Jan 13, 2003
By Rick L King
Today we seem to hear of the constant budget crunch not only in our government, but also in our churches. There is just seemingly not enough money to go around. I once was employed at a state agency and what I experienced was appalling. Needless to say, I resigned.
Elected officials in government and leadership in the church have much in common. The government is comprised of elected people to represent or be a servant to the ones that elected them. Their salaries are paid by the taxpayer. The church leaders are the same in that the ones who tithe are paying their salaries. Whether tax or tithe, salaries are paid by the people who are represented. Being that all government employees and church leaders are actually to be servants to the people, then they should not be living a higher standard of living than the ones that they are serving. Where in all the earth is a servant paid or in possession of more than the one that he or she is serving? Somehow our concept of servant hood has been lost. Government officials and some church leaders are paid exorbitant salaries, stay in the best 5 star places, eat the finest of foods, live in expensive houses, when the people they represent are barely making ends meet. Some of church leadership is driving fancy expensive cars and has often a large salary. Some ministries I have heard of are even in the process of building a several million-dollar home for them self. This reminds me of the cult in eastern Oregon years ago. The leader had everything though the followers had little. The odd thing is, people wonder why the general population is against raising taxes, or giving to some of the well-known ministries. Why would they want to? Why even would they want to vote? They must choose between which will steal from them the least. Has leadership forgotten what it is like to give their hard-earned money to people that say they are using it for one thing, but are using much of it on themselves or on programs that help the few but leave much of the needy without? Is not it time for accountability in government and the church? I picture not only the church but also the government as a body. Each member has a job to do with the expertise that they have been given. Each limb is important. If the head or leadership ignores their feet, wouldn't it be difficult to walk? One foot may have the finest shoe, yet the other has a ragged old tennis shoe. This makes walking difficult. When we take from the poor so that we may continue to eat fancy foods, there is something mighty wrong with our hearts. If you eliminate the poor, then what will you do without all the taxes that they pay or the self-sacrificing gifts that they donate? Would it not be smarter to help raise their standard of living so that they can pay more taxes or have more to donate or tithe?
I have often considered that the body must walk together. When one member suffers, the whole body suffers. The government or the church should be living just as the people that they represent. As the body prospers, each member prospers. As the body must live on rice in tough times, then all members should live on rice. The servant is not above his master. For the most part it seems we have something backwards. Leadership in government or the church are servants, not masters. If they do not possess a servant heart, then they are not ready to be in leadership at all. Until we learn to serve one another and put the needs of others above our own, we are going to have many problems on the roads up ahead.
Though I have no idea what these people make, I do know that they are far better off than I have ever been, financially anyway. Maybe all should consider driving a Ford instead of a Lincoln, living in a modest home instead of a expensive estate, and maybe eating more hamburgers than gourmet foods. This money saved would allow money to go the others that need it more, or would allow for fewer taxes to have to be paid. Shouldn't there be a little more equality in government and in ministries? For a ministry to say that they want the money to reach souls, then wear diamond rings, there is something very wrong with this picture. If they need money, they should first sell all they have then give to the poor, then follow Jesus. How can anyone in government or ministry say they love people and lavish them self with such expensive things then have the audacity to ask for money? Is it not time to get back to a servant heart and serve the people that have entrusted you with their money? We hear God Bless America a lot these days, yet I think we need to be saying, God help and forgive America instead.
Need to contact me or make a comment? Please direct all correspondence to:
r_king60@hotmail.com (Please note that there is an underscore ( _ ) between the r and the k in my email address). Thanks so much!
I am a 63 year old Born-Again spirit filled Christian, that has been saved for 30 years. Jesus found me when I was suicidal. I learned real quickly that I was powerless to be in control of my life, so I let Jesus take over. He has chosen me to be a warrior for Him. WE win, if we fight His way.
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