GRATITUDE OR GREED #3?

           

            I’m continuing my discussion on gratitude versus greed. Last week, I talked about being grateful for what we have now. This is the way to find a balance in our finances.

            Have you seen posts on Facebook where people make a post every day saying something they’re thankful for? That requires a conscious decision to choose the positive over the negative. Some people start a “thankful” journal, where each day they write down three or four things they are thankful for. That’s a lot of thankful, isn’t it?

            Not only is it a lot of thankful items, but coming up with all those positive things, requires you to practice being grateful. And being grateful influences your attitude and perspective.

            What if our churches practices being grateful? Too many times, we focus on what we can’t do, the money that isn’t in our checking account, and how few people are in our pews, or the lack of children. We spend our time focusing on “if only”.

            A few years ago, I was asked by a church to speak to the congregation about their “financial realities.” The church leaders didn’t want to give bad news to the congregation, and thought an “outsider” would be the way to go. That way, when the congregation became angry, they had someone to blame.

            I agreed to speak, but I also insisted that the leaders speak. I didn’t want them to talk about bad news, about what they didn’t have, about possibly letting staff go, or stopping ministry. I wanted them to talk about what that church has consistently been able to do in the past, solely because of the generosity of the congregation. I also insisted that not just the financial people, but other folks, teachers, youth, missionaries, people who had participated in the ministries of that church, get up and share those stories. Then, and only then, did I agree to speak, reinforcing the gratitude and the thanksgivings, but stressing that those positive stories happened because of them.

            It was up to them to determine what ministries were going to be able to continue, and money and finances were a way of funding those ministries.

            Of course, some people were upset, and some were sad, but they heard the stories of thanksgiving, and within two months, were able to raise additional pledges that allowed ministries to continue.

            Let us being thankful, not reaching for our wallets, but reaching for God. Practice gratefulness. Practice may not make perfect, but our hearts will change!

            REMINDER: The Stewardship Academy is being held April 23^rd, May 21^st, June 18^th and July 16^th from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. If you are interested in a registration form or information on the academy itself, please let me know (susanranous@unyumc.org)