An Evil That Every Church Usher Should Avoid!

Ushering is a great ministry! One that so many church members easily take up. Lately, my children have also been participating in ushering during our evening services. David once alluded to it when he said “For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness (Psalm 84:10).” It gives a minister an unusual opportunity and privilege to meet almost all members of the church, gather privileged information not common to other members and rejoice in seeing the fruit of the ministry immediately.

However, ushering has its own temptations. Amidst the many good things an usher does, lingers an evil that masquerades itself as a good. Although an usher is in charge of collections, is sensitive to the temptation of pilfering, he/she, must, even the more, be sensitive to the evil of talking and disclosing the amount of tithe individual members give. She/he must regard that as privileged information that is so private and confidential. For an usher is a minister with member’s information so grave that puts him/her under oath before God and the one giving tithe until death.

Many years ago, during my secondary school days, a story was told of an usher who was tempted to steal the offering. He ran out of a church with the offering bag immediately after the collection. As was the custom of that church, the brother walked to the vestry where money was put before counting it. However, his prolonged stay in the vestry made other ushers suspicious of his motives. One of them followed in to check. To his surprise the brother was missing and the door that leads to the outside was wide open which was very unusual during the church service. Just the very moment he looked outside to check for the brother, he saw him making his last leap over the wall fence. He screamed for help. Men came and they pursued him for some time until he was apprehended. Surely, though I do not support stealing (it is sin against God) later on in the church, there is always a better plan of doing it. This was theft and no usher should ever walk this path.

During my early years as a pastor, while weaning off my circular engagements, I was introduced to an ordeal that left me wondering what in the world goes on among the ushers or the brethren who collect the offerings. One usher broke confidentiality to me about my tithe. During the week after the Sunday I gave my tithe, one of the ushers approached me on a Monday to ask for a good amount of money. I wondered why me of all the people in the church? “You are the people with the money” was his retaliation. So puzzled, I enquired how he knew that? For money matters are supposed to be personal and private. He then let it out. I was so disappointed with him.

Apparently, the Sunday before, the usher in question was responsible of collecting and counting the offering. Coincidentally, my wife and I were blessed of the Lord with a five digit income. Therefore, our tithe for that month was a four digit figure. Thus when the brother noticed our tithe envelope he did some reverse mathematics and came up with an approximate figure of what we would have earned that month and what eventually would have remained in store after tithing. Nonetheless, he was definitely and totally wrong as he had no idea of our many financial obligations that beckoned us no sooner had the money trickled in. Well, to cut the story short, our conversation finally ended with a rebuke, a correction and a teaching.

In case this is also you ministry (ushering, collecting and counting offerings) keep in mind that though you may perceive ushering as a simple ministry, it is still a higher calling before God. Just as your smallest toe is of great necessity for balance in walking so is an usher in the church.  The apostle Paul admonished our view of ushering when he said; “But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our un presentable parts have greater modesty,” (1 Corinthians 12:20–23)

Therefore all ushers should remember that this ministry comes with a certain level of confidentially just as that of a pastor and a deacon. Seeing people’s tithe envelops (especially if your church demands names to be endorsed on the envelopes) should not be treated as an opportunity to gratify yourself by calculating how much members earn and later on talk about it. Even if you did reverse mathematics to estimate their income, keep that information between you and God for the rest of your life. Be aware of this evil and avoid it at all cost.