Budget

We ended, as a country, the last fiscal year (ending September 30th, 2024) with an additional almost $2 trillion in debt. Snce I’m a nerd, I took $2 trillion and divided by the approximately 345 million people in the United States to get an additional debt of $5,800 for every man, woman and child) for a total debt of $35 trillion (you guessed it - $101,000 for every man, woman and child in the United States).

As I’m paying attention to the closing days leading up to the Presidential election (now upon this as I write this), all I hear is both parties promising stuff to try to get votes that we can’t afford without some sort of major change. And, it has been this way, adding to the debt, over most of my life (if I remember right, there was one year in the 1990s where we had a surplus). The difference is that now, the amounts have gotten huge both in the deficit (annual shortfall) and the debt (accumulated debt).

You might say, “so, you admitted yourself it’s been this way your whole life. Why can’t things just go on the same way?” The answer is interest due on the debt. A couple of years ago, the interest on the debt became larger than what we spend on defense. Since, we can’t economize on the debt interest payment without declaring bankruptcy, other spending must get squeezed or we have to add more debt. It becomes a snowballing problem.

At some point, we will need to have an adult conversation about this growing debt problem and what to do about it. When that happens, no one will be happy because the solution will have to include more taxes from everyone and less government spending on everyone (ironically, when a politician discusses cutting Social Security, for example, it’s referred to as touching the third rail or killing your political career).

But, I want to pivot (every time I use the word “pivot”, I think of the Friends episode with Ross yelling that word) to the church’s finances. Just like our country, and your personal expenses, when they get out of whack, you can either increase the income or decrease the expenses. If there is one thing I can assure you of after living in a few places in my life, Kansans are, for the most part, more frugal in the expense side of the equation than most places. When it comes to the church, I see great stewardship of the objectives that are approached and a restraint to add to the overall expense burden.

But, like your personal finances, the church has experienced the impact of inflation the last few years. I’m guessing that everything from paper towels in the bathroom to the cost to heat (or air conditioning, whenever this is published) has increased. If you’re reading this as a member of the church, I pray you’re taking an active interest in the activities that the church promotes and are paying attention to the budget process for buy-in and support.

It’s the support that I want to lightly address. I’ve been richly blessed by the people and activities of the church. We are doubly blessed because our church attendance is growing. Those two things will, hopefully, spur you to consider whether you can help out a little more.

“Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. As it is written, ‘He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.’” - 2 Corinthians 9:7-9 ESV

“The desire of the righteous ends only in good, the expectation of the wicked in wrath. One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. Whoever brings

blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.” - Proverbs 11:23-25

“Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.”- Romans 12:6-8

One last comment, there are a surprising number of passages in the Bible recommending generous giving. Just something to consider.