Tag: treasure

  • Letter #39 (Treasure–2)

    Dear Small Church Pastor,

         There is a financial “rule of thumb” that deals with living within your means and has been around for a long time.  It states that finances should be arranged in a 10-10-80 ratio.  The idea is that, when it comes to budgeting and managing your treasure (money and other resources), you should give ten percent away (that’s your tithe), save ten percent and live from the remaining eighty percent.

         I understand that in today’s economic environment this rule sounds unreasonable, if not entirely outlandish.  The numbers don’t immediately seem to add up, considering existing incomes.  If a household makes $800 per week, that would mean tithing $80, saving $80 and living on the remaining $640.  If that system is followed for four weeks, you would have given $320 to God’s work, set aside $320 in savings/CD’s/IRA’s etc., and used $2,560 for living expenses.

         Here’s where your use of money is affected by your priorities.  If you will make a list of everything you spend your money on during the four weeks, you will see where it’s going and what you consider important. 

         Consider this example:  Housing/Utilities–$1,000; Vehicles–$750; Groceries–$600.  We’re up to $2,350.  You now have $210 for incidental expenses for the month.  This is a very simple budget, but I feel you get the idea.  That $210 will always be spent on your priorities.

         I remember when Kathy and I were first married.  We both came from working class families that had only one income coming into the household.  We had seen our families live modestly, because they had to do that.  We had realized our families had sacrificed taking care of some of their own needs in order for us to have a “better life.”  That realization became a foundation for our own lives.

         I remember eating out once a month, if that often, while I was working my way through college.  I remember that when Kathy and I married, we had a little over $25 in the bank, and most of that was spent on a dress she could wear as a bride and then wear to work the next week.  I remember the first time I made up my mind that we would tithe and then when we began automatically saving some of my paycheck for a rainy day, and both decisions were made with a degree of doubt that it would work out.

         I remember doing without luxuries.  I remember not buying new cars or trucks—ever.  (We’ve been married almost 52 years, and we have never purchased a brand-new vehicle.)  I remember having one nice suit of clothes for special occasions.  The rest of my closet was for work.  The old work clothes became my “grimy jobs” clothes.

         I understand having to do without.  I understand how there can be more month than money.  I understand working two jobs to pay the bills.  However, that lifestyle in our early years–all the tithing, all the saving, all the doing-without–has paid us dividends that I cannot completely describe except to say God made a way and has blessed us beyond our wildest dreams.  That lifestyle required some sacrifice on our part, sometimes serious sacrifice, but it has paid off in the long run, and, again, I give God the glory for His faithfulness over our years together.

        I challenge you to list all your monthly income and determine how much should be the tithe, how much should be placed into a savings account of some sort and how much you have left.  Then I challenge you to write out your expenses—every single thing you buy on a monthly basis, from your phone to your usual snacks.  Total it all up.  Now subtract the expenses from the 80% of your income.

         Do you have any money left from the 80%?  If you don’t, if you’re sitting with a negative balance, you are spending more than you are making.  If that’s the case, it’s time to take a serious look at your priorities.  Ask yourself what you can reduce or eliminate.  If you decide to reduce something, please do not make that something your tithe.  (Reduce your savings, if absolutely necessary, instead of reducing your tithe.) 

         If you cannot see how you can possibly live within your income, you need to seek counsel from a Christian financial professional.  The road out of financial bondage, debt and continual frustration may be long and require much self-discipline, but it will be worth it.  Your treasure can be a blessing, not a burden, but it will take submitting your lifestyle to God and allowing Him to work in you, for you and through you.

    Sincerely,

    A Small Church Pastor 

  • Letter #35 (Priorities)

    Dear Small Church Pastor,

         Matthew 6:21 and Luke 12:34 both state, “Where your treasure is, there will be your heart also”.  It can also be said that you invest your time and your talents in those things that are important to you.  In other words, you will put your time, skills and money into those areas of life that you consider important enough to require your focus and devotion.  These areas can be referred to as your priorities.

         I don’t watch much television, but I recently happened to see part of a football game that was televised from a large outdoor stadium.  It was snowing and, based on the clothing people were wearing, quite cold.  According to an article from the New York Times from September 5, 2025, the average cost of a ticket to attend such a game is $279. 

         The typical pro game lasts about 3 hours.  That does not include driving time to and from the game or any side trips for meals or the famous tailgating parties.  Attending the game would essentially take the better part of a day and would, all incidental expenditures considered, involve a hefty empty space in each attendee’s wallet.

         Based on the money and time investments, I would venture to say that attending that game was a priority for the people sitting on those snow-covered bleachers. 

         Humor me and allow another example from a situation closer to home, so to speak.  A young couple we know came to worship complaining about not having enough money to repair their malfunctioning HVAC unit.  They talked about how their month seemed to always be more than their paychecks.  I knew the husband had a very nice newer truck, and the wife had her own vehicle, both with payments.  Then the wife said two statements that shed some light on their financial situation.  She first commented that they were going to be short on finances the whole season and did not know where they would get the money to pay all their bills.  Secondly, she revealed they would soon take a trip to a theme park that would cost them over $1,000 for a weekend stay at the park.  She had unintentionally revealed their priorities.

         Please do not misunderstand me.  There is nothing wrong with attending a sporting event or going to a theme park.  I have participated in similar activities.  However, I do understand we all will rationalize our “priorities” from time to time to make ourselves feel good about our expenditures of time, skills and money.  I’ve done that, and I dare think you may have, too.

         Here’s the rub with this priority topic—when we set our priorities, what do we use to establish a standard for setting those priorities?  Where do we draw the line on using our talents?  How much is too much to spend for something not already budgeted?  What is “wasting time” as opposed to “using time wisely?”

         Our priorities will determine the paths we take in life.  When we realize this fact, we should determine if our priorities are lined up with God’s will for our lives.  We must ask ourselves if our priorities demonstrate that we are living according to God’s call to minister to others for His kingdom’s sake.  We must take a serious look at those things we consider to be most important and determine if they coincide with what God says should be most important.

         Serious stuff, right?  Absolutely!  So, where do we turn to find out what God wants us to establish as our priorities?  You know the answers—scriptures and prayer.  But how often do we not go to those sources when we promote things in our lives into the position of being priorities?  How often do we do what we want, instead of seeking God’s guidance on how important something should be in our lives?

         Please do not take this letter as a personal condemnation.  It is a challenge.  Allow me to challenge you to sit down with whatever you use to take notes and begin to list where you spend your money, how you use your skills or talents and where you invest your time.  These three indicators will show you what you consider a priority.  Once you have done the identifying, then prayerfully go to scripture and seek God’s guidance on what you need to keep on the list and what you can reduce or eliminate from the list.  Remember, your priorities will motivate you and influence what you do, where you expend your energies, and how you invest your resources.  Just be sure your priorities agree with what God wants you to consider important.

    Sincerely,

    A Small Church Pastor