{"id":591,"date":"2010-05-18T12:28:24","date_gmt":"2010-05-18T19:28:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sharefaithblog.wpengine.com\/?p=591"},"modified":"2017-10-09T10:35:31","modified_gmt":"2017-10-09T17:35:31","slug":"church-budget-%e2%80%93-saving-money-making-difference","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sharefaith.com\/blog\/2010\/05\/church-budget-%e2%80%93-saving-money-making-difference\/","title":{"rendered":"The Church with No Budget \u2013 Saving Money and Still Making a Difference"},"content":{"rendered":"

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It can be discouraging. Your weekly church offerings are about the same amount as your childhood piggy bank savings. Maybe you\u2019re in a situation where the building payment takes away 90% of your income. It could be that you simply have a small church, paltry offerings, and have had to cut everything but the light bill to save on costs. Money problems can be pretty discouraging.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

In an age of massive church buildings, sprawling campuses, and even millionaire pastors (check out the controversial article on the topic), you may feel like your church is doing something wrong. What do you do when your church\u2019s budget reaches rock bottom? When the money is gone? When offerings are dry? When you have no budget?<\/p>\n

Obviously, you\u2019ll need to depend on God. Big time. That\u2019s easier said than done. Another way to gain help is to study what Jesus said about money. There is a lot to study. He spoke more about material possessions than he did about faith, repentance, heaven, or hell. What you may find is that Jesus\u2019 financial management principles are pretty radical:<\/p>\n

\u2022\tAnd Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, \u201cYou lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.\u201d (Mark 10:21)
\n\u2022\t\u201cDo not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth\u2026but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven.\u201d (Matthew 6:19-20)
\n\u2022\t\u201cYou cannot serve God and money.\u201d (Matthew 6:24)
\n\u2022\t\u201cAcquire no gold nor silver nor copper for your belts, no bag for your journey, nor two tunics.\u201d (Matthew 10:9-10)
\n\u2022\t\u201cSo therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.\u201d (Luke 14:33)
\n\u2022\t\u201cWhoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.\u201d (Luke 3:11)
\n\u2022\t\u201cGive to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back.\u201d (Luke 6:30)
\n\u2022\t\u201cTake care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.\u201d (Luke 12:15)
\n\u2022\t\u201cSell your possessions, and give to the needy.\u201d (Luke 12:33)<\/p>\n

Is that radical? They\u2019re beyond radical. Such financial management principles (if you can call them that) are basically unheard of. How difficult it is for us to extricate our thinking from safety, from \u201cwise\u201d investing, and from the American dream!<\/p>\n

One theme, which characterizes all of Jesus\u2019 teaching on money, is this: there are some things that are more important than money. Here are ways that you can save money and still make a difference.<\/p>\n

Preach the Word.<\/strong>
\nWhile your church may lack money, you will never lack God\u2019s Word. Your church can wield incredible power, even with no resources, simply by using God\u2019s Word. Preach the Word. Read the Word. Practice the Word.<\/p>\n

Pray a lot.<\/strong>
\nDo you realize the mind-blowing power of prayer? Prayer is we\u2014puny human beings\u2014talking to God\u2014the Sovereign, all-mighty Creator. As John Newton eloquently stated about prayer:
\n\u201cThou art coming to a King.
\nLarge petitions with thee bring.
\nFor His grace and power are such
\nNone can ever ask too much.\u201d
\nDon\u2019t underestimate the power of prayer\u2014a resource more valuable money.<\/p>\n

Fellowship more.<\/strong>
\nTrue fellowship is something that doesn\u2019t have a price tag. Even though money may facilitate new programs, a fancy fellowship hall, and an industrial kitchen facility, none of those things constitute fellowship. Fellowship is the encouraging, spiritual interaction between Christians. Fellowship is powerful. Regardless of how paltry your budget may be, fellowship is always available.<\/p>\n

Money is a big deal, but some things are a bigger deal: the Bible, prayer, and fellowship. As Jesus said, \u201cBut seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you\u201d (Mt. 6:33).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It can be discouraging. Your weekly church offerings are about the same amount as your childhood piggy bank savings. Maybe you\u2019re in a situation where the building payment takes away 90% of your income. It could be that you simply have a small church, paltry offerings, and have had to cut everything but the light […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"spay_email":"","footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false},"categories":[4154,4141,405,4136],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-591","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-church-resources-church-resources","7":"category-church-ministry","8":"category-pastor-how-to","9":"category-pastoral-leadership"},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"yoast_head":"\nThe Church with No Budget \u2013 Saving Money and Still Making a Difference - Sharefaith Magazine<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sharefaithblog.wpengine.com\/2010\/05\/church-budget-\u2013-saving-money-making-difference\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The Church with No Budget \u2013 Saving Money and Still Making a Difference - Sharefaith Magazine\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"It can be discouraging. 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