My heart is not proud, Lord, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me. But I have calmed and quieted myself, I am like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child I am content. Psalm 131:1-2
“It is better to have a plain, substantial building, with not extravagance about it, but without a debt, than to have the most splendid specimen of Gothic architecture that is overlaid by a mortgage.”
William Mackergo Taylor (1829–1895) Scottish Congregationalist Minister in Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers, compiled by Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert (New York: Wilbur B. Ketcham, 1895) 151.
As David the psalmist writes, we must not concern ourselves with things out of our league, but be like a calm, quiet, weaned child that has learned contentment.
To many modern-day ministers have argued that growing a church requires a splendid specimen of a building. Sadly, few proclaimed messages like Taylor that a simple building without debt will do.
The early church in the New Testament took over the ancient world and we have no record for over two centuries of local congregations sinking money into facilities.
Ministers must model and teach contentment in this. If you have a plain building without debt, put it to work. A fancy facility with a mortgage doesn’t propel ministry. It actually sets you back.
Many might disagree with me, however, no one can refute the reality that taking on debt makes assumptions about the future that exhibit discontentment with God’s provision in the present.