Property Poor Church Members
I recently came across an article in a religious periodical published in 1918. The title of that article was the same as the title for this post.
The article mentions a man who served as an elder in a local congregation who owned a great deal of property. According to a statement he made, the value of his property was $160,000. His weekly contribution to the local congregation of which he was a member was seventy-five cents!
When this man was encouraged to increase his contribution, he said that he could not do that because he was “property poor.” He even claimed that his financial “stress” made it necessary for him to borrow money at times.
With a little research and my elementary skills in mathematics, I discovered that $160,000 in 1918 would be the equivalent of almost $3,400,000 today. That “sacrificial” seventy-five cents would be the equivalent of a little less than $16.00 today. When numbers like this are discussed, it is not unusual to hear or read the term “adjusted for inflation.”
I’m thinking that another adjustment might need to be considered. In both 1918 and 2025, there might need to be an adjustment in the attitudes and priorities of some people.
I’ve never known and have never wanted to know how much monetary support is given to the work of the Lord by people with whom I worship. I’m wondering though if some haven’t gone from being property poor to also being automobile poor, boat poor, hobby poor, entertainment poor, fashion poor, travel poor, etc. In other words, I’m wondering if people have “obligated” themselves to so many other things that there is not much left for the Lord and His work.
Maybe we need to revisit a parable that Jesus taught. He spoke of a man whose mindset was totally on material things. You may remember that he was so prosperous that the only solution he could think of was to build bigger places where he could store his “stuff.” (Have you noticed the proliferation of “storage facilities” in most communities today?)
This man heard these words from God:
Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee:
then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? (Luke 12:20, KJV)
You may remember how Jesus ended that parable. It should serve as a reminder and challenge to all of us:
So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
(Luke 12:21 KJV)
AUTHOR: Jim Faughn
