Media Outreach

This week’s Link Love is about an article written by our very own Tony Chimento.  As a client relations manager in the production process at faithHighway and a bi-vocational pastor, Tony’s insight covers many important areas of a church’s trials.

Considering the unstable economic climate, Tony shares his thoughts about how to deal with the financial constraints that hold us so tightly.

“Every day, I have the privilege of talking with pastors all over the country.  And one thing that continually rings out is that it is a challenging economic time. Finances are tight. Cutbacks are everywhere.  Pastors are feeling the pinch. And with that news coming in from so many different people and places, the reality is that it’s challenging.  And with that news, I began thinking about what God thinks about these issues.”

But how do we cope?

“First, I really think God wants us to continue to exercise our faith. How many times did Jesus look to His disciples and stir them with regard to faith? It is the theme over and over.  It is a faith in God and His ability and His resources. Faith to believe for the finances of the people in the seats just as much as having faith to believe for the provision of the church. Faith that God knows, sees, cares, and is ready to move on behalf of the pastor and church.”

Matthew 6:25-34 will bring us back to the truth of God’s care over us.  I have turned to this verse many times over the past year.

25″Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life[b]?
28″And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Despite the human desire to stress and fret, our God will provide for us.  Faith is more than just praying and proclaiming His provisions over us, it is actually believing it.  The second we worry, is the second we realize we aren’t trusting Him.

“Second, I really think God wants us to continue to live with joy. Though the finances might be tight, there is no reason to have a shortfall in joy. Joy can be found in Christ and can be shared. You don’t have to be Mr. Grumpypants. Keep your joy. Don’t let anyone rob you of it.”

When we persevere in joy, we are shining the light of Christ to all that see us.  It is in trials that we have the opportunity to share with others the strength we have in Christ.  If we crumble in disbelief, how do we truly honor the King?

This is not to say that we cannot grieve in hard times. It is to say that we have hope while in our trials.

See three more reasons we can withstand financial burdens next week.  Thanks again to Tony for this encouraging word.

Photo By: Oregon State University Archives