Automate the Important

Early in our marriage, Leighann and I decided that we needed to save money for retirement.  We made the decision to save a little bit more each and every month.  We were excited, passionate and even determined to do better.  But you know what?  A funny thing happened.  We got to the end of the month, and somehow, we were out of money.  Crazy how that works.  Even though we wanted to save – even though we were determined to save – it just didn’t happen.

So we decided to make it automatic.  At the first of the month, right after we get paid, we set up an automatic payment from our checking account to our savings account.  The deposit went in regardless of whatever else was happening.  Saving was important to us so we decided to make it automatic.  Along the way, another funny thing happened.  We managed to still break even at the beginning of the month.

I think this is Biblical because the Bible talks a lot about something called “first fruits.”  If something is important, we should do it first.  For us savings needed to be important, so we needed to do it first and we needed to make it automatic, removing feelings from the process.

Here at Thompson Station Church, we’re so grateful for the generosity of so many people who financially support the mission and vision of the church.  This idea of making the important automatic applies to giving as well.  I want to be generous as well as be wise, so in addition to saving automatically, I also give automatically.  Every time I get paid, I automatically give a percentage to this church.  It’s automatic.

As we get ready to head into the summer months, I want to talk about how you can automate the important as well.  We’ve set up our website in such a way that you can create a profile and set up regular, recurring contributions.  Online giving is safe, secure and 100% free.  It’s a great way to be intentional about honoring God and being generous.  Many of you give when we pass the offering plates and that’s great – you can keep doing that.  But I want to challenge you to automate it because it’s important.

Pastor Tom