Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. 1 Timothy 6:17-19
“Money in the long ago, even as today, was not merely money. It was wholesome food to eat and warm clothes and shelter for the children. It represented the ability to care for aging parents who could no longer care for themselves. It was the ability to provide books and music and good teachers for children. It was the ability to help others in distress. It was the prospect of an old age free from haunting fear and anxiety. Just because there are many things that money cannot buy, the New Testament never closes its eyes to the things that money can buy.
Anyone who has ever visited a slum knows what a horrible effect the lack of money has upon the moral and spiritual lives of its inhabitants. The Christian church must remember the positive words of the Master and of the Apostles concerning the high spiritual uses of our material substance. Christian pastors are unforgivably dilatory if they do not assist the wealthy members of their congregations to use their money to advance the kingdom.”
Charles A. Trentham in Studies in Timothy (Nashville: Convention Press, 1959) 79-80.
In the days in which we live, ministry workers must not be “dilatory” to rally people with resources to put them to kingdom use. Such behavior is truly unforgivably.
It motivates me every day to get up, read, and post something that will hopefully inspire someone, somewhere to give their lives with me in spreading the message of Christian generosity.
I shot the new header photo in Bremerton, Washington. My friend, John Frank, lives on one of those boats in the harbor. He loves Jesus deeply and our dinner together encouraged each other.
Then I spent Sunday then with my GTP colleagues and Rob and Bev Martin. It was priceless time together thinking about ways to mobilize people all over the world to put money to use for God.
Rob’s book, When Money Goes on Mission: Fundraising and Giving in the 21st Century, has become a GTP on demand course and a tool for rallying God’s people to “use their money to advance the kingdom.”
The focus of our discussions centered, at least in part, to discussing ways to mobilize language teams, starting with Spanish and Chinese, to encourage money to go on mission among their people.
Our work is in the proverbial harbor right not. Soon we will leave port and move to the deep water in this work. But not yet. We are going slow to go fast by praying, sharing, and discerning the way forward together.