The Chandelier

The new young pastor received a generous donation from an anonymous source for the exact price of a new chandelier for the foyer of the church. So at the next regular, monthly board meeting, he proposed that a motion be made to purchase a chandelier. One board member said, “We’ve never done it before.” Another said, “We don’t need it.” The church treasurer said, “We need that money for something else.” The chairman of the trustees said, “We should buy new lights for the foyer first.” The board secretary said, “I don’t know how to spell it.” And the last straw—a comment by another board member, “Who would play it?”

I think this story is a humorous reminder of what great responsibility the leadership of the church has in taking care of Christ's local church. There is a fine balance in spending money in a church, and questions of affordability, necessity, priority, and profitability all come into play when making a major decision in regard to the church. It is my hope that as I grow in relationship with the leaders of my church, that these questions will be opportunities for the board to lean heavily on God to provide the means necessary to equip our church to reach the lost. The key is following what God wants us to do as stewards of his money, personally and communally.