Services for Churches - Stewardship

Closing Holes in Your Pockets & Maintaining the House of God

Growing up, often I would hear my elders using the phrases, “You are going through money like there are holes in your pockets,” and “You can’t seem to keep any money.” Those two quotes have remained with me over the years. It appears to me the believers in Haggai 1:2-6 possessed similar challenges when it came to keeping money in their pockets. Today, we struggle with the same issues about priorities, saving money and maintaining the House of God.

Perhaps the people in this text had misguided financial priorities like many of us who live in and are influenced by a consumerist culture and society. Similarly, the people were employed and had more than adequate incomes, but seemed unable to save any money. Setting priorities and establishing a personal budget helps us manage and focus on those things that we value. The things we value or treasure are often recorded in our checkbook register or credit card statements. Reviewing those documents provides a glimpse of our priorities. Have you had a values and priorities check lately?

The church in Haggai suffered because its members failed to make the church a priority and maintain its facilities. As a result of their neglect, the members could not manage to save and create personal financial reserves. Their failure to make the House of God a priority became their downfall. Ultimately, the House of God fell into ruins due to lack of support and misplaced priorities.

A remedy for this issue lies with a re-evaluation of personal finances. Place in your personal budget/spending plan your tithe or proportionate gift. Further, set aside a percentage or dollar amount for personal savings, emergencies or retirement. This will allow you to establish priorities, and help you to manage your financial resources, and seal holes in your pockets and pocketbooks.  Consider offering a personal Christian Financial Management course like Good Sense or Financial Peace University. These courses provide believers with spiritual and practical insight into biblical stewardship and generosity.

Preservation of church facilities should be a priority.  Funds should be allocated for future maintanance. Delayed, deferred or denied capital improvements have a tendency to overwhelm congregations large and small. The Board of Trustees needs to create an ongoing list of items for renovation or replacement.   Allowing these projects to accumulate can be overwhelming and stifle ministry.  Visitors want to see a welcoming, well kept campus. Your church and its appearance is a reflection of its members.

Remember, all that we have belongs to God. If we seek God first, maintain the House of God, and prioritize the rest of our provisions, we will have more than enough to live on. Simply, it is required of stewards to be found faithful. (I Corinthians 4:2)