From the VCC Newsletter on 3/9/2020: Relating to Money (Part 2)

It is true that tithing is the first subject of shaping our relationship with money, it is called the first fruit, meaning that we begin there. So before we do anything else, we must glorify God by our tithe (10%) which supports the local church and the pastoral staff. But, how else do we mature in our relationship with God through our money management? 

Believe it or not, what we do with the remaining 90% is just as critical as what we do with our first 10%. It is possible to tithe and still run our lives in a very materialistic way. To avoid that, we have to begin with the end in mind. We must ask ourselves, “What does God want to accomplish through me?” It could be that God is asking you to support a missionary, or to give to the poor. It could be that you need to have emergency money lying around just for helping people as God shows you needs around you. It might be to sponsor a child in another country. There are any number of good works that one can participate in, but the goal isn’t good works, as much as it is joining God in what he is doing. You get to play on God’s team. Your management of that 90% should always follow God’s lead, the same way your management of the 10% does. This means you may need to adjust your lifestyle, your wants, etc. But if we want to mature in our relationship with God, we must join Him in what he is doing-  we must be a steward of what God has given us. We have to let God take control of 100% of our money.

You might be thinking this isn’t possible. But, do not be fooled by the fallacy that one must meet a certain standard of living- and from that, base your finances around that standard. Let me say, if you really are on a very tight budget, it may be that you start with the tithe. That is a great place to start! Then, as your income grows or changes, you can ask that same question, “What does God want to accomplish through me?” And you can follow His lead, giving Him authority over that 100%. 

When you begin with the end in mind, you will find great freedom in a world of materialism. You can do it! You can free yourself from the grip of materialism. You can experience the power of God in your finances. You can choose to serve only one master.

Grace and peace,

Hal

Success!

One of the most fundamental issues of life is success. How do we define it, how do we achieve it, and how do we measure it. And then, what do we do when we succeed or fail. It is all too easy to over-spiritualize the discussion and to say that we don’t need success or to call it an idol, but the truth is that we all need to hear, “Well done good and faithful servant.” If God thinks we need to hear that, my bet is that we really do need confirmation and a measure of success. The Psalmist wrote that hope deferred makes the heart sick but a dream realized is a tree of life.

So how do we measure success? Well, Jesus once indicated that his measure for life was to do just what the Father in Heaven was doing. That sounds simple but it is really profound. The measure of Jesus life was to do just what the Father was doing. Now we might be tempted to think, well Jesus doesn’t sack groceries, see patients, or teach school kids math, but a very wise man named Sam Logan once said it this way: Find out what God wants you to do– and do it!

There is nothing more empowering to your life than that. It removes what you are doing, from under the microscope of other people’s opinion and puts us into the place of disciple of Jesus. What every disciple of Jesus needs is to sense that when they lay their head down at the end of the day, they did at work, school, and with friends and family, just what God wanted them to do. That is success. What does God want you to do today?