VOL .  20    No. 3                         A Publication of W. Jim Britt Ministries, Inc.                           March 2010

If Winter Comes, Can Spring be Far Behind?

I.      It’s That Time of the Year Again

             Shelley (1792-1822), the renowned and quite controversial English poet, in his Ode to the West Wind, said if winter comes, can spring be far behind?  With winter now fading, it’s once again time for the Spring Term of the International Bible Institute.  On April 5, Judi and I, and the rest of the IBI team, will board a plane for the 30 hour trip to Nairobi, Kenya.

              This term we have selected some of our top IBI graduates to serve as Principals of fifty new IBI Satellite Schools that will be started throughout East Africa (Burundi, Congo, Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda).  They will be trained in the following areas:  a review of each of the courses in the IBI curriculum; step-by-step instructions on how to establish and operate a satellite school in their region of Africa; and IBI administration, policies and procedures.

              These Satellite schools will enable us to reach far more Pastors and church leaders than ever before.  Within five years, we project that IBI’s training will literally cover all of Africa, and many other parts of the world!  The team for the Spring Term will be Rev. Herman Pair, Rev. Bill McCreary, and Judi and me.

II.       I Hate Preachers that Are Always Asking for Money!

Have you ever heard that statement?    Perhaps you have even said it yourself a time or two. It is true that some modern-day preachers do fall into the category of charlatans, but I am convinced that most preachers hate to ask for money as much as I do.  Why, then, do preachers even mention the subject?  Perhaps it is because the Bible has more to say about money than any other subject.  Notice four facts regarding money that may be drawn from the Scriptures:

1.   It Takes Money to Accomplish the Work of God.

          Unfortunately, it takes a lot of money to accomplish the work of God here on earth.  For example, many churches have multi-million dollar facilities, and each year hundreds of thousands of dollars are spent equipping and maintaining them.  Pastors and other staff members must be compensated for their ministries to the local church.  Missionaries must be sent and supported in order to share the Gospel to the ends of the earth.  Bible schools, seminaries, and hospitals require enormous funding in order to accomplish their ministries.  Yes, it does take money, and a lot of it, to accomplish the work of God in today’s world!

2.  God’s Only Source for Funding His Work is His People.

          Contrary to what many Christians seem to think, God does not have a heavenly Fort Knox from which He dispenses the funds needed to accomplish His work.  The Bible also makes it clear that it is neither the responsibility of civil government nor the unregenerate populace to fund the work of God.  Who then is responsible for funding this enormous work?  The Bible resoundingly declares the answer to this question.  This responsibility rests fully upon the shoulders of the people of God.  In Malachi 3:10 (and many other passages) we are commanded to, bring all the tithes into the storehouse, so that there may be food in my house.  

          I have always found it rather ludicrous that so-called Christians would dicker over whether to tithe (tenth) on their gross or net income.  Any serious student of the Word of God is aware of the fact that the Old Testament Jew gave three tithes or 30% of their income.  The first tithe supported the Temple worship, the second supported the priests and Levites who ministered in the Temple, and the third was a welfare offering for the widows, orphans, and foreigners (Lev. 27:30-33; Num. 18:21-32; Deut. 14:22-26; 26:12).  In addition to the three tithes, they were instructed to give various offerings to fund other projects.  God’s plan from the very beginning was abundantly clear – God’s work is to be funded by God’s people!

3.  God’s People Have Enough Resources to Fund the Work of God.

          There is no lack of resources to fund God’s work on earth, just a lack of trust on the part of many of His children who refuse to release those resources to Him.  Perhaps you are one of those who say, I wish I could help finance God’s work on earth, but I am financially strapped.  Dear friend, if you do not have the resources to give God His rightful share, it is because you have misused or perhaps even squandered that which He has  blessed you with.  If you will let me know, I will pray that God will reduce your income so that you will be able to tithe on it!

          I often hear people lament the high cost of living in America as the reason why they cannot honor God with their tithes and offerings.  My response to that is, it doesn’t cost any more to live here than it does in the poverty-stricken countries of Africa or Asia.  It costs no more to build a mud hut in America than it does there!   However, it does cost a lot more to live the way we choose to live in modern-day America.  Many of the things we consider to be necessities in America are in reality not.  An automobile for each family member, designer clothing, and even such common-place luxuries as electricity, running water, and indoor plumbing are NOT necessities.  If you don’t believe me, pull out the family album, and notice how our grandparents and great grandparents lived!

          The tithes and offerings required of the Old Testament Jews were not a burden to the people, even though most were very poor.  The tithe was fair – it did not require equal offerings, but rather equal sacrifice.  After they had paid their tithes and given their offerings, they still had the majority of their income left to meet their own material needs and to use at their discretion. 

          No serious Christian, today, should quibble over the small portion that God has required of us, especially those of us who have been so blessed to live in the most prosperous nation on earth.  We should rejoice that God has blessed us with the means to play a major role in funding His work.       

          Lest we become greedy, we must always remember God’s stern warning to those who spend HIS money on themselves, you have robbed Me… in tithes and offerings!  You are cursed with a curse.  (Malachi 3:8, 9)

4.  There Are Abundant Blessings for Those Who Fund God’s Work.

          Just as surely as God promises to curse those who steal His money, He promises to abundantly bless those who love and trust Him enough to give Him His share. 

          His promise to them is stated throughout Scripture, but perhaps most clearly and concisely in Malachi 3:10-12.  This promise is four-fold:  (1) I will open the windows of Heaven and pour out for you a blessing that there will not be room enough to receive; (2) I will rebuke the devourer (satan) for your sakes, so that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground; (3) The vine will never fail to bear fruit for you in the field; and, (4) You will be called blessed by all nations.

III.        Yep, You’ve got it Right!

                You’ve probably figured it out by now – I’m going to ask you for money.  As much as I hate to, I have to, because this is God’s method of funding His work! 

The expenses for the Spring Term will be a little over $10,000.  That’s a lot of money!  Is it worth it?  I think the answer is obvious!  Since IBI was started, there have been over 200,000 professions of faith, and almost 2,000 new churches started as a result of the ministries of our graduates.   If you have been a financial supporter, this has been credited to your Heavenly account.  One day you will be glad you made the sacrifice!