Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - Nov/65

Contributor - Rev. J. Dykstra

Title - When Is a Dollar a Dollar?

Topic - Finances

Oh ho, everybody's interested in that subject! A dollar is a dollar. It all depends on what you do with it, how you use it, what you get for it. A dollar rightly invested is worth more than a dollar. I don't have a Dutch name for nothing. While the Scotsman is supposed to be a penny-pincher, it is said that only a Dutchman can still make money on a Scotsman. You find Dutch names all over the world and why? Well some people left that good, little country for religious reasons long ago, some left for adventure, and a few have left with dollars in mind, turning a dollar over and making it earn two dollars.

Anything wrong with that? Certainly not if the dollar was earned fairly and not at the expense of family relationships or health or one's spiritual life. God expects us to be good stewards of what He gives us and that includes good money management, not wasting what the Lord has given, but putting even the dollar to the best possible use. The trouble is, I've never heard a person yet confess that he himself was the one who was dollar-sick - it's always the other fellow. There's something dangerous about these dollars.

That's why some people aren't too much interested in reading about dollars in a religious magazine. They know what's coming. In another paper, a discussion on finances could be very interesting. It might give some ideas as to how to increase the buying power of one's money. But in a church magazine there's just going to be another appeal for money. What's mine is mine and I really don't care to give it away. I need it too badly myself and I've worked so hard for it. I'll give you just enough to uphold my name and get rid of you. That's how many people of think.

All well, a man's wallet always remains the most tender part of his anatomy. Add to this the fact that we live in a day of tremendous turn-over of money. The dollar just doesn't stretch as far as it used to. I've invested over my ears. That house, that business, that farm, that holiday to Europe, that new furniture, that new car, just gobbles everything up. Every body's complaining that there's nothing left after you pay the bills, even if they aren't trying to get ahead too fast.

That's an interesting point - the dollar doesn't stretch as far as it used to. Our church treasurers are complaining about the same thing. It seems that they don't get quite as much for a dollar today as !hey used to either! Imagine that. Hm . . I wonder if it would help if every time the family income increased a bit, we would figure on a similar increase in our church giving. I know we need that raise because of an increasing cost of living, but the church's expenses are going up too. Let's face it. A 1965 dollar just isn't a 1960 dollar anymore, not at church either. Have you thought about that?

We've often heard about tithing and it has proved to be a real blessing in the lives of many people. The idea is also open to legalistic abuse, that one thinks he is a better Christian and God must love him more just because he tithes. Of course, all good things are open to abuse. But let's think about systematic proportionate giving instead. Give a certain proportion of your income. It might surprise you it you set your weekly offering money over against your weekly income and figured out what the proportion is. Naturally the proportion can be larger for a single person than for one man who is the only wage-earner for a large family. That's what they figure in Ottawa too. There are some people too who aren't paid weekly or even monthly, a few whose income is very irregular. Wouldn't it be possible to estimate what the weekly income will be and figure out a proportion on that basis? Some people have to do that for income tax.

"The Lord loves a cheerful giver." How do you feel when that money falls out of your hand into the offering plate? Do you feel a bit like when you drop an envelope into a mailbox and send off tax monies? I hope not, because I fear few people pay their taxes cheerfully. An offering to the Lord is not a taxation. It is not a bribe either whereby you try to buy God's favor. It ought rather be a deep expression of your love and thanksgiving to God. God gave His only begotten Son to die for your sins. He has given you grace to believe in Him and find the abundant life now and eternal life hereafter. He daily pours out rich blessings on you, whether or not you recognize them.

Joyfully the child of God enters the house of God to worship the Lord who has so richly blessed him. From the depths of His heart, he praises and adores this wonderful God. He brings an offering of praise and thanksgiving that is not an insult but an honor to the God 0 all mercies. Search your own soul, reader, whether your offering is an honour to God and a deep Expression of love and praises. -ii may tell you something about your whole spiritual life, for only he who joyfully, lovingly, sacrificially gives, is living close to God. This is the secret to giving liberally. No one has begun to give until he gives joyfully, lovingly, sacrificially, until he has surrendered himself to be God's slave. Even a communist will sacrifice out of surrender to a principle.

It is thus that the work of the Lord may be done, you and I being used as surrendered channels of God's redeeming grace. What a thought, to be an instrument in God's hand for someone's salvation perhaps, or another's being built up in the faith. Here is where the church has the right and the responsibility to call in each home of the congregation to instruct the membership as to what may be envisioned as to the particular ministry of that congregation in a given year, and what part each member may have in this.

When is a dollar a dollar? When you put it to the best possible use. And can you think of a better use for a dollar than in the Lord's service, bringing dividends for eternity?

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