The Truth About Money and Ministry

Money is a big deal! The Bible has so much to say about money than it’s mentioned over 800 times. It matters in your home, your business, and your ministry. To effectively operate a ministry requires an understanding of the Truth About Money and Ministry. You don’t need money to minister to someone. You can pray for people and love on them anytime, but operating a ministry is a different story.

The Truth About Money and Ministry is this:

When starting a ministry, there’s a lot that you do yourself. You also get your friends to help, but things change. At some point, operating expenses knock at your door, creating the need for a paid professional.

The person who handles payroll and creates professional, well-branded marketing material will probably charge a fee. You’ll need a paid professional to get SEO-friendly content for your website and social media graphics. There are countless other supplies that your ministry needs–office/meeting space, repairs, furniture, computers, printers, apps, etc., all requiring money. Praise God! There is good news. 

Remember when you finally answered God’s call in your life? Clarity winnowed through your mind like a river replacing prior commitments and restructuring your priorities. In the beginning, there are uncertainties and unanswered questions.

• What kind of training do I need and where/how will I get trained?
• What kind of marketing material do I need? 
• Do I need a website? Headshot? Videos?
• How will I handle social media?
• Do I need a podcast? 
• Do I need an office? Where will we meet?
• How will I attract people?
• Who will help me?

Here’s the good news. Although you have unanswered questions, when God calls you, He provides the resources you need to accomplish His plan — in His time. Yes! God knows how to handle His business.

As You trust God to handle His business, count on these important truths about money and ministry.  

To manage a ministry well requires the ability to secure and manage money well. 

Let me say it another way…

Effectively managing your ministry requires the ability to effectively manage your money.

Let me paint a better picture. . . 

In business, executives go through extreme measures to reach their financial goals. They do it for the sake of business, money, status, and power. In ministry, we too should give it all we have to reach our financial goals, except we do it for God’s glory to further His kingdom, not our own. You can’t be passive about managing money when it influences how well your ministry operates and the extent that which you accomplish your ministry goals. A proper perspective about money will position you to honor God as you make and manage money. 

Here’s are more important money and ministry facts: 

• The money you need for your ministry doesn’t have to be donated with a tax deduction. It can be given (without a tax deduction) and earned.
• Make money, be a good steward,, and multiply what you have. (Matthew 25:24-30)
• Being a giver is a great deterrent to being greedy. 
• Money is not evil. The love of money is the problem. 

“For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”–1 Timothy 6:10.

Now that you see the truth about money and ministry, check out these Extra Life–Beyond the Limits strategies to help you move forward, even when you don’t have all of your money questions answered.

1. Keep your day job. It’s easy to get so excited about what God is doing that you want to run away from your day job. Yes, your ministry needs you, but be careful to move in God’s timing, not your own. Read my post, Before You Quit Your Job, and work to keep your cash flow from your current position as long as possible. Ministry is a lot easier when your personal finances are in good shape.
2. Be willing to work hard. God worked on creating the earth for six days and rested on day seven. Follow His example and be willing to work six days, if needed, to accomplish your ministry goals and make the money you need for your expenses.
3. Pray about your finances. A lack of funds is a hindrance in business and ministry. Anything that has a major effect on your ministry needs constant prayer. If you are functioning as a for-profit ministry, pray about your earnings projects. If you are a non-profit ministry, pray for your donors, fundraising efforts, and favor new donors. 
4. Ask God to give you creative, biblical ways to make money for your personal and ministry expenses. Ideas like creating products to offer for a price, and professional services like insurance, coaching, and consulting are great ways to make money for your ministry. 

As your ministry advances, God will also advance you spiritually in ways you never expected. God is always doing more than you think. Trust Him to guide you, your ministry, and your money.

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