Sunday 16 November 2008

Greed, Avarice, Covetousness

The collapse of financial institutions is affecting virtually everyone.  Many commentators agree the underlying cause that plunged the world into financial chaos was greed.  A friend phoned me to share that their neighbour had lost one hundred million US dollars and was considering moving to New Zealand!

But while you lick your financial wounds think of those we as a church support as missionaries:  the Ayers, the Dales, the Reeds and Nyree.  People we have commissioned to serve God in cross-cultural ministry.  In June/July/August this year, an Australian dollar was worth about 94-96 US cents.  Almost parity with the US Dollar.  Today an Australian dollar is being quoted at approximately 66 cents against the US currency.

30% Pay Cut For Missionaries
Given our missionaries use USA currency, this means they have taken a 30% pay cut.  Ouch!  To maintain the same level of support as at the beginning of this financial year for our missionaries, CGCC needs to give 30% more than in June 2008.  Will we do it?

Chequered History
In the Bible both the Nation of Israel and the Church have a very chequered history when it comes to money. Achan and Ananias died as a result of their greed.  The prophet Malachi castigates Israel for its covetous, selfish stance and condemns them as robbers for failing to give their tithes and offerings to God - Malachi 3:1-10.  The Apostle John describes the church which thought it was rich as wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked - Revelation 3:4-21.  Will we learn from this?

Be Responsible
Someone quipped: "Take a dollar to church it looks sooo big but take $1 to the supermarket it looks sooo small."  The Bible teaches we are to give to God through our offering on the first day of the week, we are to give individually "each of you," to give intentionally "you should set aside a sum of money," and to give in "keeping with our income" 1 Corinthians 16:1-2.  Jesus gave great investment advice when he told us to ensure our treasure was where it was immune from any financial disaster - Matthew 6:1-4.  Will we act on it?

Be Realistic
One of the richest men in the Middle East wrote these words: 
"Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income . . .  As goods increase, so do those who consume them.  And what benefit are they to the owner except to feast his eyes on them?

"The sleep of a labourer is sweet, whether he eats little or much, but the abundance of a rich man permits him no sleep.

"I have seen a grievous evil under the sun: wealth hoarded to the harm of its owner, or wealth lost through some misfortune, so that when he has a son there is nothing left for him.  Naked a man comes from his mother’s womb, and as he comes, so he departs.  He takes nothing from his labour that he can carry in his hand" - Ecclesiastes 5:10-15.

Keith Graham