Struggling With Finances? READ THIS
I've said many times, Im not here for your money, Im here for your brotherhood. And I stand by that statement firmly. If anyone in this club doesn’t pay donations because they are in a hard time financially, we are not going to send Jimmy Two Thumbs to slam the trunk on your two thumbs, or pull your patch. This statement is based completely out of the fact that I would never want anyone to avoid the benefits of being in the club just for financial reasons.
On the other hand, MCs have dues and members are expected to pay them. (We have donations, because donations are tax deductible and you can have a receipt at the end of the year for donations.)
If you are in this club, it’s reasonable to expect that you will donate to the cause of what we do. We aim to Disciple men to have a daily Word and prayer time, to bond men together in Christ, to run a 43 Nazarite addiction support group, a 43 PTSD support group, and to get 1%ers saved, and give them a place to come to that is like where they came from, but Christian. Spreading that across the globe should be something we are all willing to sow into.
Our suggested donation is $10 a week. We do not enforce it, dues are enforced, and you pay them to get the privilege to wear a rag because you HAVE to. Christians CHOOSE to donate, because the Word says God likes a cheerful giver.
Just as I am writing to you now urging you to give to this ministry, the Apostle Paul urges you to give in 2 Corinthians 9, and talks about the blessing you receive from giving. So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you in advance and finish the arrangements for the generous gift you had promised. Then it will be ready as a generous gift, not as one grudgingly given. 2 Cor 9:5
Then Paul makes an interesting statement, he ties what you GIVE, to what you RECEIVE. Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9As it is written:“They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.”
In other words, if you are suffering through a challenging time financially, you should look at what you GIVE. Not just to this club, but to your church, to the local poor. I can tell you that I know what it is like for me financially when I choose to not give money to God via tithes and offerings, and I also know what my financial picture is when I choose to give tithes, offerings, gifts to the poor, and gifts to the men of God in my life.
I can tell you because Ive seen that the Word is true, when you Give, God takes care of you. When you TAKE from God, and don’t give, the Devil gets to take from you. Mal 3:11 I would never consider operating my own business and not giving tithes and offerings. Why would God allow me to be financially blessed when I am being selfish about my giving to Him? Why would he go against His word in the Bible?
I challenge you if you are going through financial hardship to GIVE. Don’t ask the brothers to pray for you if you aren’t being obedient or honoring God with your finances. There is no point is us praying against the will of God.
Paul clearly writes that when you show God honor with your finances, He will provide more finances for you. That when you are willing to sow seed, He will give you more seed to sow! HE will enrich you, God supplies His own capital. 10Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. 2 Cor 9:10-11
I believe that if God needs to get $100k to a church, He knows how to get a million to a tither. Why? Because when we give, its to help others. 12This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. 14And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. 15Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! 2 Cor 9:12-15
What do we do with the money in this club?
1. Help others and the poor. We recently loaned a bro some money for a tire. We have helped a bro out who was robbed at Christmas time. We have sowed into a single mother who had cancer and five kids at Christmas time. Donated to charities like cancer, diabetes and others.
2. Spread the mission. Help club leadership travel to places where we are growing, to speak, pray and strengthen our growing charters. We help with expenses for charters who are hosting national and regional runs.
3. Assist in emergencies. A brother was traveling recently on behalf of the club and was hit by a vehicle, we paid to fly him home.
4. Cover fees. It isn’t free to run a global ministry the right way. Compliance with state and federal laws involves attorney and bookkeeping fees, as well as advice from other professionals.
Why should you donate to this ministry? It’s simple. We fall into exactly what 2 Cor 9 talks about. Helping others by giving money for Godly purposes. And when you sow into the Kingdom of God, He takes notice of your situation.
I will finish with a quote from Prov 21:13: Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor will himself call out and not be answered.
I want to know that I am doing the right thing with my finances, because I want to make sure God is hearing me when I need help too.