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by Andy Gustafson, Associate Conference Minister
April/May 2007
The way we run our church finances is crazy! We defy every law of economics.
The laws of economics are based on the principle that people will pay as little as possible to get as much as possible. Our entire free market economic system is based on this simple, immutable principle.
Yet in our churches we let anyone come to our worship services, attend bible studies, send their children to Sunday School and participate in all we offer without charging them anything. We don’t even know who is giving what, so there is no social pressure.
Adam Smith, a pioneering economist who lived in the 1700s, believed that in a free trade world, an “invisible hand” of self-interest would predict that no one would give anything. Yet our members voluntarily give large sums of money every year. Some are tithing, and even beyond. Some are driving older cars and living in more modest homes so they can give more. Some eat out less, forgo expensive vacations or the morning coffee run so they can give more.
In his first letter to the Corinthians, Paul writes “If you think that you are wise in this age, you should become fools so that you may become wise. For the
wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.” (1 Cor. 3:18-19)
Praise God that our members are foolish in the ways of the world but wise in the ways of God!
Praise God that the Law of Love has replaced the Law of Supply and Demand in our hearts and our pocketbooks!