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"One of a Thousand" There are many churches and pastors who now advocate the giving of your monies to becoming a part of their "one thousand" club. You give $100 or $1,000 and you have your name inscribed forever in a brick in the side of their building. You might receive a plaque or a certificate to hang on your wall to remind you that you gave more than others. Still others "enroll" you in their "I'm somebody club." Have God's churches become so desperate for money that we are willing to sell honor to the highest bidder? When we "esteem" one man above another in this manner of giving we are in direct conflict with the Word of God. If one man is to be honored because he gave $1000 and the next man is not to be honored because he could not give, then we just exalted the person who gave more money. James 2:1-6 describes a man who was "respected" in just such a manner. He was set in such a position so the whole crowd could see him. This was because he wore nice clothes and had a pocket full of money. They put this man in a "good" position and the poor in a "lesser" position. What hypocrites! To honor those who have much and not honor those who have little is no less than what the men in James were doing. Why is the member of the "thousand dollar" club honored when he who is not a member of the club is not honored? The only answer is that one has money and the other does not! Would you give money to a worthy cause if you were never recognized for that contribution? Would you have given to the "cause" advocated by the "thousand dollar" club, even if they had not given you a bronze plaque with gold letters? If they offered no motive except that it was a worthy cause would you give? If the answer is no, you probably gave for the wrong reason! If the answer is yes then why would any church "entice" individuals to give more money so they can get a brick with their name on it? Is not the worthiness of the cause and the conviction of the Holy Spirit enough motive to cause one to give? What ever happened to man's desire and love for God that motivated him to give. Is the plaque really just something "extra" to let people know that we appreciate what they are doing? For years a "thank you" was enough, but not even that should be necessary for those who were motivated by the heart, they saw a need and responded to that need. I seem to have read about a poor widow who only had two mites. Jesus said that when she gave her money to Him, she gave more than all the others. In God's sight two mites equaled more than great contributions. This woman gave with her heart and gave all. I don't suppose she ever had her name engraved in the temple wall. Nor was she ever given a plaque in recognition of her deserving effort and sacrifice. The masses of people never knew, nor would they have cared what she did. But in the chronicles of God it is written! He knows, remembers, and exalts this "lowly" widow. Should that not be enough incentive for us to give? Must we be bombarded with the tactics of the world even in God's house? If I don't give the stipulated amount, but give all I can, am I less important than they who gave more? If I only have two dollars, is my heart any less in tune with God because I can't do more? Suppose a service was held to recognize those in the "thousand dollar" club. What about all those in the congregation who gave the five's and the fifties? Why were they not commended and honored in the same manner? I'll tell you why - they didn't give as much money! You just taught your people an important lesson of the world. Money talks! The more you give the louder it speaks. Speak loud enough and you can get a wing of the church named after you. If you give enough it will drown out all those who scrimped and saved to offer all they had to God. Because they didn't have "enough" to match the $1000's or even the $100's they must sit and watch in silence as we confer honors on those with much. We love those with much money. What ever happened to faithful men humbling themselves before God and asking for help in time of need? Have men so little faith in God's ability to provide that we must find "new" ways to gather support for the cause of Christ? God's arm is not shortened that He cannot supply all of our needs. He has never failed to do what He promised He would do. Yet we continue to "help" God with needed "tactics." How about just asking God, then the people, instead of degrading giving to God to the levels of the hustler. Don't you think we ought to quit adopting the tactics of the world to attract givers? Is God a God that cannot touch the hearts of men and motivate them to send relief or support? All this for the sake of money, God help us when our giving is based on whether or not we have our name recognized! God help the church that will merchandise honor and teach her members that those who give more are "much" more important than those who give "little!" God help those members that accept either without question and the results is a church that expects this type of workings within God's House! You can be certain of this, God sees deeper than the pocketbook! Jackie Battles
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