The Most Bang For Your Buck

                                                                                                                      - Photo by Dustin Maust

Faced with America's economic realities, I've begun to wonder how far I can stretch a dollar.

Food prices are up.
Gasoline prices are up.
Taxes are up.
Energy bills are higher than ever.
Utility bills are increasing.

Despite rising costs, many of us are living on last year's income. (Even here at GCC, I've frozen all the salaries of our entire staff for the last 18 months. And the Ad Council has frozen my salary too.) Almost all of us are in the same boat.

We're trying to stretch our money. We're looking for ways to reduce "unnecessary" expenses so our dollars can go farther. We're all trying to "get more bang for the buck."

Personally, the state of "my" economy is driving me into a ruthless analysis of my deepest priorities.

I'm focused on this question: "What is most important to me?"

The answer to that question determines what I'm going to do with my money. I'm betting your answer to that question is a predictor of your behavior as well. We all support what we value. Given the reality of our free will, we all do what we want to do. We spend our money on what we want.

It's still a free America.

We get to choose. Here are my choices, listed in order of importance to me.

1. Tithe to my local church.  I'm going to put God first - no matter what. I want the church to be stronger than ever as our economic and geopolitical climate gets scarier than ever. God first. I'm not going to rob God. Period. Whatever else we lose, we can't afford to lose God's help.

2. Save. With economic down-turns comes a renewed commitment to spend less than I make. In tough times smart people obey God and face the facts. God tells us, "Look at an ant. Watch it closely; let it teach you a thing or two. Nobody has to tell it what to do. All summer it stores up food; at harvest it stockpiles provisions.(Proverbs 6:6-8 )" I'm determined to pay attention to my personal storehouse.

3. Honor my wife. I want my money to bless her. I want her local church to be strong. I want her to have food and shelter and "daily bread." The bible says God wants that for her too. I'm standing with God on this one.

4. Bless my children. I want to live with honor. I'm resolved to never disgrace my children or bring shame on them. If I handle my money correctly I'll be one step closer to offering them a legacy of faith and dignity.

5. Bless GCC. As GCC has restricted her budget and tightened her belt (reducing her budget three times in the last few months) Sheila and I are determined to give - above and beyond our tithe - whenever and however we can. We want to make the church stronger in a season when America needs the church strong!

I'm inviting you to ask yourself the question I'm asking myself: "What is most important to me?"

If Jesus Christ, and the work of His Church, are on your "most important" list, I trust you will join us in making your financial support of the church a budgetary priority in the days ahead.

As we shift gears (watch "Beeson on Changes" to see what I mean) your determined financial support will resource our next steps toward Christ...together.

If you're so inclined, I'd love to see your "Top 5 Answers" to the question: "What is most important to me?"

Leave a comment. Let me know...

Matthew 13:44-46 - "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it."

Comments

[Mandy]

We are in a financial struggle right now. Working in a commission only position in the RV industry. We have always tithed & are finding ourselves in the position where the paycheck doesn't cover the mortgage.

I know I'm supposed to trust, but it's hard when you feel like you're barely staying afloat.

I love this post. It's a great reminder.

[Seth Easterday]

I'm a pastor (student ministries) at Community Church of Greenwood, just south of Indianapolis. GCC is my home church...I started going there when I was working at GCC (the theatre) and the church was meeting there.

Mark, thanks for your inspiring reminder. I really appreciate your ministry and the ministry of the church in the Michiana area!

God bless!

[Rindy Walton]

With rising prices and tough economic times, this is NOT the time to leave a secure well-paying job, to try to sell a house, and to try and start a church. Yet, here are my choices...
1. listen to God--the house is up for sale, the resignation letter will be submitted and I will be moving with my 3 sons to another state and help plant a church
2. teach and love my children--I will teach and love with words and show with actions what loving and trusting is all about
3. save and give--I will continue to cut back and give up, so that I can always have the incredible feeling of giving to touch lives and reach hurting people
4. share and tell--I will seek ways to share what God can do and is doing, even if that means stepping out and taking chances listening and following when God calls
5. start at #1 and repeat them all over again!!

[James Kytta]

1. Jesus! Phil. 1:21 " For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain"
2. My neighbor! Luke 10:27 "And answering, he said, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself."
3. The word of God! 2 Timothy 2:15 "Study earnestly to present yourself approved to God, a workman that does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth."
4. The church! Hebrews 10:25 "not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching."
5. Serving! Galatians 5:13 "For, brothers, you were called to liberty. Only do not use the liberty for an opening to the flesh, but by love serve one another."

[Thomas Hoyt]

I'm right with you brother!

1. God is numero uno! I continue to tithe faithfully even when it hurts the piggy bank.
2. My wife is right up there too. I want to bless her and be a blessing to and for her.
3. My family, which includes the church. We're all on big ole family. If I can help out I will as appropriate and necessary.
Hmmm, I really don't have a 4. and 5. I only have the big 3, which are even today still written on the rock that I wrote on at the last Men's Retreat I was at in 2005 I believe.

To me, money is only lifeless tokens that we use to get other stuff. I cannot fathom why we continue to place value, in some cases more than we should, on something so lifeless. Money can't love you. Money can't buy your way out of eternal separation from God. Money is just stuff. On the other hand, people can love and therefore have way more value. I put value in the living God and in living people rather than in lifeless stuff.

[Leslie Lestinsky-Miller]

WOW! What a loaded question. I have written about tithing on my blog........

1.Faith
2.Family
3.Friends
4.FOOD!
5.Shelter

Priorities in budgeting:

1.Tithe(even though we don't have enough left over to pay the bills)
2.This is where savings would go if we weren't attacking monstrous debt, so the real answer is FOOD!
3.Shelter(we rent)
4.Transportation(Car payment, insurance and gas & repairs) Must have a way to get to work.
4.DEBT!!

Hmmm....both lists seem to line up in a similar fashion.