What do we have to bring to the table besides a fork and a need?
Today is officially the 10 year anniversary of shaking the dust off my feet as I left my training ground in northern Missouri. In that northwest Missouri city, I'd operated an outreach mission in what was deemed a blighted neighborhood, maintained my membership and attendance at the local synagogue, while visiting nearly every church in the town on Sundays. I'd also served as a school mentor in that blighted neighborhood, worked the food kitchen with my fellow congregants from synagogue, conducted Bible studies at the state mental health facility, and served as both police and fire chaplain for the city. It all seems sort of a blur, now, but in that time I was learning and being trained for what I am now doing.
All of the duties mentioned in the previous paragraph were regular weekly responsibilities, except fire and police which were monthly meetings, but 24/7 on call emergencies. I wasn't called on every call, only deaths, and thankfully there were not many criminal or fire deaths, but there were some. Now the point I'm getting to regarding need and provision is, all of these "positions" came with a title and responsibility but no monetary compensation, whatsoever. I had a modest income from an annuity, and by modest, I mean less than $600.00 a month. I also had some reflexology clients @ $15.00 a session. With that income, I was able to pay the utilities, keep gas in my car and insurance, and provide a weekend meal for the children in the neighborhood who came to the Bible class. In that time, I actually had a few folks who simply handed me money, saying Abba had told them to give it to me. That didn't occur frequently, but it did happen on occasion. I also had folks, religious folks, asking for donations and bills to be paid . . . which did occur with regularity!
Through that time, I was also blessed to do a bit of traveling in mission work, and I would always receive an extra blessing along the way. In running this little outreach ministry, a larger church that was 501c3 agreed to stop sharing a devotion at their food pantry . . . Something about state donations. It was through this time, they asked if they could donate the perishable leftovers to the mission I ran. It was mostly veggies and prepackaged salad mixes, which just happens to be my very favorite food and probably least favorite of kids! I was honest with them and told them salad was my favorite, but "my kids" probably wouldn't eat it. They said, "Enjoy!" So for three and a half years my grocery bill was less than $20.00 a week which included feeding the children on Saturday night.
Traveling ministry was enjoyable, but I clearly heard that my mission call was to America, and three weeks before 9/11 Abba led to me to a computer ministry. That in itself is quite a story, but that will be an article for another day. Back to this preparation for barter and sharing. My monthly bills also included a land line for the mission and a cell phone for my volunteer chaplain duty. When I heard the call to move into the computer ministry, an internet connection also became a monthly bill as well. I was still able to save some money! In that seven years of running that mission, I discovered how very little I actually needed and how content I was just to be serving YHWH, but He was still simplifying me.
Now, as I prepare for others to join or just continue to reach out in this area, I have an electric bill, a communication bill, and a feed bill, which are all paid monthly and still amount to less than $600.00 a month. I'm blessed with income from a business and book sales, but to this date, it hasn't put me in a new tax bracket. I do not live "poor as a squirrel" in winter, not at all! But, in over two decades, by the grace of YHWH and change of dependency, my cost of living has remained under $600.00 a month. When it comes to need and provision, one of the biggest lessons I've learned and believe I will teach others is just how little worldly wealth it takes when we realize YHWH truly is our Provider.
Showing posts with label income. Show all posts
Showing posts with label income. Show all posts
Monday, September 14, 2015
Thursday, June 25, 2015
Management and Priorities
Have you ever heard someone talk about how generous they would be if they ever "hit it big?" I've heard people talk about how much they'd donate if they win the lottery or how much they'd give to charity if they ever became wealthy. Then there are those with a steady income, always in some sort of financial crisis, regularly relying on the kindness of others, who basically have the same income. The problem is really not in dollars and cents, but in management and priorities. I'm not preaching the trendy prosperity message here, but there are a number of Scriptures that do state our Creator will provide. I realize there are many who are perpetually in need that believe He uses their circle of influence to make that provision, but I'm not so sure I agree with that, especially when it appears to be perpetual.
My monthly income is not large, but as a rule, my expenses are not large either. What I have noticed is when Abba brings someone my way for assistance, the provision is available. Another factor that is really becoming plain, is the number of folks who really wouldn't need financial assistance if they were open to learning financial management and realign their priorities. Our nation has cheated at least three generations from good old fashioned money management skills and encouraged debt beyond what anyone can repay.
Not everyone is waiting for the powerball or an inheritance. Some folks are just sure when they get a raise, everything is going to suddenly fall into place. I've even heard folks tell me when they get a raise, then they'll be able to afford to tithe and save . . . A tithe is a percentage. I realize the current religious jury is out on determining just what we need to do in the area of tithing, but when someone thinks they need to make more money to have 10%, their base thinking is skewed. It is completely possible with US currency to have and give 10% of a dime . . . it's called a penny. A dime is 10% of a dollar, so if financial tithing is enough of a priority to mention "when it's affordable," it's time to reconsider the perspective, and factor in that perhaps the lack of giving is the cause of the financial strain. I'm not talking about a mega church building fund here, either; but giving for the glory of YHWH.
The people who are the most giving, simply give of what they have. The most generous people don't usually have the most in life, but are content with what they have. I'm reminded of the poor widow's mite. She didn't say, when she was as wealthy as the Pharisees or the tax collectors that she'd give, NO, she gave what she had.
There are a number of folks, myself included that get taken in with the idea that if we regularly help our grown kids, it's somehow righteous. Ninety percent of the time, we're operating in guilt and/or control, rather than righteous servants of the Most High. If our grown kids regularly need to be subsidised and bailed out, then we didn't teach them properly, and if we continue to subsidise we're enabling. Even with all the tithing debate, there is no way on "G-d's green earth" to even remotely label the subsidizing of grown children as ministry.
A man who made a very nice living, but was still struggling told me if he could just make so many more dollars an hour, he'd be set. When he shared the amount of his current income, it was all I could do to maintain a poker face. I couldn't imagine someone just blowing through that kind of money every month. I literally could not wrap my mind around it. It was in my moment of shock and silence, I heard the still small voice telling me. "those who are faithful in the little things will be given much." I was then able to look at him with compassion and simply state. "G-d won't give you more of what you are already struggling to handle."
For those who are hoping a windfall or a raise solves the problems, it won't. For those with "big plans" if the ship ever comes in, it likely won't. There are actually sad statistics for those who have received a windfall of one kind or another who are now bankrupt. Stewardship is almost a forgotten word in spiritual teaching, but it needs to come back. Financial management and G-dly priorities are part of our witness. Paying our bills is part of our witness. I don't believe prosperity comes from the lottery or from donating to a televangelist, but from obedient stewardship, conscientious management, and being content with what we have.
As for being a financial hero when the big money comes in . . . Yeah right. What are we doing to improve our little corner where we are with what YHWH has given us?
Whether it's entitlements or just constant complaining about one's income, it boils down to one of two things. Either G-d isn't providing or we're wanting what someone else has.
Thou shalt not covet . . .
My monthly income is not large, but as a rule, my expenses are not large either. What I have noticed is when Abba brings someone my way for assistance, the provision is available. Another factor that is really becoming plain, is the number of folks who really wouldn't need financial assistance if they were open to learning financial management and realign their priorities. Our nation has cheated at least three generations from good old fashioned money management skills and encouraged debt beyond what anyone can repay.
Not everyone is waiting for the powerball or an inheritance. Some folks are just sure when they get a raise, everything is going to suddenly fall into place. I've even heard folks tell me when they get a raise, then they'll be able to afford to tithe and save . . . A tithe is a percentage. I realize the current religious jury is out on determining just what we need to do in the area of tithing, but when someone thinks they need to make more money to have 10%, their base thinking is skewed. It is completely possible with US currency to have and give 10% of a dime . . . it's called a penny. A dime is 10% of a dollar, so if financial tithing is enough of a priority to mention "when it's affordable," it's time to reconsider the perspective, and factor in that perhaps the lack of giving is the cause of the financial strain. I'm not talking about a mega church building fund here, either; but giving for the glory of YHWH.
The people who are the most giving, simply give of what they have. The most generous people don't usually have the most in life, but are content with what they have. I'm reminded of the poor widow's mite. She didn't say, when she was as wealthy as the Pharisees or the tax collectors that she'd give, NO, she gave what she had.
There are a number of folks, myself included that get taken in with the idea that if we regularly help our grown kids, it's somehow righteous. Ninety percent of the time, we're operating in guilt and/or control, rather than righteous servants of the Most High. If our grown kids regularly need to be subsidised and bailed out, then we didn't teach them properly, and if we continue to subsidise we're enabling. Even with all the tithing debate, there is no way on "G-d's green earth" to even remotely label the subsidizing of grown children as ministry.
A man who made a very nice living, but was still struggling told me if he could just make so many more dollars an hour, he'd be set. When he shared the amount of his current income, it was all I could do to maintain a poker face. I couldn't imagine someone just blowing through that kind of money every month. I literally could not wrap my mind around it. It was in my moment of shock and silence, I heard the still small voice telling me. "those who are faithful in the little things will be given much." I was then able to look at him with compassion and simply state. "G-d won't give you more of what you are already struggling to handle."
For those who are hoping a windfall or a raise solves the problems, it won't. For those with "big plans" if the ship ever comes in, it likely won't. There are actually sad statistics for those who have received a windfall of one kind or another who are now bankrupt. Stewardship is almost a forgotten word in spiritual teaching, but it needs to come back. Financial management and G-dly priorities are part of our witness. Paying our bills is part of our witness. I don't believe prosperity comes from the lottery or from donating to a televangelist, but from obedient stewardship, conscientious management, and being content with what we have.
As for being a financial hero when the big money comes in . . . Yeah right. What are we doing to improve our little corner where we are with what YHWH has given us?
Whether it's entitlements or just constant complaining about one's income, it boils down to one of two things. Either G-d isn't providing or we're wanting what someone else has.
Thou shalt not covet . . .
Sunday, May 31, 2015
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