"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. ... By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. .... By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; 10 for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God." - Hebrews 11:1, 7-10
Faith-based non-profits. That is a curious moniker isn't it? We became a non-profit in the eyes of the federal and state governments so that we might receive funding - free from taxes to support our work. Free from taxes yes - but not only, it also provides a tax incentive to those who are donating the money. Seems like a good thing, innocent enough doesn't it? But it begs a question, at least in my mind. Would we be willing to do what we do if there were no tax advantages? Would people be willing to contribute to our work if they could not get a tax deduction? (I am confident for most Christians anyway - yes)
What is the primary factor that determines if you step out for God when you experience the Call of God? Is it faith or finances. Some ministries require a certain portion of annual support to be raised before they will allow someone to actively participate in their ministry. Laying out a fleece if you will. Money in the bank had become the litmus test for validation of the Call of God on your life. Is that from God or is it the wisdom of man?
We must constantly be on our guard that our work in ministry does not become framed in the boundaries of the conventional wisdom of man. I have shared this before. When Martie and I understood that God was calling us to Haiti for a season, a friend asked me if I was "crazy". Of all the places - not Haiti! I told him that it was not my idea, but God's calling to serve.
God always asks us to do what is beyond us to do. God called Gideon - threshing wheat while hiding in a wine-press a "mighty man of valor". Then he told Gideon to reduce his fighting force from 10,000 to 300. Impossible odds if it were not for God.
"that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen." - Ephesians 3:17-21
Do you believe that? Would you go when God says GO but man says NO - wait? Are you ready to do without so others may simply do? Or do you need to be financially secure and comfortable? Listen, there are many who have charged off into the night on their own volition - God had no part in it. And there are also those who refused, in the face of their calling, to go because of their lack of faith and personal fear of the personal consequences laying their life down.
"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." - Romans 12:1-2
To follow God's calling you must have a change in your heart's devotion and in the way you see the world and your part in it. So many Christians have crammed their faith into a corner of their natural life. The first question when someone considering donating to a cause should not be "Is this tax deductible?" but rather, "Is the Spirit prompting me to help?" Recall what Jesus said about taxes?
"And He said to them, 'Whose image and inscription is this?' They said to Him, 'Caesar’s.' And He said to them, 'Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.' When they had heard these words, they marveled, and left Him and went their way." - Matthew 22:20-22
I don't plan to turn our non-profit status back to the IRS, I just don't think financial benefit should be the first consideration for going and giving - and fear it is that for many.
As for the title of this post. I have had the privilege to serve on staff with a number of non-profits. The question that I always end up asking is this, "Is this a business or a ministry". In the course of growing the ministry there is a tipping point where preservation of the organization - buildings - staff - programs becomes the primary concern and the focus on the reason for the ministry is diminished. For disaster relief work - organizations are the most effective in the midst of a disaster. During blue-sky days they are pretty much looking for something to do. The problem - the staff must be paid or let go. Ruth and Edwin Messerschmitt, retired missionaries, were our mentors in the late '90s. They told us to always remember that "Where God Guides, God Provides". It's true. The challenge is to know when the provision has stopped because that season has ended. It is at that point that organizations often become a "virtual" business and stop looking to God as the provider and decide to do it themselves. Remember why King Saul lost his anointing?
"Saul’s first act of disobedience was recorded in 1 Samuel 13:8-14. He made a presumptuous sacrifice without waiting for the prophet Samuel to show up. His second act of disobedience was recorded in 1 Samuel 15. Saul spared king Agag of the Amalekites and some of the animals for sacrifice." (www.bibleissues.org)
"And Samuel said to Saul, “You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God, which He commanded you. For now the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now your kingdom shall not continue. The Lord has sought for Himself a man after His own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be commander over His people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.” - 1 Samuel 13:13-14
Receive it - Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.
By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone
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