Here are traditions three and four:

3. Expecting the church to disciple your kids. This used to frustrate me to no end as a youth pastor. A parent would come up, concerned about the lack of spirituality in their child. They didn’t feel confident talking to their kid about the Bible. So they were going to use their 167 hours per week and let their child fill their head with as much worldly influence as possible, then give that child to me for an hour a week and hope that I could completely disciple them. Not gonna happen. In Deuteronomy 6:6-7 says this, “These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” The role of discipling your children ultimately belongs to the parents, not the church. Interestingly enough, the epidemic of college students leaving the home and leaving the faith began to track at the same time that parents abdicated their role in the spiritual formation of their children. Coincidence? I think not.

4. Robbing God by not trusting God with God’s money. It took me years to get this right. I’ve been a Christian a majority of my life, yet it took years and years and years to finally trust God enough to begin to tithe faithfully. In Malachi 3:8, God tells Israel, “Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. “But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’ “In tithes and offerings.” Let’s be honest. Most Christians don’t tithe. That may very well include you.

Here’s what I learned after I began to tithe: I don’t tithe because God needs it. God’s not broke. It’s actually all his money anyways. I tithe because I need it. I need to break the power of money in my life. I need to experience the blessings of trusting God with that which is closest to my heart: my pocketbook. This tradition, of Christians thinking it’s okay to rob God, is killing the church today.

QUESTION: What traditions would you add to this list?

In Biblical Truth, Food for Thought, What I'm Teaching , , , , ,
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How to Overcome Your Fear of Giving

December 5, 2012 — 1 Comment

10.24.12BIG Idea: Overcome the fear of giving by faith in giving.

For the past several Wednesdays, we’ve been walking through a series I preached in February called “Going Green.” All about the wonderfully awkward topic of money, it’s a subject that American Christians have a tough time getting right. We know we need to give more of God’s money to the church and Kingdom purposes, but for some reason, it’s tough for us.

Now, I’d love to be able to say that giving money to the church has always been easy for me, but it honestly hasn’t. My struggles started right at the beginning. Growing up middle class, I knew the value of a hard earned dollar. When I started my first part-time job in high school, I knew what the Bible said I should do: tithe. For some reason it was a lot easier to throw a Washington in the plate when my dad had slipped it to me a few moments before. It wasn’t my money. Easy come, easy go.

But when I worked for it, that money was now “mine,” and I didn’t want to let go of it so easily. So, I talked myself out of it. I figured that I wasn’t really making enough to really contribute anything of value to the church. I mean, if my tithe was $8, what was that going to really help? So, I decided that I’d begin to tithe once I made more money and could give something substantial. That would surely be easier, wouldn’t it?

Wrong. For some reason, tithing actually became harder once I started adding zeros to the back of my check. Yet I knew I needed to tithe. So, I changed my approach. I figured I’d spend my hard earned money on number one (me), and give God everything that was left over at the end of the month. Wouldn’t you know it? I always ran out of money before I ran out of month.

Do you want to know how I finally broke through and began to tithe faithfully? It’s real simple. I just started tithing. I just quit using excuses and started to give to God what I knew I needed to give. And God’s been faithful. I’ve never missed any of the money that I’ve given to the church (it’s all God’s anyways). One of the things that has helped keep me honest in this area has been online giving. My church allows online giving, so I set up a recurring debit to be taken out twice a month, immediately after my check gets deposited. That way I know the first withdrawal that happens goes to the church.

What excuse do you need to give up to begin to give back to God faithfully?

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How to Break Your Addiction to Stuff

November 28, 2012 — 3 Comments

BIG Idea: Giving is the only antidote to greed.

The behemoth of Black Friday is behind us, and as the graphic so aptly states, only in America do we trample each other for sales exactly one day after being thankful for what we already have. Now that Black Friday has been pushed back into Thursday, we don’t even wait a day. Underlying our consumer mentality is pure, unadulterated greed.

We want more, we need more. We feel we’re complete until we see an advertisement with something newer and shinier. The American marketplace needs us addicted to stuff to fuel profits. PBS recently ran a documentary on materialism. Here’s what they found:

  • The average American shops six hours a week while spending forty minutes playing with his children.
  • By age twenty, we’ve seen one million commercials.
  • Recently, more Americans declared bankruptcy than graduated from college.
  • In 90 percent of divorce cases, arguments about money play a prominent role.

All this for the pursuit of money. If you stop long enough, you know that money can’t buy true happiness. So how can you break your addiction to materialism and money and stuff? Jesus himself shares how in Matthew 6:19-20, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.”

If you want to break your addiction to money, you’ve got to learn how to give it away. Until you do, money will own you. By learning how to give it away (to great causes like the local church, people in need, or great non-profits), you’re storing up for yourselves treasures in heaven and you’re breaking the power that money has over you. Here’s the BIG Idea: Giving is the only antidote to greed.

So as we enter into the materialistic orgy formally known as the Christmas season, don’t be caught up in the lie that more stuff will make you happier. Break your addiction to stuff by learning how to give it away. Trust me, when you’re in heaven enjoying all those rewards for eternity, you’ll thank me.

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Live For the Line, Not the Dot

November 14, 2012 — Leave a comment

BIG Idea: Live for the line, not dot.

Have you ever encountered someone who lacked perspective? If you have, you’ve probably been amused/annoyed/concerned/entertained by their complete lack of self-awareness. It might be the two-year-old throwing down Armaggedon in the grocery store because his mom wouldn’t get him the candy that apparently his life depended on.

It might be a teenage girl stomping to her room and cocooning herself in an isolated sanctuary of self-pity and grief because her boyfriend broke up with her and apparently her prospects for love in life are now dead and gone. Or maybe it’s the college kid who’s having way too much fun at college, with no idea that real life is about to come crashing down on him.

When people lack perspective, things tend to go wrong. For the past several Wednesdays, we’ve been looking at our relationship with money. Today, we’re talking about money and an eternal perspective. Here’s what Jesus said about money:

  19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.” Matthew 6:19-20

The picture Jesus is trying to create when he says “store up for yourselves treasure” is the idea of stacking or hoarding. It’s like the tv show “Hoarders” that I watch from time to time as a guilty pleasure. I’m fascinated to see how someone can fill their houses with absolute junk and let their quality of life take such a nosedive.

Jesus is saying, “don’t be a hoarder here on earth.” Don’t live as if this world is all there is. Why? Because everyone lives forever somewhere. There is a life after this life. Eternity awaits us all. And the Bible clearly teaches that how we live our lives affects our eternity. This life is a small dot. Eternity is a line that extends forever. Live for the line, not the dot.

Jesus is saying, “don’t handle your money as if this world is all there is.” Don’t hoard useless stuff in your life that you won’t be able to take to the next. Look at how you spend God’s money. Are you blowing it all on you? Are you hoarding it like you’re going to keep it forever? Or are you using it to invest in the Kingdom, storing up for yourselves treasures in heaven?

Live for something bigger than yourself, and invest your money accordingly. You can thank me when we’re up in heaven.

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Follow the Money, Find Your Heart

October 31, 2012 — 2 Comments

BIG Idea: Follow the money, find your heart.

As a teenager, I had an addiction. A secret sin, something that consumed my thoughts and threatened to overtake my life. I was addicted to cheesy Christian music (cue “friends are friends forever” by Michael W. Smith). Back when music was still sold by the album on plastic discs, I bought all that I could get my hands on. I bought music by Petra, Newsboys, Audio Adrenaline, and even a little Christafari.

I soon found that there was a dark side to my CD collection. What I owned began to own me. I no longer possessed the music. It possessed me. Since my collection was so big, I felt internal pressure to keep adding to it, even with bands I didn’t really like. I felt the constant need to listen to a CD, to justify the amount of money I had spent. My CD collection had captured my attention. It had captured my heart.

In Jesus’ famous discourse about money, he gives a simple truth that cuts to the core of our relationship with it. He says, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will also be” (Matthew 6:21). This verse tells us a couple of things. First, it forever puts to rest the idea that money isn’t a spiritual issue. Money is an intrinsically spiritual issue. Why? Because your heart follows your money. Follow the money, find your heart. Your heart follows your pocket book. Don’t believe me? Think about it for yourself: where do you spend most of your discretionary money? Do you spend a lot of money hunting? Maybe on shopping? Perhaps you have a huge car note that you pay monthly. Chances are you’ll find that your thoughts, your attention, your passion, your heart, follows what you spend your money on.

Why is this all important? It’s not because God wants your money. He doesn’t need money (and remember, it’s all His anyways). God doesn’t want your money, he wants your heart. And your heart follows your money. That’s why Christians are told in the Bible to give a portion of their resources to the local church and Kingdom work. Because God wants your heart passionate about what’s important to him. Follow the money, find your heart.

QUESTION: If we followed the way you spent your money, where would we find your heart?

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Why “Your” Money Isn’t Your Money

October 24, 2012 — Leave a comment

Big Idea: God owns everything. I’m his money manager.

In the spring of 1994, I held a small piece of paper that would forever change the way I lived. I had just started my first real job, where I was a food service technician (i.e. waiter) at an upscale retirement home. Never changed a bed pan. Just needed to say that. The piece of paper I held was my first paycheck. I had busted my tail for two weeks at $4.50 an hour (whoop whoop) and had received something like $164 for my first paycheck. It was a mythical moment. I’d never before held that much money before.

What made it special was that it was “my” money. I earned it. It was mine. No more freeloading off my dad (okay, I’d waive that rule for a few more years). I was in the big house. I was making it rain. $164 was so much money, I didn’t know how I would spend it all. Guess what? I figured out a way. I actually figured out a way to spend it all before my next paycheck.

My relationship with money began. It’s a relationship that defines all of us. What’s funny is that we love what money does for us, but we hate what it does to us. We love the food, the comforts, the toys that money can buy. But we hate what it does to us. We hate the fights that it causes with those closest to us. We hate how money seems to draw out the worst in us. We hate how we start controlling our money, but before too long, it seems to control us.

Back in February at Mt Vernon Church, we walked through a series called Going Green. Since money’s the elephant in the room, I figured we might as well attack it head on and see what God teaches us about it. The first truth to learn about “your” money is this: God owns everything. I’m his money manager. The truth is, “our” money isn’t really “our” money. It’s God’s. He just lets us play with it for awhile. Don’t believe me? Ask Him.

“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.” Psalm 24:1

“I will shake all nations, and the desired of all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,’ says the LORD Almighty. ‘The silver is mine and the gold is mine,’ declares the LORD Almighty.” Haggai 2:7-8

“But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today.” Deuteronomy 8:18

“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Since “our” money is actually God’s money, that changes everything about how we should handle it. Let me ask it this way: if a financial service treated your money the way you’re treating God’s money, would you fire yourself?

What else does the Bible say about money? A lot, actually. Come back next Wednesday to read part two.

QUESTION: Has there ever been a moment when you realized that “your” money wasn’t really your money?

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Top Seven Excuses NOT to Give Money to the Church

September 27, 2012 — 3 Comments

Last night at The Conversation (our mid-week adult Bible study), we talked about giving. Always fun when the preacher talks about money. We didn’t pass around the KFC buckets, but we were close. I gave a list of seven excuses Christians use not to give. I thought I’d pass them along. Please let me know if I’ve missed any.

1. “I can’t afford to give.” Always a go to excuse. Most of us feel like we’re not in the best financial shape to give. If we had more money we’d give. Sounds plausible. It’s best, however, to avoid giving this excuse after pulling up in your new leased vehicle, with Krispy Kreme crumbs still on your pants leg and a McAllister’s Sweet Tea in the cup holder. Kinda destroys your argument.

2. “I give as God leads.” This one’s great because it’s spiritual. I mean, who would want to go against God’s leading? Everyone assumes, of course, that since you’re spiritual enough to give when God leads, that means that God leads in all of your financial decisions, including the latest round of golf or pedicure. He must have led you to that as well, right?

3. “I don’t trust churches.” This one hurts because churches can do a horrible job throwing good money after bad programs. And we’ve all seen too many televangelists heading off to jail. But just because there are a few that abuse the system, that doesn’t mean the whole system is messed up. Airplanes crash, but you still get on them. You just make sure to get on a good one that’s been checked out and safe. Find a solid church and invest there. You’ll be glad you did.

4. “I’m waiting until I have some money saved up.” This is a decent excuse because it makes it sound like you want to. You’re just waiting to give a big amount and surprise God all at once. This excuse would have a little more credence if you didn’t have $8000 in credit card bills from all the things you didn’t save up for.

5. “Giving is a spiritual gift, and I have a different gift.” You’ve got a know a little Bible to be able to pull this one off. Yes, Romans 12:8 lists giving as a spiritual gift. Not all have it, but that doesn’t let the rest of us off the hook. Some have the gift of evangelism, but we’re all supposed to share. Some just do so as their life’s passion. So, if your gift isn’t giving, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t give. That just means you can get away with keeping 90% of your income.

6. “I’ll give when I have more to give.” Some feel like their tithe isn’t worth anything. If you only make $100 a week, what can the church buy with $10? Another set of pot holders for the covered dish fellowship at the end of the month? Unfortunately, giving is never really about the money. It’s about the heart. In the New Testament, Jesus praised the widow not because she gave a lot, but she gave all she had. I don’t care if you make $2 a week. Throw that $0.20 in the plate with pride.

7. “My money is mine and I can do whatever I want with it.” This is a standard last ditch effort for those desperately trying to cling to God’s money. Here’s the brutal truth: “your” money is not your money. It’s God’s money. Everything belongs to him. To help you appreciate the fact that everything is God’s, take a breath. No really, breathe. What just happened, God allowed it to happen. Your breath, your life, your money, is ultimately God’s. It’s all his anyways, so don’t try and fight him over it.

QUESTION: Any other good excuses I should add to the list?

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Marriage: The First Decade (part 1)

August 13, 2012 — 4 Comments

To all the cheesy Christian music fans out there, my blog title is a reference to one of my favorite CD’s growing up: Michael W. Smith’s “The First Decade” compilation album. With hits such as “Friends are Friends Forever” and “Place in This World,” how could you go wrong?

This past summer my wife and I celebrated our ten year wedding anniversary. Now usually, husbands are supposed to take their wives on a nice vacation to celebrate. I took it up a notch. I gave my wife a baby. Your move, gentlemen.

While I know that ten years is not long in the scope of a human life, a marriage that’s lasted ten years (at my age) is becoming rarer and rarer. So, let me reflect (this week and next week) on ten years and share ten things I’ve learned after ten years of marriage:

1. I’m amazed at how I much I can still get wrong. I’m still waiting to for the day when I quit sticking my foot in my mouth, when I quit being selfish, and quit getting myself into trouble. Some days it’s like I’m still making rookie mistakes and focusing on what benefits me more than the marriage.

2. My wife’s been married to three different people. They just all happen to have my name. As a human I’m continually changing and evolving (hopefully for the better, but not always). As I’ve changed, my wife’s had to adjust to a living with a new person. Sorry about that, honey. I guess that’s why marriage always takes work.

3. You know how people always say that couples fight about money? Well, they’re right. In a world where over a billion people live on less than a dollar a day, we’re incredibly blessed financially. And yet there’s never enough money to buy all the toys that are out there. Our “wants” list always seems larger than our checking account. So we have to choose. We have to prioritize. We have to negotiate and compromise. Money’s a punk sometimes.

4. It’s incredible how many things compete with our marriage. We live in society numerous competitors that can distract us away from what’s important. What’s hard is that these competitors are good things. Marriage would be a piece of cake if kids, career, hobbies, money and leisure time would quit getting in the way. They’re all good things, but they can ultimately distract me from the greatest thing, which is my marriage.

5. Romance is now spontaneous and scheduled. When we first got married, life was simple. We had all the time in the world. But then we started our careers. And had kids. And now, romance and dating is still spontaneous, but it’s also scheduled. We put date nights on the calendar (which seems like the least romantic thing to do). But we do it because it’s a priority. In our hectic lives, spontaneous on it’s own doesn’t work anymore. If we schedule doctor’s appointments because they’re important, why not date nights?

QUESTION: What are truths you’ve learned about marriage?

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