How do you do plant a church when you have no money? How do you serve the Lord as a church planter while broke? After 30 years of experience, I assure you I have expertise. But wisdom comes from Scripture:
Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” (Heb. 13:5–6)
The text teaches us four things about doing ministry without money.
- Be Careful
- Be Content
- Be Creative
- Be Confident
RELATED: A Scriptural View of Money
How to Plant a Church With No Money
1. Be Careful (“Keep your life free from love of money…”)
Pastors and church planters should watch their souls closely. Our ministries should be without covetousness, which Colossians 3 calls idolatry. The Bible pushes pastors in particular here, as an elder must not be a “lover of money” (1 Tim. 3:3).
Money is useful and has its benefits. It’s good for churches to pay their pastor so as not to muzzle the ox (1 Tim. 5:18). But don’t long for money or trust in it, or equate the size of your budget with the power of God. Money measures neither God’s ability nor the value of our efforts. Jesus warns us plainly, “No one can serve two masters… You cannot serve God and money.”
Also, just because you don’t have money doesn’t mean you don’t love it. If you grumble in your lack, your heart posture may not be service for Jesus but an inordinate affection for money.
A good litmus test for church planters is this: Is your willingness to serve dependent on the pay? Remember Paul’s parting words to the Ephesian elders:
“I coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me. In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” (Acts 20:33–35)
2. Be Content (“…and be content with what you have…”)
Living without covetousness means being content with what you have. “Be satisfied with the present,” says another translation. We rest in the providence and provision of God, knowing this: “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Pastor, how do you deal with not having money? You should think on the fact that you have God!
Worry only has one remedy: a mindfulness of God. God encourages us to ask for what we don’t have, but then we’re free to trust whatever he gives or doesn’t (Matt. 6; Phil. 4:5–7).
So, does your ministry need more funding? Are there currently unmet needs? Paul’s own support letter gives us the secret to contentment:
I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” (Phil. 4:11–13)
If we’re known and loved by Jesus, our situation can never improve because our status will never change. He has pledged himself to us. And his Great Commission hangs not on our bank accounts but on the fact that he possesses all authority on heaven and on earth, and he is with us.
C.S. Lewis put it this way: “He who has God and everything else has no more than he who has God only.”
Hebrews tells us that Jesus is the Son of God, the appointed heir of all things. He is preeminent. He is rich in possessions and power. All things were made for him, and through him the world was created—things on heaven and things on earth. The universe is upheld by the word of his power! He’s seated at the right hand of majesty on High—not a chair, but a throne: “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever.”
It’s this same ruling and reigning Lord who is with us even now.
God sometimes denies our requests now to prepare us for permanent joy in glory. If God gave us everything we wanted, then we’d trust our things more than him. Do you not pray most when you need most?
