10
2012
Finance Fridays: How Many Cattle?
An article by 
Two weeks ago Jon shared his thoughts on how churches use their vision and financial situations in their decision making processes. Since that time I have been soaking a good bit his thoughts, and I have had a bunch of conversations that bring me back to a lot of what he shared.
Over these last two weeks I feel like I have had more conversations than normal about church finances which involve the phrases “but the economy”, “we can’t afford that”, or ” costs too much”. While I understand that there ARE times in which economic realities can create a situation in which a church can not move forward on an initiative due to cash flow issues or factors outside of a church’s control (repeated snow days, for instance). But, I wonder… how many times do we hide behind these excuses because it is a convenient way to avoid doing something difficult?
When we speak of God we love to point people to Psalm 50:10: for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. We love to revel in the idea that our God owns the cattle on a thousand hills. We love to picture God as having the resources to empower us to do anything… yet I am regularly hearing people talking about how the downturn in the economy has limited their ability to pursue the calling they have been given.
If God has truly called us to pursue a vision… won’t he provide?
I sometimes wonder if we don’t use the economy, what “we” can afford, or the cost of something as a way to cover up our lack of faith in God’s provision, or our lack of belief in the calling that we say we have.
While I can’t quantify just how many cows constitute the cattle on a thousand hills, I know it is a lot. I also know that if, and when, my God has called me to do something he will, and has, provide for it to be accomplished. While it is incumbent upon me to be a wise steward with the resources he provides me to accomplish that calling, blaming a lack of resources is never a valid excuse for making a decision that limits that vision.
How has God provided for YOU in the past?
About the Author: Matt Steen
Over the last fifteen years I have been a Church Planter, Youth Pastor, Executive Pastor, and now I serve as a Church Concierge with churchsimple.net. I love Jesus, my wife, the Redskins and Capitals and am currently living on Long Island striving to properly pronounce the word G'island.
