Money, Morale, and Momentum

Mark Driscoll @ http://theresurgence.com has started a series on financial stewardship. In part one, he covers:

“The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it” (Prov. 22:3; 27:12).

“Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs” (1 Tim. 6:6–10).

• Covetousness or Contentedness?

• What About the Rich?

“As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life” (1 Tim. 6:17–19).

3 Principles to Guide Financial Decision-Making

1. Spending

Spend money on those things that grow the ministry and not simply on those things that make it easier on your staff. If we spend money on facilities, it has to be for increasing seating capacity so that more people can meet Jesus.

2. Pruning

Without pruning, a ministry is wasting energy, time, resources, and leaders on proverbial branches that are no longer bearing lots of good fruit.

3. Core

Don’t make cuts on your core essential ministries but rather on your secondary and auxiliary ministries.

5 More Principles to Guide Financial Decision-Making from Part 3 of the Money, Morale, and Momentum series.

4. Fairness

Instead, fund your core ministries and key leaders first and best.

5. Terminations

6. Hiring

Financial downturns are a great time to hire strategic senior-level leaders because the market for them has shrunk and they are available.

7. Real Estate

8. Visibility

Therefore, to not give the impression of greed, we need to watch the appearance of lavishness personally and organizationally.