What Could We Do?

Now let’s talk just for a minute about the concept of “overhead.” It is a necessary thing to talk about. We have gas for heat and electricity for lighting and AC and to power modern amenities. We have nice buildings to maintain. We have parking lots and outbuildings all requiring maintenance and upkeep. And as good missionaries to Riddles Bend I believe these facilities are a part of reaching people outside the church. But we don’t simply exist as a place to get together and hang out. So our giving has to do these things, but it has to move beyond these things. We can’t spend all our resources on just us.

This is why we emphasize the EBA which is churches helping church churches, and the cooperative program. and Missions offerings etc.

Those outside the church or churches

Luke 10:37 HCSB

“The one who showed mercy to him,” he said. Then Jesus told him, “Go and do the same.”

We give to the Mission Center. The number of people they help and ways they help is incredible. They always need more volunteers. We give and support the Etowah Pregnancy Center. We give to other things as we know and can.

Meeting the Needs of the Pastor and Staff

There are a lot of pastors that won’t speak directly about this. I try to limit what I say, because I don’t want to be seen as self-serving. But I can tell you that the Bible places a high premium on taking care of those needs of those who care for God’s flock.

In 1 Corinthians 9 and in 1 Timothy 5:17-18 Paul gives instruction about this.

1 Timothy 5:17–18 HCSB

The elders who are good leaders should be considered worthy of an ample honorarium, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says: Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain, and, the worker is worthy of his wages.

I have always rejected the idea that a pastor is a hired hand. He is a shepherd. And Paul says good ones should be taken care of, especially if they WORK HARD at preaching and teaching.

I try to give you more than you bargained for. (insert laugh?)

So, I will always be honest with you. I have bills to pay and things to keep up with just like you do. I like to be able to do things with my family just like you .

And, I try to look out for my family and my church family at the same time. IF you ask the personnel committee, they will tell you that I would not consider a raise this year, except to begin to pay a little into my retirement, because I do not want to place on undo strain on our churches finances.

But I will say this, Your church staff, at anytime in the life of this church or any other church, is more valuable than the building you meet in. If you don’t believe it just get a bad one in and see how empty a 350 seats room looks with 5 in it.

Concern for Souls

Chapter 15 is the most powerful and expansive writing in the whole Bible about 1. The resurrection of Jesus, 2. The resurrection of believers, and 3. What our resurrection bodies will be like. Here is chapter 16 Paul just seems to jump to the subject of giving without any connection.

Connection. When you really understand the eternality of the souls of men. When you let the weight of our resurrection settle deep into your soul.... When you realize that heaven awaits all who trust Christ, and that God will one day raise our bodies and change them into perfect and eternal bodies. You want people to miss Hell and go to heaven. And you will find increasing value in getting the message of the Gospel out.

1 Corinthians 15:50–55 HCSB

Brothers, I tell you this: Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, and corruption cannot inherit incorruption. Listen! I am telling you a mystery: We will not all fall asleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the blink of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed. For this corruptible must be clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal must be clothed with immortality. When this corruptible is clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal is clothed with immortality, then the saying that is written will take place: Death has been swallowed up in victory. Death, where is your victory? Death, where is your sting?

1 Corinthians 16:1 HCSB

Now about the collection for the saints: You should do the same as I instructed the Galatian churches.

By now you should see an inseparable connectivity between all the functions of giving… we support the needy, we support the pastor and staff, and we do it so that we can be the best we can at getting the Gospel out.

The Flow of Giving

1 Corinthians 16:2 HCSB

On the first day of the week, each of you is to set something aside and save in keeping with how he prospers, so that no collections will need to be made when I come.

Giving was to be first. Giving was to be regular and habitual so if you get paid monthly and give monthly or biweekly and give biweekly, you are still giving regularly.

This is what I desire to cultivate in us next month. The Lord said in Malachi…

Malachi 3:10 HCSB

Bring the full tenth into the storehouse so that there may be food in My house. Test Me in this way,” says the LORD of Hosts. “See if I will not open the floodgates of heaven and pour out a blessing for you without measure.

Each of you… Notice everyone was expected to give… something… I would expect that included folks who had little and perhaps even those who were on the receiving end.

In keeping with how he prospers. Let me just point out to you that a $5000.00 gift from prosperity can be smaller than a $5.00 gift from poverty. (Think of the widows mite)

Now, an important question: How does the OT concept of tithing to supply the tax base of the Jewish Nation AND for the Lord’s Work, etc.... There were multiple tithes, translate to a Gentile, NT church?

Proverbs 11:24 HCSB

One person gives freely, yet gains more; another withholds what is right, only to become poor.

2 Corinthians 9:6–7 HCSB

Remember this: The person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously. Each person should do as he has decided in his heart—not reluctantly or out of necessity, for God loves a cheerful giver.

We need to think of this as not some obligation, but a participation in the Lord’s Work as an act of worship.

There are those who advocate the idea that there needs to be a project to give to, or debt to be paid in order to motivate people in the church to give, and often that seems to be the case. BUT biblically speaking, I am trying to disciple you to be regularly involved in generous, habitual giving.

I have believed and continue to believe that we wouldn’t have to have fundraisers for this and that and the other thing if God’s people were just regular, faithful, and generous in their giving. This is why I am asking you to take next month and be as generous in your giving as God leads. Pray about it. Read the Scriptures, and respond

The Fraud Protection in Giving

1 Corinthians 16:3–4 HCSB

When I arrive, I will send with letters those you recommend to carry your gracious gift to Jerusalem. If it is suitable for me to go as well, they can travel with me.

This is so important. We need to be transparent about finances. I don’t mean every niggling detail of things. But you need to know that when you give, your money is going in and out properly.

Once I was involved in leading the church to get a mortgage (and it was very large compared to any debt they had incurred previously.) So the committee that was in charge of shopping banks for the lowest rate possible learned that the bank we already did business with was willing to offer a rate much lower than ANYONE ELSE, but we could not make the rate known. I had to stand and explain this to the church and tell them that someone absolutely had to know, I could tell them. ONLY ONE PERSON CAME UP.

James White and transition that had to be made.

Today at Riddles Bend there is more in place than ever before. The money is never alone with a single person until it is counted and verified. When payments are made, the check are written by one person and signed by another. The new bookkeeping software we have implemented tracks every budget line as a payment is made. A monthly report of what has been spent is always available.

We have added online giving for convenience for you and us. This is extremely secure for you and for us.

The bottom line is I want you to be confident that the tithes, and gifts you give are fraud free, and handled with integrity.

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