Author: Alex Cook | Wealth with Purpose.
We know that God is the owner and therefore, the provider of everything that is needed to fund His Kingdom work on earth. However, He uses people to mobilize His resources and accomplish His purposes.
The book of Nehemiah makes a great case study for God’s funding method. God was pleased to use Nehemiah to organize one of the biggest capital campaigns: a building plan to rebuild the broken walls of Jerusalem. Have you ever been involved in a huge building campaign project and you are at wits end where to start? Let’s examine how God did it through Nehemiah.
Nehemiah was not a fundraiser. He was a cup bearer to the king, but when he heard the news about the deplorable condition of his people—the walls of Jerusalem destroyed and the gates burned up—he wept, prayed and fasted for days. God used that burden in the heart of Nehemiah to move him into action.
When I heard these words I sat down and wept, and mourned for days; and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven. (Nehemiah 1:4 RSV)
“O Lord, let thy ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants who delight to fear thy name; and give success to thy servant today,” (Nehemiah [1:11]a RSV)
It pleases God to use fundraisers who have a heart for His people and a vision for His Kingdom purposes. Because Nehemiah prayed and showed himself consecrated to God, he had the right answer when the king asked what he can do for him. With clarity and conviction, he laid out his plan before the king to go back to Jerusalem and help his people. He requested for a leave of absence, safe passage, and construction materials for building the gates, restoring the walls and house to stay while doing the project (Neh. 2:8).
Are you sometimes embarrassed to ask people to contribute to your cause or project? Do you still view fundraising as begging for money? Do you hear expressions such as milking the same cow or donor fatigue? Fret no more because God’s funding method shows us that He will use people with passion for God and His people. If you pray and seek His wisdom and provision in whatever fundraising project you undertake, He will open up His vast resources and abundant riches.
Your heart is more important to God than all the fundraising methods we employ. He is able to speak to the hearts of donors to release their time, talents and treasures for the advancement of His kingdom.
