“How Shall We Then Give?”
Dear family of friends,
Have you ever heard of the book, “How Should We Then Live?” It was written by Francis A. Schaeffer in 1955. I read it in the 80’s and remember it gave me something to ponder (dictionary: to think about (something) carefully, especially before making a decision or reaching a conclusion.)
Lately even more so I have been asking the Lord about the way we support Christian ministries - how they request funds, and how should we then respond. Or as I keep seeking of the Lord, “how should we then give?”
What is His plan? Is His example the same as the model we have basically followed for the last 30 years, as we respond to requests from monthly ministry contribution mailings, commercials on radio and TV showing needs abounding all over, e-mails coming into our InBox, or through websites having ads on almost every site we get on? I have been pondering.
As I am sure you have, we have heard it all. Tithe here. Send your offering there. “This need is real urgent, call now the 800 number shown on your screen.” Is that really how our Prime Example, Jesus (Yeshua) did it? Of course, you and I know He didn’t have all this modern technology, but isn’t His Word eternal, the same yesterday, today and forever, and we can learn from Him? We should learn from Him. That also holds true in how we support ministry.
If you believe that, yes, His example given in His Word is true, there is something then that we can learn by HOW HE DID IT. We can learn from Him as to how His ministry was provided for. Might we then consider reconsidering how we give - in our support of those we do now, or for those whom we should be, but haven’t been supporting, and now should instead?
Here is one example of how Jesus did it. His ministry means was provided by those who knew Him. In fact, Scripture even gives specific names of some who gave provision for the ministry of Jesus. The first three verses of Luke 8 read, "Soon afterwards, He began going around from one city and village to another, proclaiming and preaching the kingdom of God. The twelve were with Him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses: Mary who was called Magdalene, from whom seven demonshad gone out, and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others who were contributing to their support out of their private means."
We can learn from the importance of why the writer Luke even specifies the names of some women (that note well taken.) These people were those who personally knew the one they were supporting. I would imagine they even walked with Him, saw how He ministered, knew His family and certainly knew His lifestyle. Because they knew, they gave in support of His work. They gave to the one they were familiar with and trusted.
How familiar are you with the one who has the costly half hour infomercials, and after convincing you to give your $10, $25 or more, “for the need is great”, do you ever see or know exactly where it has gone? (Most likely a good percentage of it will have to go to pay for the TV production, airtime, staff and more.)
Having worked with three major ministries, as the Director of Operations and Finances over a period of 24 years (these each having budgets of over one million dollars annually) I daily saw how money was raised and spent. And on a regular basis I did reviews of other ministries with large budgets and expenditures, to gain further perspective. It will amaze you, and at times it did me. Years later it caused me to seriously consider how funds for our ministry, Love For His People, would come in.
My encouragement to you would be to give to those ministers and ministry whom you personally know. By having a relationship with them, and not just in giving money, you can see how they themselves live. This will very well be a good indication as to where your generous gifts are actually going. Or you might even get to know the ones that their work assists. This too is a good indicator.
But if you can’t do that, might you yourself ponder for a bit and seek the Lord, if you are to redirect your giving? Jesus knew His supporters, and they knew Him. His ministry didn’t get so large that the relationship was no longer there among His supporters.
I believe the time will come, sooner than later, that the Lord will shake down in size those ministries that have gotten too big, and the relationships aren’t real. He will have caused us to join together and support one another in small teams, where the huge expenditures for big TV budgets, radio airtime, and staffs won’t be the norm. He will get us back to basics, just as He and Paul did it. And we know what they accomplished.
The Word also says to “Know those who labor among you” in 1 Thessalonians 5:12. It might also mean to know those who you support for the work of the ministry. To me, that speaks of an ongoing relationship.
Jesus knew how to do it. Paul knew how to do it. I want to follow their examples in how you and I do it.
Ahava to my family of friends,
Steve Martin
Founder, Love For His People
If you believe that, yes, His example given in His Word is true, there is something then that we can learn by HOW HE DID IT. We can learn from Him as to how His ministry was provided for. Might we then consider reconsidering how we give - in our support of those we do now, or for those whom we should be, but haven’t been supporting, and now should instead?
Here is one example of how Jesus did it. His ministry means was provided by those who knew Him. In fact, Scripture even gives specific names of some who gave provision for the ministry of Jesus. The first three verses of Luke 8 read, "Soon afterwards, He began going around from one city and village to another, proclaiming and preaching the kingdom of God. The twelve were with Him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses: Mary who was called Magdalene, from whom seven demonshad gone out, and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others who were contributing to their support out of their private means."
We can learn from the importance of why the writer Luke even specifies the names of some women (that note well taken.) These people were those who personally knew the one they were supporting. I would imagine they even walked with Him, saw how He ministered, knew His family and certainly knew His lifestyle. Because they knew, they gave in support of His work. They gave to the one they were familiar with and trusted.
How familiar are you with the one who has the costly half hour infomercials, and after convincing you to give your $10, $25 or more, “for the need is great”, do you ever see or know exactly where it has gone? (Most likely a good percentage of it will have to go to pay for the TV production, airtime, staff and more.)
Having worked with three major ministries, as the Director of Operations and Finances over a period of 24 years (these each having budgets of over one million dollars annually) I daily saw how money was raised and spent. And on a regular basis I did reviews of other ministries with large budgets and expenditures, to gain further perspective. It will amaze you, and at times it did me. Years later it caused me to seriously consider how funds for our ministry, Love For His People, would come in.
My encouragement to you would be to give to those ministers and ministry whom you personally know. By having a relationship with them, and not just in giving money, you can see how they themselves live. This will very well be a good indication as to where your generous gifts are actually going. Or you might even get to know the ones that their work assists. This too is a good indicator.
But if you can’t do that, might you yourself ponder for a bit and seek the Lord, if you are to redirect your giving? Jesus knew His supporters, and they knew Him. His ministry didn’t get so large that the relationship was no longer there among His supporters.
I believe the time will come, sooner than later, that the Lord will shake down in size those ministries that have gotten too big, and the relationships aren’t real. He will have caused us to join together and support one another in small teams, where the huge expenditures for big TV budgets, radio airtime, and staffs won’t be the norm. He will get us back to basics, just as He and Paul did it. And we know what they accomplished.
The Word also says to “Know those who labor among you” in 1 Thessalonians 5:12. It might also mean to know those who you support for the work of the ministry. To me, that speaks of an ongoing relationship.
Jesus knew how to do it. Paul knew how to do it. I want to follow their examples in how you and I do it.
Ahava to my family of friends,
Steve Martin
Founder, Love For His People
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