Why Your Church Asks for Money

The Communicant's Class had spent many weeks studying the meaning of church membership. They talked about God, Christ, the Holy Spirit, the Church, service to others, and so forth. Then, toward the end they talked about why the church needs money.

"Gee!" exclaimed redheaded Jim Turley. "I thought religion was free! Why does the church need money?"

"Are you warm enough, Jim?" the leader asked him.

"Sure," answered Jim. Then the teacher explained that the church had to buy coal to heat the building. The church also paid someone to fire the furnace, pick up the chewing gum wrappers that youngsters thoughtlessly threw on the floor, and keep the church clean and orderly.

"Well, then, why do we pay our minister so much?" he insisted. "I still think religion ought to be free. God's not for sale."

No, we can't buy God. His love, sushine, rain, and air are all free. But sometimes we have to pay to get these things brought to us—especially clean, fresh water. Everything we have has come from God—clothes, houses, food, autos, appliances, and all that—but we have to pay someone to make them useful for us. The minister is paid for his services just as the doctor is paid for keeping us well.

Then, too we can't all go to Africa, China, or South America to tell people about Christ, so we pay the way for others to go in our places. Yes, religion is free. But until the entire world lives it and practices it twenty-four hours a day we must pay someone to help bring it to people.

Take my life, O God, and let it be yours to do with as you wish.