Ministry – Is It Always About the Money?

The aroma of strong coffee retrieved from the kiosk in the gathering area hung heavy in the air as Martha settled into her pew. Pastor Thomas, a man with eyes that crinkled when he smiled, was mid-sentence, his voice resonating with the familiar cadence of scripture. Martha, who had been wrestling with a difficult decision, found herself nodding along, a sense of peace settling over her.

The sermon spoke directly to her heart, a gentle reminder of God’s provision and the importance of trusting in His plan. Afterward, as the congregation bowed their heads, Pastor Thomas laid a hand on Martha’s shoulder, offering a brief, heartfelt prayer. She felt a warmth spread through her, a sense of being seen and understood.

Then, the deacons began to move through the pews, wicker baskets extended. The strain of a familiar worship song, filled the room. Martha, however, felt a sudden tightening in her chest.

“It’s always about the money,” she muttered under her breath, her brow furrowed. “Just when I thought I was getting something real.”

As the baskets reached her row, Martha crossed her arms, a look of disapproval etched on her face. She refused to contribute. After the service, she approached Pastor Thomas, her voice laced with indignation.

“That offering,” she began, her tone sharp, “it just ruins everything. It feels…commercial. You were speaking to my soul, and then you asked for money? It’s evil.”

Pastor Thomas looked at her, his gentle eyes filled with a quiet sadness. “Martha,” he said, his voice soft, “the church has bills to pay. The lights, the heat, the very building we sit in – it all requires resources. We are a community, and we support each other.”

“But it shouldn’t be mixed with the spiritual,” Martha insisted, her face flushed. “It cheapens it. It’s not about the money, it’s about the heart.”

Pastor Thomas nodded slowly. “Indeed, it is about the heart. And a generous heart, a heart that understands stewardship, is part of a life lived in faith. The offering is a way for us to participate in the work God is doing here, together.”

Martha scoffed and stormed out, her mind a whirlwind of perceived betrayal.

Later that day, Martha sat at her computer, scrolling through her emails. She opened one from an online ministry she followed. The email contained a powerful message of hope and encouragement, a word that seemed tailored to her very situation. Then, at the bottom of the email, was a simple button: “Support Our Ministry.”

Martha’s finger mashed the delete key. “They’re all the same,” she sighed, her voice heavy with disappointment. “First they give you something good, then they want your money.”

She paused, considering the powerful word she had just read. “They ministered to me, and then bring up money.”

Martha was faced with a choice. Would she continue to believe that the provision of spiritual nourishment inherently negated the need for practical support, or would she recognize that both the church and the online ministry, in their own ways, were offering a chance to participate in God’s work, both spiritually and materially? Would she see that God can use both a church building filled with people, and an online ministry, and that both have needs?