The Weekly Encourager – May 18, 2012 – Paying Bills

I guess it's time to renew my junk mail opt-out request, because random ads are coming to my mailbox again, courtesy of the local mailman. Yesterday, for the third time, I got an ad which proclaimed in big bright letters, “If the IRS came to your church today, what would they find? Just because your heart is right with God...doesn't mean your books are right with the IRS!”

Some of you know that my husband and I share a home business. He's the creative genius who writes software that people need, and I manage office duties such as billing and customer support. During a recent audit in which I examined every customer's account to see who was current on payments, I found that almost one fifth of our customers were in arrears! Well, you say, that's to be expected, given the current economic downturn and the general unreliability of people in the world. But what if I told you that all of our customers are Christian churches?

To me, this was shocking. Christ calls us to come out from the world, to be different. I believe that Christians, of all people, should pay their bills on time, to the best of their ability. Remember the parable about “what man builds a tower and fails to count the cost?” The underlying implication on which that parable rests is that of course we count the cost before committing to any large venture. Yet many Christian individuals and even Christian churches are clearly not counting the cost. Many of us have fallen under the influence of the world, the flesh, and the devil. We want whatever brings us pleasure, and we want it now, whether we can afford it or not. We have bought the lie, literally.

The problem with buying a lie is that every purchase must be paid for eventually. Buying the lie often leads to telling a lie. When we can't afford something, yet promise to pay for it, we are making a false claim. The Bible says, “Let your yes be yes and your no, no” and “speak the truth to one another.” The person who does not pay what he owes causes damage to himself, his family, and his witness for Jesus Christ. One of Jesus' titles is “Faithful and True,” and we are to imitate Christ by being faithful and true. We are to glorify God and set a godly example in all our dealings, including managing our finances.

Now, of course there are exceptional cases by God's providence when someone loses a job, gets stuck with huge medical expenses, etc. We've been there ourselves. We've been right on the poverty line twice in our marriage but God provided. With good financial principles and hard work, we've come out of it. If you cannot afford anything but the essentials, you cut way back on non-essentials. You give up some pleasures, knowing that God may be sending financial trials to grow in you the fruits of the Spirit such as faith, patience, meekness, and self-control. With thankfulness in everything, and leaning on God's strength, you may take on extra work or do jobs you never considered before. If you can't pay your bills, you call the companies to explain the situation; you don't hide and hope that ignoring bills will make them go away!

Yet that seems to be the way some people operate. Most companies (including the IRS) will give leniency when you come forward and explain your circumstances, and you promise to make a very small but very steady payment each month on time. There is no shame in poverty unless it is your own fault. Demonstrate responsibility by paying $5 a month to each creditor, if that's all you can do for now. What bothers me about the customers who are behind on their payments is that most of them don't seem to know if they are paid up or not. I respect the few who say they can no longer afford our service and must cancel. I thank them for calling, because at least I know the truth and can plan accordingly. Those churches are being responsible with their funds and honoring the Lord by stepping back. Many, however, never inform us of their decisions; they just stop paying and force me to track them down. That is not what I would call “faithful and true.” Just saying...

Are your finances in good order? How about your church's finances? My hope is that each of us will prayerfully consider how to honor the Lord with what He has given us. May we be shining examples of wise stewards, to the glory of God.

God is faithful,