As a postscript to Rick Warren’s Magnus Opus, The Purpose Driven Life, he suggests that money and purpose do mix. I’d take it one step further; it is difficult to fulfill a purpose without money as a component. Seldom is it an issue of too much, or too little, but it is a matter of how you use what you’ve been given.
So, how are resources to be used?
Just like the other resources God provides, time, talent, energy, intelligence, wisdom and money are to be used to fulfill God’s purpose for our lives and for His honor and glory. Sounds good, hard to do!
Resources defined
There is a direct correlation between what we have, how we use it and our faithfulness to God’s call on our lives. The definition of resources is: the availability of support materials, like money, and other assets, like intellectual property, used to function effectively and achieve a mission or goal. There are two keys factors. One is to have sufficient resources to support the cause and second to use them wisely to achieve the purpose.
During the preparation of a recent message on Future Funded Ministry, I was reminded that each season or stage of life must be funded. In other words, there must be enough money to breathe, live, and manage our affairs. As a young person, our funding source was our parents or guardians. Entering into adulthood it became our job or profession. During the 4th quarter of life it is the savings we have accumulated to fund our future ministry. If we have not prepared, we are either totally dependent on the government, others, or we continue to work. I spoke to a McDonald’s worker who was clearly over 65 and asked why he was working. His answer, yes with a smile, was “because I just did not save quite enough to make it”.
The Money Challenge
Money is a challenge. We all know the story Jesus told about the difficulty the camel had getting through the small opening in the City wall called “the eye of the camel”. It is hard for us to prioritize and use effectively any God given resource, particularly when it is given in abundance. I know a man who God has blessed with great intelligence and insight into how things work. Unfortunately, he uses it as a hammer rather than a lever. Virtually any topic we discuss ends up with his wondering why I do not know as much about the topic as he does? And his wondering why I don’t? I believe his intelligence has become who he is, rather than a tool to be used to carry out God’s purpose in his life. His resource has become a barrier.
The Purpose of Money
Returning to the idea of money and purpose. The purpose of money is to support God’s plan for your life and as a lever, to multiply that impact beyond what we can do without it. God’s call on our life is both universal and specific. Universally we are to represent Him to all we meet and specifically to fulfill our role in building His Kingdom. How are you doing in figuring it out? How are you doing in carrying it out?
Expanding the reach of the Future Funded Ministry perspective.
We are contemplating the expansion of the idea of Future Funded Ministry by creating The Future Funded Ministry Foundation. The FFMF will then be charged with fulfilling the mission of spreading the idea of Future Funded Ministry across the faith based world. The message is universal and applicable to all ages and life stages. It is a story we believe needs to be told from the pulpit, from those in the pews, and by all those claim to be followers of Jesus. Historically, Future Funded Ministry is presented as only a re-definition of retirement, it is increasingly clear that it is a message for all. The idea of Future Funded Ministry was birthed in the 90’s, expanded during the last decade, and now ready to be embraced universally.
I will appreciate any thoughts or perspective on this idea that you are prompted to share.
Money and purpose do mix. It is always a good idea to review the purpose and to take inventory of all our resources. It is a good idea to evaluate how effective and efficient we are in managing, using and leveraging them. This raises the personal question, “How are you doing?”
Have a great week as we move into summer activities. This is a good time to reflect and connect.
Glad you are with us as we journey together with Trusted Advice Along The Way.
Bruce Bruinsma
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