And in church world and nonprofit world, there’s a constant push to expand the mission, so there’s regular pressure on giving.
And I think talking about money in church can be wonderful. I really do. Giving, after all, is a spiritual discipline. In the same way I need to read my Bible, pray, serve and invest in people who don’t know God, I need to give. All of these things are part of what I do as a Christian.
We all need money. And ministries need money.
But when you start to love money…you’re in trouble.
So how do you know you might love money?
Here are some thoughts.
When you’re excited about what the money is doing for you, not what it’s doing for the mission, you’ve crossed a line.
When you refuse to have any financial accountability or wise people (to whom you’re accountable) speak into the details of your financial life, you’ve allowed money to become a master, not a servant.
Or, answer this: If your church cut your wages, would it also cut your joy (assuming you could find enough money to live on elsewhere)?
Money makes a wonderful servant in ministry, but a terrible master.
4. There’s too little compassion.
In some leadership circles, lack of compassion is worn as a badge of honor.
I used to joke about mercy not being one of my spiritual gifts. OK, sometimes I still joke about my natural lack of compassion.
Ironically, sometimes a lack of compassion helps you lead well. If you are too empathetic and overly sensitive to how people feel, you will get dashed on the rocks of leadership. Jesus had to push past a lot of competing voices to accomplish his mission. So did Moses, Paul and a myriad of other leaders.
