The Truth About The Wealthiest 10% Of People In Your Church

Many pastors and church leaders have bought into a lie concerning the financial leaders in your church.  Many feel it is better for pastors to not know who gives what.  We are afraid some form of partiality will be shown.  If this is your thought process, Satan has robbed both you and your financial leaders of a great blessing.
This fear of engaging financial leaders comes from the 1980’s.  During the 80’s and the televangelist scandals we mistakingly used financial leaders.  We did, let’s admit it.  But in the 90’s we overcorrected the problem by choosing to completely ignore them.  Both extreme approaches were wrong.
Fortunately, we are now seeing a more balanced approach.  Many pastors now disciple their financial leaders.  But sadly, others continue to ignore financial leaders leading to The Truth About The Wealthiest 10% Of The People In Your Church.
The truth is many wealthy people in your church are actually very, very lonely.  This is counterintuitive but true.  They are lonely.
You see financial leaders are used to being asked for money.  They are asked for money every day.  Their employees want raises.  Investors are seeking their involvement.  Their alma mater wants donations.  Franklin Graham and other Christian causes send them letters on a daily basis.  And don’t even get me started on their children and family members.  Being asked for money is normative for a financial leader.  They just struggle with who they can trust and thus are lonely.
The real shame is when pastors do not build relationships with financial leaders.  The people financial leaders can and should trust most (pastors) often ignore them rather than teaching Jesus can give them a life that is truly life.

Bryan Miles, the founder of MAG Bookkeeping and one of my favorite leaders, recently wrote on the subject of lonely leaders.  He said:
“I get a behind-the-scenes glimpse into many organizations big and small, both for-profit and non-profit,  across the country. This “glimpse” comes in many forms, but mostly through my relationships with business owners, executives , and lead pastors. For the most part, these leaders are stand-up individuals, gifted leaders, and a bunch of them are lonely and a bit isolated.”
He continues, “As a leader in your organization if you’re only engaging people from the platform, or in front of your staff in a one-directional way, be cautious. That desire to be alone (for good reasons) can shift over time to isolation, loneliness, distance from key accountability, and in-a-vacuum thinking.”
Bryan then addresses the challenges of leadership.  He says, “Leadership is tough and often accompanies challenges with no easy answers. But to always go it alone, without quality, real-life relationships with those walking by you and with you, makes it all the more tough.”
Pastors, you have the opportunity to be the one person in a financial leader’s life no one else can be.  You can be their pastor.  Don’t ask them about money.  Ask them about their walk with the Lord, marriage, children, work-life balance, challenges, and level of stress.  Be their pastor.
Bryan concludes with these words to leaders, “Who do you have with you, to walk alongside you? If you are lonely as a leader, have you shared that with anyone you trust?”
If you are a financial leader and feeling lonely, you are not alone.  In fact, many financial leaders are just like you.  Give your pastor a call. Share your story.  Pastor, better yet, give them a call.  And watch God birth a relationship between the two of you marked by meaning and significance.

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