Budgets and Bottom lines

You know, someone once asked, "How much ministry can you do for $100.00?"

Their answer, "About a hundred dollars worth."

It's interesting that business theory includes spending money to make money, but when you cross the line into church related business that theory is often abandoned. And perhaps it should be, but only if it is replaced with the theory of spending money to increase souls in the Kingdom. We are not the same as a business, and the major difference is our bottom line. Whereas business measures everything by dollars, in the church our bottom line is souls.

But it's not all people work. It also takes paperwork, little green pieces of paperwork.

Last night I met with our oversight board. The oversight board is made up of the deacons of Pasadena Assembly of God Church. I meet with them monthly and give a financial accounting as well as an update of anything related to the church. They are the intermediary board between our church and the District Presbytery.

At our meeting we approved the budget package and gave some money away. I was reading in Luke this week, and was reminded of the scripture behind my theology of giving. Jesus saw many wealthy people giving their offerings and patting each other on the back. Then a widow came and gave her pennies; nowhere near as much as everyone else. Jesus drew attention to that woman and commented that she had given the most. This is a principle of the Kingdom, giving little out of our need is more significant than giving much with plenty left over.

The same week that we sent fund raising letters to a dozen churches because of our need we also gave out of what we have to help the needs of others. And you know what it feels great.

--Ben


For more on the issue of giving, check out this video from a church plant in Utah. They are currently doing a series for Lent called "40 Days of Nothing".