Trustworthy Leadership with Money

All Judah then brought the tithe of the grain, wine and oil into the storehouses. 13 In charge of the storehouses I appointed Shelemiah the priest, Zadok the scribe, and Pedaiah of the Levites, and in addition to them was Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah; for they were considered reliable, and it was their task to distribute to their kinsmen .

Neh 13:12-13 (NASB95)

I don't know about you but I hate to preach about money.  I hate working on budgets and working with finance committees.  I wish I could just do the work of ministry and not have to consider money at all.  But leaders can learn something from Nehemiah about trustworthy leadership with money.

Nehemiah has been away and the tithe has been abandoned.  It seems from a closer look at the text (Nehemiah 12-13) that the main reason the tithe had been neglected was because of poor, well actually, really bad leadership while Nehemiah was away.  There are four important steps a leader can take to restore trustworthiness to the handling of finances.

1. Reprimand (vs. 11)  Nehemiah had to reprimand, literally rebuke present leadership.  I've already told you this, I hate to talk about money.  But it is necessary for a leader to rebuke others about untrustworthy behavior with the finances.
2. Restore (vs. 11)  Nehemiah had to set things right again.  Put things back in order.  Restore the integrity of your church or organization if you find a problem.  Don't cover it up and don't ignore it.  It won't go away and it will eventually be discovered.  Have integrity, come clean and restore the integrity.  When the people knew Nehemiah was trustworthy and was restoring the temple treasury they began to give again.
3. Reliability (vs. 13)  Nehemiah found reliable men who would take charge of the treasury.  to often I have seen to many churches and leaders who took the approach that we are not a business we are a church.  They suggest we operate on faith, trust and mutual respect and we don't hold our leaders accountable for their actions.  As pastors/leaders of churches we are not a leading corporation and we may not follow the standards of business.  But perhaps we should realize that we are operating something greater than business.  We are leading in the body of Christ to further the Kingdom of God.  Perhaps we should have a higher standard than business.  Our integrity should be much higher.
4. Ready to work (vs. 13)  Finally, Nehemiah put me in charge who were not afraid to work.  They were ready to do what they were called to do.  A frustration that I have often faced in ministry is having leaders who were afraid to spend money on ministry because they were concerned we might need it later.  Kingdom work requires leaders who recognize that the money we have today God has given to meet the needs of Kingdom work today.  While we may not know what tomorrow will bring God does.  He will provide for today, today and for tomorrow, tomorrow.  So go to work!

Lone Ranger or Partner

Are you a lone ranger or a partner?  I know the question seems odd.  Perhaps if you are like me growing up as a kid when I hear "Lone Ranger" there is a sense of adventure.  Fighting bad guys, riding a really smart horse, Tonto and silver bullets.  What could be more exciting?  And then there is the other word partner.  Partner seems boring.  It makes me think of board rooms, suits and ties and frankly WORK.  I would rather be like Lone Ranger than a partner.  But then I read Philippians 2.19-24.
  
But I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, so that I also may be encouraged when I learn of your condition. 20 For I have no one else of kindred spirit who will genuinely be concerned for your welfare. 21 For they all seek after their own interests, not those of Christ Jesus. 22 But you know of his proven worth, that he served with me in the furtherance of the gospel like a child serving his father. 23 Therefore I hope to send him immediately, as soon as I see how things go with me; 24 and I trust in the Lord that I myself also will be coming shortly.
Phil 2:19-24 (NASB95)

The Apostle Paul and Timothy were partners.  They had a kindred spirit or more literally, "to be liked souled."  They had the same life principles.  They were partners.  In ministry, as we serve in the church what makes for good partners. Let me suggest 3 attributes of a good partner.  This should help us so that we can be good partners but also if we are looking for someone to come along with us, it will give us an idea of what kind of person we might want to look for.

A good partner has a genuine concern for the church (vs. 20).  A good partner will be concerned about the ekklesia, "the called out ones."  A good partner is concerned about the people.  When we get to focused on buildings, budgets and programs we have missed the point.  There will also be a concern for the mission of the church.  Most definitely there should be a concern about the health of the church.

A second important attribute is that a partner seeks after the interest of Jesus (vs.21).  If our interest is in ourselves, our preferences or our goals we are not a very good partner.  I have often thought that a church business meeting can be the most godly or the most hellish event in the life of the church.  It becomes hellish particularly when we seek any interest other than King Jesus.

A good partner has a commitment to serve (vs. 22-24).  Timothy had a commitment to serve.  Timothy served as a slave (vs. 22), he served as a son (vs. 22), he served as a friend (vs. 23).  That is the kind of person I want serving with me.

So perhaps it would be useful for us to take a moment and evaluate.  Lone ranger or partner, which are you?