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- Helping your flock climb the financial freedom mountain ⛰️
Helping your flock climb the financial freedom mountain ⛰️
Lifting others up instead of falling into self-righteousness
“They should have given more, I know they could afford it.”
If that thought or something similar has ever gone through your mind, you’re — unfortunately — not alone. Forming judgments based on how much someone does or does not give is an easy habit if we’re not careful.
The truth is, we don’t know exactly what someone’s financial situation is unless they tell us. Assuming anything else can lead to self-righteous thinking.
We all have a duty to catch these thought processes before they grow to the point of bitterness or holier-than-thou thinking, especially church leaders — people can sense contempt and judgment.
That’s the last thing you want your flock to feel when giving, sharing, or turning to you for guidance. They should feel encouraged, seen, and cared for, no matter the level of giving they can or cannot contribute.
That said, the other side of that coin is when you can see someone idolizing money instead of experiencing financial freedom and trust in God.
Maybe they can afford more, and they are unwilling to. Maybe they have a stronghold in their heart. This is a crucial point that, if fumbled, can make the situation worse instead of what it needs to be: healing.
The importance of having patience with those struggling with money idolatry
No one likes to be patronized or looked down on. The topic of finances is always a tricky one because people are quick to be defensive about their choices.
A pastor's job is not to make an example of these people who need to work on their relationship with money. It is to help them see the need for that change without coming across as superior.
Everyone has experienced some form of financial trial and are at a different level of understanding.
Like anything else in one's spiritual life, financial freedom is a journey, such as traversing the side of a mountain. The higher you get, the better the view. The more complete you see the picture and what God is asking of you, as well as why He is asking it of you, the more sure-footed you’ll feel.
Everyone has their own pace up the mountain. Practicing patience with those who may be a few steps below you and offering a rope or a hand up will serve the progress of their journey far more than throwing rocks and shouting judgments.
Oftentimes monetary worship comes from a place of fear and a lack of trust — fear of losing resources, fear of poverty, fear of lacking protection. The type of trust that allows the release of those fears does not happen overnight, and it does not happen through force.
Help them get beyond the crossroads, switchbacks, and sometimes troublesome terrain of learning to trust God in all things through offering genuine encouragement.
Reframing the purpose of tithing (it may not be what you think)
Another layer to avoiding self-righteousness around giving, not giving, and so on, is rejecting the belief that tithing is a requirement for salvation.
I challenge you to consider that rather than a ticket to heaven — remembering the only way to heaven is through Jesus Christ — tithing is a step towards sanctification and spiritual maturity first and foremost.
Tithing is not a transaction, it’s a transformation.
Different people start at different places in that transformation, much like starting at a gym. You don’t start by benching 100 pounds. You ease your way into the transformation with support and encouragement from your loved ones and focus on making progress.
Judging and comparing someone else’s place in that journey to your own doesn’t help anyone. There will always be someone behind or ahead of you.
Action Items:
Be mindful of how you speak to new believers about tithing
New believers are tender-hearted, and for good reason. They have just begun a journey that will impact their entire life.
The last thing they need to hear is that if they don’t give X amount of their income to the church, they’re not saved. Be tactful and mindful with how you discuss this topic.
Remember to catch yourself in self-righteous thoughts
We all struggle with this from time to time, and not just around the topic of money. Check-in with God if you feel the temptation of judgment creeping into your mind.
Remember: God is Judge.
Practice patience with those at different stages in their financial journey
We’re here to help one another and turn one another back to God, yes—but self-righteous thinking does not accomplish that mission.
Pray for patience and guidance on how to best serve those struggling with financial freedom, and remember not to cast stones.