We wrote this caption on a poster Wednesday at our monthly ministers’ meeting. Before soliciting their suggestions on what to tell our congregations concerning the economic situation our country is facing, I posed a different question to them.

“How many of your churches are hurting financially, how many are holding their own, and how many are doing better this year than last?”

Interestingly, only four pastors indicated their congregational giving was down, a larger number — perhaps ten — said their giving was about the same, and six indicated their contributions are higher than last year.

I was surprised. The church contributions to the association for both February and March are down considerably except for a substantial gift from one church in February that offset the otherwise negative numbers. My hunch was that, just as we hear of denominational agencies cutting back on expenses as a result of declining revenues, at the grass roots level our church incomes are suffering and are thus the ultimate culprit.

The fact that we are doing well (in the local churches) might be an anomaly for Louisiana, since we constantly hear that this state is not suffering the declines in employment or personal income other states are facing. Much of this is due to the rebuilding boom in the New Orleans area, a phenomenon associated with post-Hurricane Katrina life.

Even so, all the pastors agreed that we need to be teaching proper stewardship of finances to our people. As I asked for points for our poster, one of the ministers rose to tell of a sermon from John Piper on the subject “What is the recession for?” (The full message can be found at http://www.desiringgod.org)

The pastor later sent me this synopsis of Piper’s points:

“Whether you believe God caused the recession or allowed it, it must be part of His overall design. There could be thousands of reasons for the recession, but here are five —

“1. It exposes hidden sin and leads us to repentance. We all have sin deep within us, and the difficulties we face have a tendency to expose them.

“2. It wakes us up to the condition of the rest of the world. We talk about cycles — how recessions come and go — but for two-thirds of the world, recession just comes…always…and never ever leaves.

“3. It relocates our source of joy from our material wealth to God alone.

“4. It advances His saving mission in the world to spread the Gospel and grow the church at a time when our resources are dried up. That way He gets the glory.

“5. It causes the church to care for its hurting members so that there will be no needy person among us.

“O God, please don’t let us waste this recession!”

Then, as the pastors volunteered points they want to make to their people, we wrote the following—

1. Giving to the Lord is not about the economy; it’s about obedience.

2. It’s not about finances; it’s about faith.

3. We can’t blame the economy for our disobedience.

4. We do not give out of abundance; give from gratitude and love (see II Corinthians 9:7).

5. No one just beginning to tithe can ever afford it; every new tither takes a great step of faith.

6. Teach the church members to maximize their resources.

7. The storehouse is the church. (Malachi 3:10)

8. Anyone can give in prosperous times; hard times tells a great story on us.

9. The economy is not the object of our faith nor the source of our happiness.

10. The kind of giving that pleases the Lord is not to be need-based.

Recently I read an article in which the writer quoted from Psalm 50 more than once. I remember thinking, “Hey — I thought I was the only one who knew about that psalm!” You hardly ever see anyone refer to it, but there are a couple of rich insights on the subject of giving.

“I will not rebuke you for your sacrifices or your burnt offerings which are continually before me.” (Ps. 50:8) The Almighty has a serious problem with the way His people are giving, but the problem is not with the offering. The problem is with the attitudes of the givers.

“Every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills….if I were hungry, I would not ask you.” (Ps. 50:10,12) The Lord is not standing on the street corner with his hat in His hands, begging alms. He is the God of the universe and does not need our pittances. Giving is for us, not for Him.

The people to whom the Lord is addressing this are clearly hypocrites of the first order. They ignored God’s instruction, smiled at thieves who were robbing the helpless, joined up with adulterers, uttered profanity and lewdness, and slandered their own brothers. Then, the Lord delivers the crowning blow: “These things you have done and I kept silent, and you thought I was just like you.” (Ps. 50:16-21).

A serious indictment.

“To him who orders his conduct aright, I will show the salvation of God.” (50:23, the last line of the Psalm).

That last line reminds us of the very next psalm, the 51st , which is much better known. After calling on God’s people to repent, we read, Then and only then “will I teach transgressors your ways and sinners shall be converted to you.” And, “then you will be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness….” (Ps. 51:13,19)

This is no time for pastors and church leaders to be cutting their ministries back to the level of giving. This is the time to stand up and call our people to faithful giving at a moment when their gifts count the most.

Let us not waste this recession.