How come some people don’t appreciate what comes free?

Most people have to attach value to everything and the church isn’t exempt. We want to charge for everything…for books, resources, media, etc. I honestly think that some people charge just because they know that their talents and gifts to the church will never be appreciated if they don’t charge.

Can I be really honest now?

As an IT professional, I have a habit of charging really high prices. Do you know why? It’s not because I am better at what I do than other companies. No. It’s because people tend to think that the more they pay, the better work they are getting. When I offer deals or when I do work for free, most people never look at me the same as those who pay for my services.
So, I get it…I understand it…my problem? I just don’t like it.

I am tired of hearing ministers say that we have more resources available than ever before. That might be true…but shouldn’t it really be said like this, “There are more resources for sale than ever before”. Isn’t that more like it?

Maybe this is a rant better left for another day…However, I will leave you with some of my heroes…in this area at least.

Pastor Gerald Brooks
Pastor Brooks runs the North Texas Leadership Conference every year. It’s not free to get in but…I doubt other conferences are loosing somewhere around 20K to 30K in giveaways. Pastor Brooks gives away over 8 top selling leadership books of the year as well as tons of other stuff. It’s an event that cost that church tons of money every year. Why does he do it? Because he has a heart for small churches and ministers that don’t have the budget to travel and get the information they need to take back and grow their churches.

Pastor Leonard Ravenhill
Leonard Ravenhill has long since past away, but I marveled at his lack of desire to be captivated by money. He wrote many books…all of the profits have been donated to missions. He was a revivalist by heart that posed the question, “Are the things we are living for…worth Christ dying for?”

Pastor Mark Batterson
We all know I like Mark Batterson…regardless of buying his book. I listened to his free audio/video podcast for the longest time. Don’t know how many know this, but National Community Church owns a coffee house of which all the profits go to missions. Pastor Mark has a vision to establish more coffee houses in an effort to give millions toward missions.

When I meet death…I want to be broke…my last dime given to my kids, or the church. I want to give every dime, nickel, and penny to the Kingdom. If this means I don’t get a “lake home”…I think I can live with that. I feel guilty enough for living in a home, having food on the table, and clothes on my back…when I know there are people around the globe that don’t have anything. I know…because I have seen them. How much money and vanities are we allowed to have before we decide what a “good offering” is?

Ok…off the soap box…and back on topic next time, I promise.