“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” (Phil. 4:4) – Does “always” even apply to working on the church budget? Perhaps when thinking about that task you would rather use words like dreadful, drudgery, boring, or maybe even excruciating, not something in which you find yourself rejoicing.
The phrase “in the Lord” provides the secret to rejoicing always. When seen as a process with God at the center, budgeting can turn into more of a reflection of His work in our midst. That can be exciting! Our God is “able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us” (Eph. 3:20). With God at the center, we exclaim “to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” (Eph. 3:21) Now we find ourselves rejoicing in the Lord.
Perspectives Needed to Keep God at the Center of Your Church Budget
Use the following acrostic to remind yourself of the perspective needed to keep God at the center of your church budget.
- Based on God as the Provider
- Under God’s Supervision
- Developed in Light of the Future
- Guided by Reality yet Full of Faith
- Enveloped in Prayer
- Treated as a Group Endeavor
B – Based on God as the Provider
God owns it all. Anything we have is from Him. — “For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.” (Col. 1:16) “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (James 1:17) — He owes us nothing, yet He chooses to provide for us. Whether we have much or little, shouldn’t that lead to praise and rejoicing?
U – Under God’s Supervision
Since God provides, He should guide. Along with His ownership of everything, it only makes sense that we come under His supervision in stewarding His provision. His ways are so much higher than ours (Isa. 55:9). We can count on His solutions to be the best. He not only guides us but also equips and empowers us to follow His ways. Apart from the Lord, we can do nothing of eternal value (Jn. 15:5). How exciting to follow the Lord and see what He has in store! Life under His supervision is an adventure.
D – Developed in Light of the Future
If budgeting primarily deals with paying current bills and expenses, people have nothing to look forward to. The budget basically says the church is going nowhere. That’s not very encouraging. Rather, it can lead to discouragement. With the psalmist, lets exclaim, “I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord In the land of the living” (Ps. 27:13, NASB). Give people a reason to hope. Use the budget to provide a vision of where God wants to take the church and people will have a reason to give toward it, as well as cause to rejoice.
G – Guided by Reality yet Full of Faith
The vision needs to be realistic. Jesus told His disciples to be wise (Matt. 10:16). Yet, we’re also exhorted to trust in the Lord with all our heart and not lean on our own understanding (Prov. 3:5-6). Like the Apostle Paul, let’s learn “to be content whatever the circumstances … whether living in plenty or in want” as we trust in Him to give us the strength to do what He wants us to do with what we have (Phil. 4:11-13). Before complaining about the little resources we have, remember how Jesus fed the multitudes with just a few loaves and fish. How exciting to see what God will do with the little resources we have, as we trust Him to do immeasurably more than we might think possible (Eph. 3:20).
E – Enveloped in Prayer
Finding that balance between reality and faith can be difficult. We don’t want to overshoot and disappoint. Yet, we don’t want a man-made budget that fails to acknowledge how anything is possible with God. Thankfully, God promises us the wisdom we need (James 1:5). As we turn our anxiety about the church budget over to God in prayer, we get to experience His peace “which transcends all understanding” (Phil. 4:6-7). We can pray “with thanksgiving” (Phil. 4:6) when we bring the budget under His supervision. Trusting that He will meet all of our needs, we gratefully exclaim “To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” (Phil. 4:19-20)
T – Treated as a Group Endeavor
In-fighting and resistance over the church budget certainly isn’t something in which we find joy. The reason churches face these troubles very well could be that one person or a small group of people make decisions without input from others. At minimum, enlist prayer support. Help people understand the need to make budgeting about God rather than our own plans. Consult people in the trenches to ascertain needs and where they believe God may want to take their area of ministry. People won’t tend to get excited about something merely imposed upon them. Remember, the Body “grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work” (Eph. 4:16). Then we all have reason to rejoice.
For more on developing a church budget with God at the center, check out the Train Church Leaders Practicum which looks at in light of God’s purposes and design for the church and more.
With a Godward perspective, we’re ready to set some financial goals.