How do you get people to think deeply about issues of faith and finance without triggering the mental barriers that sometimes go up when you talk about money in the church?
My attempt involved some large copies of a $100 bill that I found Group.com. All worshipers found this thought-provoking insert in their bulletin, and as I started my sermon I invited them to share with one another how they would use a large, financial windfall. After some time for discussion, we moved on to the deeper question: Which of your uses would most bring pleasure to the heart of God?
The message that followed sought to develop some principles that have both practical and theological import. If we want to develop “financial fitness” we need to…
-
Eliminate Debt [keyed to Romans 13:8, one of my personal favorite Bible verses dealing with money];
-
Live Simply ["A man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions"]; and
-
Invest Wisely [keeping in mind what I consider to be Jesus' most important bit of investment advice: "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."]
All in all, I felt that it went well. The most gratifying thing, however, was to have one of my deacons tell me afterward: “I’ve been a tither for years, and I try to find other worthy causes to give to. But honestly, I had never thought about my stewardship from the perspective of ‘What brings pleasure to the heart of God?’ That really stuck.”
Here’s hoping that something ’sticks’ for you…
