Did Jesus say, "Grow the church and make money?" Or Did He say "Go and make disciples?"

I am re-reading for the third time, “The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader” by John Maxwell. He quotes an editorial from the Texas Business, “We are truly the lost generation, huffing and puffing down the fast track to nowhere, always looking to the dollar sign for direction. That’s the only standard we recognize. We have no built-in-beliefs, no ethical boundaries.”

Pondering that quote, I couldn’t help but think of the church and add to this quote. Not only do we huff and puff down the fast track to nowhere always looking to the dollar sign for direction, we also look to the numbers sign. Sadly when dollars and numbers become or focus we lose our mission. We lose our purpose.

Jesus commissioned, “Go” which means to point people’s hearts and lives to Him. Jesus continues, “and make disciples” which completes the “Go” by investing in people’s spiritual lives by walking with them, talking with them, serving them, and capitalizing on their commitment made to Jesus. Once a disciple has been made, and the zeal for God enters their heart, they are compelled to “Go and make disciples…” and they are compelled to give to Him out of worship. This is how numbers and dollars are increased.

Sometimes I think we (churches) get into the trap of worrying so much about numbers and dollars that we forfeit our opportunity to be faithful with whom God has given us. They, those God has given us, suffer the loss of our misguided focus. Our only standard is to “Go and make disciples…” not “Grow the church and make money.”  If God sees fit to bless us with numbers and dollars, that is His will, His doing, not ours. Let’s be faithful to His call and He will be faithful to the increase.