In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
Philippians 2:5-7
When we were establishing a governing board for the Ranch, Susan and I discussed important qualifications, including people who were committed to the Lord Jesus Christ, but also committed to a local church body. It was important that people invited to serve on the board be people who had demonstrated their commitment to whatever local body of believers they were a part of.
I have seen many ministries crippled by having the wrong people on the board. I wanted people who would have the capacity to seek God’s leading, be able to sometimes say no to my ideas, and who would be able to give wise direction to the ministry. Knowing my own weaknesses and capacity to enthusiastically move on ideas without waiting on the Lord, I wanted people who would be able to stand up to me. I know this is important. This is also why I married Susan.
As I prayed about who to ask to form the governing board for the Ranch, I felt that God was telling me to ask a young couple at Mt. Vernon. I didn’t know them well, but I sensed a depth of spiritual character as I observed them on Sundays. Others, including their Sunday school teachers, had spoken very highly of them to me as well. So, even though I didn’t know them well, I sensed God bringing their name to mind each time I prayed about who to ask on the governing board. While the Lord had brought to mind other people I knew very well, I didn’t understand why this couple’s name kept recurring during my prayers.
I told Susan, “I feel impressed by God to ask David to be on the board. Please, keep praying with me.”
As we continued in prayer, I realized that before I could ask him, I needed to speak to the financial secretary at the church. As a pastor, I have always made it a point to scrupulously avoid knowing the financial giving record of the members. The reason being, I didn’t want finances to ever influence my response to emergency situations in the lives of members. I wanted to minister without prejudice.
Many people talk vigorously about “what the church ought to do,” and how “the church should spend its money,” and how “these people need to get behind the program,” and so forth. And yet, often these talkers don’t give to support the church ministries.
I made an important decision early in ministry. When I was asked, “How do you feel about people serving on the finance committee who haven’t given a dime to the church in years?” I responded, “They shouldn’t be on the finance committee.”
The leadership decided together that from that point on, before a person could serve in leadership on the finance committee or on the deacon body, we wanted the financial secretary to review their giving record and say, “Yes or No.” We wouldn’t know how much various individuals gave, but we wanted a general answer. This became policy.
As I prayed about putting David on the board of the Ranch, I went to the financial secretary and asked, “Do you recognize this name?”
She answered, “Not at all.”
I was disheartened and thought, “Obviously they aren’t giving.”
I was deflated, not only because these nice people weren’t givers, but also because I must not have been hearing God correctly. I thought God had told me to put David on the board of the Ranch. Yet, if the financial secretary didn’t recognize his name, I must not be hearing God. I felt like my prayer life was in trouble. I really wanted the people God wanted on the board.
The next morning during my devotions, as I was listening to the Father, the thought occurred very vividly and clearly: “Those people have their own business. It’s a new business. They may not know what their income will be this year. They may not have had any income during the time they’ve been at the church. Lots of business owners delay their salary until the end of the year when they know how well the business is doing.”
I said to Susan, “Maybe they’re going to give at the end of the year.”
I went to the office that same morning and found a note from the financial secretary, “I need to see you immediately.”
I went to her office; she looked up and said, “I will never forget the name you asked about earlier. I came to work this morning, and someone had put an envelope under my door. It was a check from them, and I will never forget that name!”
I said, “Thank you very much,” and went to make an appointment with David and his wife.
I told them the story, and tears came to their eyes. He said, “I didn’t know why God burdened my heart so strongly to go and put that envelope under the door. I knew if I wanted to be obedient, I had to do it immediately.” This incident confirmed for us that God wanted David on the Ranch board.
We must listen to our heavenly Father and obey as He directs. It’s not enough to talk to God. We must listen. And, God will answer! Sometimes, it’s a long time in coming. God doesn’t follow our timetable.
We must learn to keep asking, seeking and knocking. This involves listening and waiting on the Lord, being alert to what God is doing and being patient.
Featured Resource:
Book  “Hearing His Voice”
The Life of Prayer, Book 2
