3 Ways a Church Should Consider Spending Less

By Justin Poythress - Posted at Reformation 21:

“You shall not steal” – Deut. 5:19

Back when Immanuel Church Nashville was first planted, Ray Ortlund made a case for spending money so people could have Starbucks brand coffee in the lobby. Setting aside the fact that Starbucks coffee by itself is not actually that good (it’s the blends), he made a good point. He said this while preaching on the parable of the dishonest manager (Lk 16:1-13), and I don’t think I’d ever really understood that passage until then.

Of course, I already understood that money was dangerous. After all, Jesus ends the parable with a warning about not being able to serve two masters. But then Jesus issues a confusing command in 16:9:

“Make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings.”

Though it might surprise many of us, Jesus wants us to know the power of money. In other words, Jesus is saying, “Don’t be naïve.” ...

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