My ‘Church’ T.E.M.
In his inaugural address on Jan. 20, 1961, JFK stated these immortal words: 鈥淎sk not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.鈥� Many people have taken that statement to mean an encouragement to orient one鈥檚 life towards productivity, or a positive contribution to the society they live in. That the mindset shouldn鈥檛 be of what can I get, but what can I give, or do, towards the greater good of that which I鈥檓 a part.
Now, let鈥檚 parlay that question into a redirect towards people of faith. 鈥淎sk not what your church can do for you, ask what you can do for your church (God).鈥� The T.E.M. Principle 鈥� Time, Energy, Money 鈥� needs asked and examined. What do you do with your T.E.M., your time, energy and money? How is your time spent? Your energy, your money? If you did an analysis of your T.E.M., it would reveal the priorities of your life/family/household and could give some (re-)direction of needs versus wants comparison.
But let鈥檚 go back to the church question, 鈥淎sk not what your church can do for you, ask what you can do for the church or God鈥檚 kingdom.鈥� Here鈥檚 a related question in challenging form 鈥� 鈥淚f everyone in the church/God鈥檚 kingdom contributed, gave, or served with the same T.E.M. as you do, where would the 鈥淐hurch鈥� be today? If everyone went to church a couple times a year and gave a hundred dollars or so per year, it鈥檚 safe to say the 鈥渃hurch鈥� would be in dire straits in short order.
If everyone just showed up and took up space and then left giving nothing of themselves whatsoever, it鈥檚 obvious the church would amount to next to nothing. And conversely, if everyone consistently showed up to the majority of the services, served in some real capacity, and tithed, how overflowing and prosperous would the church be?
But as with all groups, organizations and societies, there are high and low performers, even in the 鈥淐hurch鈥� world. I have observed many citizens over the years with varying levels of discontent that in our society we have productive members of the citizenry, supporting or subsidizing the less productive members.
How is this any different in the church? How many church folk who don鈥檛 give of their T.E.M. are being supported or subsidized by those that do? Here goes an unapologetic statement: 鈥淭his is spiritual welfare!鈥� Too many people in the church today are unnecessarily and disproportionately benefiting from the T.E.M. largesse of others. They are receiving spiritual benefits that the 鈥淐hurch鈥� provides without making any real net contribution in return.
There are disclaimers that need mentioned so the previous thoughts don鈥檛 sound overly judgmental. Some people can鈥檛 give of their T.E.M. Perhaps they are suffering from a medical condition, or are in severe financial difficulty or on the verge of burn out and need some time out. All valid reasons. But this isn鈥檛 about those that can鈥檛, temporarily or long term, but about those that don鈥檛 or won鈥檛. If you can, you should. Spiritually speaking, is your life a positive net flow? Do you give more than get?
I hope each of us makes as much a deliberate conscience effort to serve God, the church and God鈥檚 Kingdom as we do joining, participating, engaging in sports, clubs, shopping, internet, video games, TV, etc.
Matthew 6:19-20 NIV: 鈥淒o not store up for yourselves treasures on Earth, but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven.鈥� (Shortened)
Acts 20:35B NIV: 鈥淚t is more blessed to give than to receive.鈥�