By Brian Kluth, National-International Financial Speaker & Author (www.kluth.org)

NOTE FROM BRIAN: Although this article was primarily written for leaders at Christian ministries, many of the principles and ideas can also be applied to individuals and businesses.

Over the years I have discovered a marvelous truth: "Because God owns EVERYTHING, He can be very creative in how He chooses to provide for the needs of His servants and the work they are doing."

            Here are four passages of Scripture that helped set me on the path to look for "God's creative provisions" instead of just "looking for more money":

·        "A sinner's wealth is stored up for the righteous."  Prov 13:22 

·        "To the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God."   Ecc. 2:26

·        "(God says) I will give you the treasures of darkness,  riches  stored in secret places,  so that you may know that I am the LORD."  Isaiah 45:3

·        "Here is the fate God allots to the wicked, the heritage a ruthless man receives from the Almighty…Though he heaps up silver like dust and clothes like piles of clay, what he lays up the righteous will wear, and the innocent will divide his silver.”  Job 27:13,16,17

            Over the years, when facing physical and tangible ministry needs, I have learned to begin to pray and look for God's creative provisions  (or as Proverbs 13:22 puts it: "the wealth of the sinner").

Types of God's creative provisions

·        Office, Electronic, Music Equipment

·        Land, Buildings, Furniture, Furnishings

·        Vehicles and Shop Equipment

·        Food, Kitchen Equipment and Supplies

·        And any other need you will ever face!

Common sources of God's creative provisions

·        Classified Ads.  Auction notices, building materials, office equipment, vehicles, computers, etc. Potential savings: 20%-60% off current retail prices.

·        Manufacturers.  When making a major expenditure on a specific item, it is sometimes worth the effort to find out the city and phone/fax number of the national manufacturer.  By contacting the national office directly by phone and fax to see if they would consider donating or discounting the specific items you need.  I have personally experienced national manufacturers who were on the other side of the country and who had no previous contact with our ministry approve the donation or discount of items our ministry needed.  In many cases, the value of the items were in the thousands and thousands of dollars! Potential savings: 20%-100% off retail prices.

·        Salvage and Reseller Companies.  For every product made in America, there are companies that specialize in handling discontinued, damaged, distressed, or demolition materials.  Find out where these companies are in your area and get on their mailing list, occasionally stop by to see what they have, or give them a call and let them know what you currently need or will need in the future so that they can be on the "look-out" for you. Potential savings: 25%-80% off retail prices.

·        Bankruptcies and estate sales.  When a company or person dies, someone has to do something with all of their accumulated "stuff".  God can often use bankruptcies or estate sales to meet a ministries needs for pennies on the dollar of what the same items would cost new.  Potential savings: 30%-95% off retail.

·        Clearance, Year-End, Odd-Lot, or Discounted Merchandise - Most stores and businesses you frequent will have an area for clearance items.  Potential savings: 10%-50% off retail prices.

·        Friends of the ministry that own or manage businesses.  Often times when a company upgrades equipment to the "latest version, style, or model" they are give away or sell for pennies on the dollar the items they are replacing.  Many times these items are well maintained and in fully working order.  Business friends can sometimes work out additional savings on items you need to purchase (although you need to be careful not to presume upon people's ability or willingness to help in this way).  Potential savings: 10%-100% off retail prices.

An Important Caution and Suggestion

            Just because someone is willing to "give you something or sell you something at a substantial discount" is NOT reason enough to accept it.  Unless it is an item you have been actively looking for, some donated or "super deal" items may be more harm than help.  I have seen ministries that have stockpiles of items, vehicles, property they cannot or are not using.  When existing or potential donors see the poor stewardship exhibited in this type of "junk collecting," they are less inclined to give you valuable donations or gifts-in-kind because they have no confidence you will take proper care of their gifts.  If you do have these "stock piles of stuff", do yourself, your ministry, and your constituency a favor by taking a few days and "de-accumulating" the items you are not actively using or that is outdated or broken (and that you do not have the time, money, or skill to fix).  Throw these things away, sell them off in the classified ads or through an auction, or give them away to someone who can put them to good use.