TOGETHER:
God bless responsible stewards of the Lord's money
___No one really likes to talk about money in the life of a church. It is as though we expect wonderful things to be done in our communities and world without money ever being mentioned. But no one would ever go to the automobile dealer and expect to drive away in a new car without discussing money. No one would expect to go to a restaurant and walk away after a good meal without paying the check.
___In fact, Jesus' parables and observations about life often included money. Some have

CHARLES WADE Executive Director BGCT Executive Board

estimated that over half of Jesus' teachings had to do with money and how it was used. He knew what we eventually learn--that the true test of a person's values can be seen in the way they use money. One preacher said, "Give me 10 minutes with your check stubs (or your credit card statement), and I can tell you what is important in your life."
___The sin that often besets us is to love things and use people, rather than love people and use things.
___One of the greatest gifts a pastor can give the people is to preach and teach biblical stewardship principles. When God's people discover in a personal way that they really can never out-give God, their only regret is that no one had taught them that truth earlier.
___There is another part to giving through our church or convention mission program--accountability. The church and the denomination must be fully accountable for how the money given by God's people is used. Every church should have regular reports available showing how the money has been spent. Budgets showing where the money will go to sustain the mission and ministry efforts of the church should be carefully developed and widely distributed.
___The Baptist General Convention of Texas takes this responsibility of accountability seriously. I just finished a committee meeting where our auditors brought an "unqualified and clean" opinion regarding our use of the monies you trusted to our care over the past year. Their praise for Roger Hall, CFO/coordinator of financial management, and Randy Reid, controller, was sincere and deserved. In the past 18 years of Roger Hall's stewardship of this great trust, every audit has been an unqualified or clean opinion. Those of you who work with audits can fully appreciate this remarkable achievement. Accompanying the report were positive comments and appreciation from the auditor for the BGCT accounting staff.
___I thanked the auditors and told them their task was a biblical one. In 2 Corinthians, the Apostle Paul appealed to the church for money to help the Christians in Jerusalem who were suffering through a famine. In chapters 8-9, he eloquently urged them to give, reminding them that God "loves a cheerful giver." In the middle of his appeal, he told the church he was grateful for the brother who had been appointed by the churches "to travel with us in this gracious work ... taking precaution that no one should discredit us in our administration of this generous gift; for we have regard for what is honorable, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men," 2 Corinthians 8:19-21.
___God bless all who give and all who are responsible for keeping track of the Lord's money in an honorable and trustworthy manner.
___We are loved.

The Baptist Standard