Thoughts from Mark "Hat" Rackley

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

• 1 Timothy 6:10

Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road.
… Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house.”

• Luke 10:4, 7

“ … After the meeting a dignified, well-dressed lady came up and handed me a check for a rather large sum of money. It was designated to my work in Europe.
“ ‘It was so very interesting to hear about your work,’ she said.
“ ‘What did you think about the other things I said?’ I asked. ‘Did you find them important also?’
“She gave me a quizzical look. I continued. ‘Of course it is a very good thing to give money for evangelistic work, but today I also spoke about conversion. God does not want a little bit of your money, He wants all of your heart. He wants to possess you completely. God will not let me take your check.’ I handed it back to her.
“As I was speaking I noticed a haughty, proud look come into her eyes. Very deliberately she pulled her fur cape around her neck. Then, without answering at all, she arrogantly walked away.
“When I got back to my room I looked sadly at the other checks which had been given me. Was God speaking to me? Was it wrong to speak of my own work while at the same time I urged people to be converted or to forgive their enemies? Was it wrong to listen to these Americans who were urging me to receive collections for my ministry? I dropped to my knees in prayer. God knew my needs.
“The answer was very clear from the Lord. ‘From now on you must never again ask for money.’ “

• Corrie ten Boom, Tramp for the Lord

When I read this chapter of Tante Corrie’s book, I thought of the conviction that I had to never monetize this site.  If God is to bless the site, it is not going to be from me asking for money.  And Corrie ten Boom learned the same lesson.

Years later, she had heard from God that she needed to go to Russia, before the wall came down, thus, the USSR.  It was going to cost her 5,000 guilder (Dutch currency).  The problem was that she only had 3,000 guilder in her bank account.  She prayed and God impressed on her to give 2,000 of her 3,000 guilder to a charity that desperately needed it right away.  At first, she thought God had misunderstood her prayer, but then when she realized this was a test of faith, she gave the money away.  Then she picked up her mail and there was a letter from her American publisher.  They had not finished the English translation of her first book, The Hiding Place, but without asking, the publisher sent her an advance.  The advance was for more money than she needed to take the trip to Russia.

When it is God’s will, God will find the way.  We do not have to beg for money.

Many modern churches do not have the collection of tithes and offerings.  As a member, tithing is considered the minimum, but there is no stewardship campaign that lasts 4-6 weeks of preaching on giving in more ways than just money, but money is always implied.  And most of these modern churches do not have monetary problems.

It takes a great deal of faith to take your last dollar or 5,000 guilder and take a trip to spread the Gospel, or stay home and spend most of every day writing, and not worrying about the money – although as of this writing, I have not done my taxes – remember, remember, you don’t owe anything, but they won’t know that until you file – remember, remember…  I hope that mantra works.

And notice that in the quote from her book, it is the Americans that want her to beg for money.  It has not changed in the 50+ years since.  We see a problem in the world, and we throw money at it.  We feel good about what we did, and we did not have to wash our hands afterwards.

But often God’s work is work that requires our hands to get dirty, and sometimes, quite often actually, the root of the problem cannot be fixed with money.

Lord, strengthen me.  Help me to be content with what I have.  The bills are getting paid.  The computer is holding up for the moment.  I have a full freezer with a lot of fish, and a little of a lot of other things.  I only need more of You.  In Your name I pray.  Amen.

Soli Deo Gloria.  Only to God be the Glory.