Money and Missions

Fundraising. Yuk. We all hate to ask for money. Our family has been on a total of  about 10 'mission trips.' I put that in quotes because it is hard to call yourself anything close to 'missionary' when you think of the sacrifices missionaries make currently and throughout history. Nothing like life and limb has been asked of us. In fact, I tend to brag a bit that our family has never had to go to our church to ask for funds...God has always provided. Andy and the boys have cleaned carpets, done handyman work, I have worked overtime, and our friends and family have given generously so that we could go somewhere and do something ... as the opportunities arose. 

Lots of people tell me they would like to do something like a short term mission trip with their kids. I can't suggest it more highly. Not for the reason most people are thinking though. In our culture ... it is looked upon as another good experience. I think that is a trap. 

Years ago, I landed at a place where I was just DONE. I thought I was losing my mind. I was depressed and just could not move forward any more. What God revealed to me through that pain ... and some good therapy ... is that I was looking at my life and especially my role as a parent and wife as a endless amount of details that needed to be managed well. You know, the old spinning plates trick. If one plate falls, the whole trick is a failure. Oh how I hated the exhaustion of the holidays! That was just like adding a whole new set of plates for a month or so each year. 

Well, God transformed my thinking over time to let go of all of it and just live. The fear that motivated me to run such a tiresome race was relieved and I came to rest in the fact that God has my back. He will take responsibility for the big picture if I will keep my eyes on him and do what I know honor him. The rest really does take care of itself. Of course, I still get myself too busy, but it is not at all for the purpose of 'covering all the bases.' I just have too many interests and have trouble staying focused. I am learning to manage that too. 

The real reason to take kids on a 'missions trip' to serve others is because you want to honor God in obedience and out of gratitude. That doesn't just happen on a trip but as a natural outgrowth of a life of faith. If God is real and you know that, your life shows it. There are vacations set up where people can do good things but that is not the same as a missions trip. A missions trip is to help people see Christ Jesus, not another experience to give the kids or another box to be checked off in childhood like playing sports or learning to camp. We raise our kids that way and, just as it had for me above, it leads to exhaustion and emptiness. I hope I am making sense. 

So back to fundraising...the book I just read reminded me how important money is in our relationship with God. Andy and I are paying much of our expenses for this trip, out of what God has provided us. I realize now that we need to remember that, in asking people to give to God's purposes, we are actually helping them (and ourselves) battle the natural tendency to cherish money and use it for fulfillment and security. God is the only fulfillment and security that lasts and satisfies. As we let go of our money in ways that build God's eternal kingdom, our hearts follow and we find what we all really yearn for and what really lasts. Now, if we pass this onto our kids ... that is home base ... covered.