We need to make three commitments. One to Christ. You can’t get in without that commitment. But it’s “Christ, Savior” as well as “Christ, Lord.’ So many people don’t understand the issue of lordship. But if you do, there’s still yet another commitment.

I constantly meet people who are committed to Christ, but not committed to his church. They don’t understand the necessity of being in a corporate body. For them Christianity is a solo flight. But it’s not something you do on your own. Its something you do in connection with other brethren.

“Love one another” is easy when you’re watching television. But when you have to go do things with people—some you don’t even like, much less love—that’s where the rubber meets the road.

Love is best worked out in shoe leather. You see it’s not just platitude. It’s not just something you mouth. It’s something that you live.

We must also commit ourselves to his church, his people, and his vehicle for our growth and development.

Likewise, I’ve met many people who are committed to Christ, and to his church, but not committed to his cause. Oh, they like the idea “Preach the gospel to the ends of the earth.” They love the Great Commission texts, and they’ll spout them sometimes. But when you ask them, “Are you involved in giving cups of cold water, are you taking food to the hungry, are you sharing clothing. Are you witnessing? Are you leading people to Christ?” “Well I ought to, but I’m not.” Then you’re not committed.

Committed people do this. This is what they do. They don’t do it every day, all day. Some do. But they do it. It’s part of their life.

If you want to know what kind of Christian you are, get your checkbook out, and look at your calendar. Where in the week are you giving food? Are you praying for the sick, or witnessing to the lost? When are you doing the deeds of Jesus?

Look at your checkbook. Where is the money flowing to? For pleasure? For things? Or for God? It’s that simple.

Remember Romans 12:1,2 and the living sacrifices we are to present to him? That’s us. Do you own the next breath you breath? No, it belongs to him, and he has set you on a course of action in which you are to commit yourself to him, to his church, and to his cause.

I can still remember a lady named Gladys. She was only about five-foot-two. She used to come up to me when I was a young Christian, and tap me on the chest and exhort me in a staccato rhythm: “Go home and raise those kids! Go home and pray for those kids! Go home and teach those kids the word of God!” Then she’d turn around and walk away. I’d go home and try. I wasn’t too good at it. I didn’t know very much of it myself. Then I’d see her a week or two later, and she’d come up to me and give me another round of exhortation. That went on for about a year and a half.

One day I said to her, “how come you’re always doing this to me?”

“Because I love you.” She started crying. And I started crying. I’ve never forgotten that woman. She’s had as much influence in my Christian life as any other person. Because she loved me.

I would to God that every one of you had a Gladys. If not, become one, and exhort and encourage the brethren along the way to godliness. That people might come to know him, and serve him for their entire lives in a way that would glorify him, and exalt him in the world.

PR

From Worship Update (3rd Quarter 1995).
©1995 Mercy/Vineyard Publishing, P.O. Box 68025, Anaheim, CA 92817-0825. USA.
Used by Permission.

Published on the Pneuma Foundation (parent organization of PneumaReview.com) website, later included in the Winter 2024 issue.

Pastors, is it hard to talk about money with your church? In this article, Pastor Dan Reiland looks into the reasons behind why people give, wanting to fuel fellow church leaders to speak about finances well and with the right spiritual emphasis..

I find it interesting that many good pastoral leaders are hesitant or even timid in the area of challenging their people to give. In this issue of The Pastor’s Coach I hope to give some insight into the reasons people give and hopefully encourage you in this challenging area of leadership.

For most pastors, Monday morning carries with it anticipation for two critical numbers. One is how many people responded to the Holy Spirit’s promptings (as guided by the morning sermon.) And a distant second, but nonetheless second, is the offering. Let’s get honest for a moment, no matter how clear the priority of changed lives according to God’s purpose and power, money still matters when it comes to ministry. If you don’t believe that then you have never in the history of your church fallen below budget for several months at a time. (And if that is true, we would all love to hear how you do that!)

When I was a young leader I often said I wish money wasn’t an issue. I wish that some rich person would write one big check a year so we wouldn’t have to deal with this. My rationale? It is difficult enough to focus on life transformation without financial issues getting in the way. When you add the “money factor” to the equation it seems to get intensely complicated. That kind of thinking showed both my naivety about the reality that “ministry cost money” and the deeper theological issues about God wanting us to wrestle with the topic of money. Why? Money always leads us to the real issues of the heart. There are some 2,000 scriptures on money, and the following three give us a taste of the truth of this point.

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. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:19-21)

24 “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money. (Matthew 6:24)

1 And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. 2 Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. 5 And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God’s will. (2 Corinthians 8:1-5) The “Money Factor” is really more about the “God Factor.” It reveals levels of spiritual maturity, obedience, commitment, trust, and an overall Kingdom mindset that causes people to invest in the eternal.

Pastor, my purpose is to encourage you and challenge you to dive into the issue of money in your church. Why people give is a good place to start.

Let’s begin with the wrong reasons people give.