A Waste of Real Estate

It is such a waste of Real Estate to have a building and land that is only used once a week. For many churches, their mortgage is their largest bill, yet the building is unoccupied the majority of the time. The building becomes a typology of what is happening in the Body. We become a once a week Christians.

       I do believe that if God gives us a building, two things must take place,

1. It will be paid in full. The idea that God will violate His Word and approve going into debt, is completely un-Biblical. He tells us in His Word to “owe no man anything.” (Romans 13:8)

2. It will be filled with God-given vision. A building is to accommodate vision. I see a building with programs running through the week. After school programs, counseling, sports, Disciple Classes, training (physically, emotionally and spiritually) School for children from Pre-K to High School, etc.

       So we are talking about a building, a property that is awake. A place that is running with the vision (Habakkuk 2:2) Not just a trophy to mark the Senior Pastor’s “success”, but a place that actually serves a purpose.

       I have seen buildings with capacity for 300, 500 and even 3,000 people used by congregations of less than fifty, in some cases, less than twenty members.  What a waste!

       Perhaps if we focus on people and not on buildings, perhaps if we focus on making disciples and not in just having members, perhaps if we focus on developing people’s talents and not just the pastor’s, perhaps if we wait on the Lord for vision and mission, perhaps, just perhaps, we will be able to really be the light and the salt of this world!

14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Matthew 5:14-16 King James Version (KJV)

13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Matthew 5:13-16 King James Version (KJV)