designated hitter
"I have designated a widow there to provide for you." —1 Kings 17:9
When churches and ministries try to raise funds, they often focus on money. Some even gamble and sell alcohol to get money. They justify this by saying: "It's all for a good cause."
Some churches are less crude. They focus on people. They don't manipulate people but inform and persuade as many as possible to support the church's work.
A few churches and ministries focus on God, as they seek the finances necessary for God's work. If what they are doing is God's work, then He's responsible to finance it. He can do this by raining down manna from heaven and/or by designating people to provide for the church, as He designated the widow of Zarephath to provide for Elijah (1 Kgs 17:9).
When churches and ministries focus on God in financing, they pray for the Lord to open the floodgates of heaven (Mal 3:10) and provide for their needs. They also ask the Lord to point out the people He has designated to provide for their financing. Then they simply ask those people to seek the Lord's will and see if they agree that the Lord has designated them to provide for the church or ministry. Throughout this process, the focus is on God's will, not on money.
Prayer: Father, may I believe You're my Father in a very practical way.
Promise: "You are the salt of the earth. But what if salt goes flat? How can you restore its flavor?" —Mt 5:13
Praise: When needing the church's rose window fixed, Paul's pastor asked for prayers and the work was donated by a professional.
Reference: (For a related teaching, order our tape Biblical Fund Raising on audio AV 75-1 or video V-75.)
Rescript: †Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, December 29, 2009
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