James has certainly challenged our thinking about finances a number of times as we have made our way through his letter.
When the topic of money comes up, there are all kinds of reactions. I imagine that every person on church staff feels uneasy when the topic of giving and financial stewardship arises. I certainly feel a certain amount of awkwardness when the topic arises in the pulpit. Church members might think that the money they give “pays our salary.” That is one way to think about it, but I think it is unhelpful because it assumes control over our money. We expect a certain kind of return when we spend our money. A product. A service. An increase.
Money and possessions is one of the most frequently addressed topics in Scripture (some have said the most frequently addressed topic). We evaluate the authenticity of our commitment to Christ in a number of areas—obedience to Jesus’ commands, our pursuit of holiness, how we use our spiritual gifts, our love for fellow believers—and one of those ways is how faithful we are with the resources God has blessed us with. We practice good stewardship of our finances because it is something He has prioritized. By giving, we show that our trust is in Him. We show that our perspective is eternal. We show our understanding of His ownership of everything. We show that we are invested in His plan for this world at this time. We are storing up treasure in heaven.
Your elders are committed to challenging spiritual growth in this area. We are committed to providing the platform to participate in God’s design for His people. When you do, you will know the privilege of obedience and blessing.
