Treasures. Garages hold them, museums display them, attics store them, and closets stack them. Treasures that we gather along the walkway of our lives fill the spaces we have. Many to be looked at or used annually at specific events and others lost in a sea of objects with intentions of being used at some point.
Treasures. God tracks them. Heaven stores them. There is no better place for them! In considering treasure scripturally, the verse that many would recall if asked, would be,”store up your treasures in heaven.” To quote Matthew 6:19-21,
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Treasures…a Secret Service. In looking at Matthew Chapter 6, the key message presented is to give, pray, fast, and store up in secret. So quietly that the left hand doesn’t know what the right hand is doing. Does this mean we can’t share that we give, share that we pray, share that we are fasting, or share that we are storing up? Of course not!
It is to be shared, but without fanfare.
Instead of a “look at me, recognize me” attitude, it is an act of worship.
As we serve many organizations who have been granted 501c3 status with the Internal Revenue Service, we appreciate the work it took to get there, and the roles each one has played, who is part of such a team, in stewarding the treasures given to you. The treasures that you are trusted and privileged to be the conduit for. What a beautiful picture that paints in our mind’s eye. A painting that depicts the opportunity to be the hands, feet, and earthly voice of God, as He shares what He’s doing on earth through your organization.
What a masterpiece!
It could hang in the most prestigious gallery, spotlighted to honor how donors and stewards work together to grow the Kingdom. As a donor, I need you to give me the way to reach those in need. I need you to provide the pathway that I can give to causes I care about.
As leaders of non-profit organizations in your community, it is important to be mindful of how you raise up team members in understanding how the non-profit operates and its purpose. In the case of the faith based clinic or PMC, you have the added bonus of being able to acknowledge that God provides for all that you do. In knowing He owns the “cattle on a thousand hills” (Psalm 50:10), one can rest in knowing He can provide and will.
Let’s look at some ideas for building a team who totally “gets it” when it comes to being a non-profit and how to steward such an opportunity. Let’s build “Treasure Teams” that embrace being a 501c3 and know how to message what a treasure it is to be part of!
Ideas for building a Treasure Team starting with establishing some of the basics.
- Ask what each team member believes a non-profit or 501c3 is.
- Discuss those beliefs as a team
- Clarify and establish how your PMC sees your non-profit status
- Share ways that play out daily in the PMC
- Outline new ways that team members can take the new message to heart
In building a Treasure Team from your organization, it just may be that the treasures that await you in the community will start showing up in new ways from new places. It just may be that some may be encouraged to take the garage or attic items that are stored and move them to heavenly places. It might be that treasures will come in from so many places that the left hand can’t keep up with what the right hand is doing. What a privilege it is to worship in such a way! Build your Treasure Team and see what He does!
Connie Ambrecht
Sparrow Solutions Group, CEO & Founder
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