Ministry & Money

This is probably one of the more delicate topics related to faith-based institutions. Every good work needs money to operate, but it often creates a moral dilemma for those seeking financial support. I have been involved in fundraising efforts since entering the mission field in 1988. During that time, I have seen all of the good and bad that comes from with dealing with money. Let’s look at a few important facts surrounding Ministry & Money.

Giving, Tithing, and Stewardship are all important Biblical topics. Some authors have indicated that money is talked about more than any other topic. I don’t know if that is true, but the Word has a lot to say about it. I don’t want to use this column to preach a sermon, so here are my observations.

Faith or Works: I have sat in board meetings where Executive Directors have emphasized the importance of trusting God and the money will come to the exclusion of getting out and asking. I have seen board members so concerned about the bottom line that they forget to include God in their calculations. What is the balance between stepping out in faith and being a responsible steward? I don’t know that there is a clear-cut answer, but the simplest way I know to explain it, is to pray as if everything depended on God and work as if everything depended on you. Make sure it is God’s voice you hear calling you to step out in faith and not your own arrogance or Messiah complex.

Money & Power Corrupts. This is the greatest challenge I have seen on the mission field. We are so eager to help we place large sums of money in the hands of those inexperienced in handling it. They will see more money in a week than they have seen in a lifetime and it can corrupt local workers who were at one time good men. American diplomacy has failed because we have created an international welfare program. In too many cases, the church has done the same thing.

Finally, never sacrifice your mission to chase dollars. I have seen too many organizations change their vision, mission and values because they believed that the money they would receive justified the move. A well-meaning individual may promise $500, 000 if you will build a clinic in Honduras, or sponsor students in Ukraine. If those works fall under the umbrella of your mission great, if not help steer them to the organization that can fulfill their mission. I have seen dozens of faith-based organizations who lost their vision, then lost their zeal. They chased dollars, rather than pursuing souls and sought financial increases rather than striving to expand the kingdom.

I believe that God requires us to manage money in our personal lives and in our ministries for a series of reasons: 1) It requires us to exercise stewardship; 2) It demonstrates our ability to walk with integrity; 3) and it reminds us that “every good and perfect gift comes from the Father of lights…”