count the cost…
February 8th, 2010just read on facebook where one of the church planting dudes that is attending the class this time is nearly debt free. if you are a church planter you need to read and understand this. you will never fully realize the importance of being debt free if you plan on planting a church.
now the truth is, that statement is true for everyone. you would be surprised at how much ministry doesn’t ever happen because we owe too much money. can’t go on a mission trip – Visa/AEX/Mastercard is due that week; can’t give to this ministry – that Hummer payment is due; the church church plant can’t advertise – bills to pay and they can only afford to pay me this month; i can’t afford to plant a church there is no money for insurance.
and then there are the excuses for not being able to give to the church, bought a new car this month – can’t afford to give to the church and make payments on a new car (did you think used?); just bought that house you know the bank said we could afford that $400,000 house (did you ever think about a $300,000 house so you could give); just bought a boat – can’t give like i used to give…and the scripture asks “will a man rob God?”
so, church planter, pastor, church member what is robbing God because you didn’t count the cost. right after i moved to GA after being injured in NOLA i decided i wanted a swimming pool. you know it would be good exercise for my injured leg and arm. i had all the good excuses. i had the money from the insurance settlement. i bought a pool. do you have any clue what it takes to run a pool for a month or for a summer? i didn’t count the cost. it nearly killed me. someone described a pool as a “hole that you pour money into.”
don’t get me wrong. i loved the pool. and i would have one today if it weren’t so darn much trouble and so costly. and right there is the issue. we want the things we want regardless of the cost. except that is spiritual things. when it comes to giving to church or ministry most of us have the “i woulds if…” “i would give if i didn’t have this boat, this vacation home, this expensive car, this Visa bill, etc. etc. etc. this is my lesson (and it’s a hard lesson i had to learn) if God has ever said to you to give to a ministry/church and you responded “i would if….” then there is something wrong with your priorities.
get out of debt. don’t let anything get in the way of your calling to serve or to give. amazing how freeing it can be. congratulations ng, may your tribe increase.
