2 Corinthians 2:17 Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God.
2 Corinthians 12:15 So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well. If I love you more, will you love me less?
Philippians 4:12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.
Luke 16:13 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
16:14 And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him.
16:15 And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.
James 5
Misuse of Riches
1Go to now,
ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon
you.
2Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten.
3Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.
4Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.
5Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter.
6Ye have condemned
and killed the just;
and he doth not resist you.
Patience In Suffering
Job 1:1-5)
7Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.
8Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.
9Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.
10Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.
11Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
12But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and
your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.
The Prayer of Faith
13Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.
14Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
15And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
16Confess
your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
17Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.
18And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.
Restoring a Sinner
19Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;
20Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.
1 Corinthians 9:18 What is my reward then?
Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.
Matthew Henry Commentary (for 1 Corinthians)
9:15-23 It is the glory of a minister to deny himself, that he may serve Christ and save souls. But when a minister gives up his right for the sake of the gospel, he does more than his charge and office demands. By preaching the gospel, freely, the apostle showed that he acted from principles of zeal and love, and thus enjoyed much comfort and hope in his soul. And though he looked on the ceremonial law as a yoke taken off by Christ, yet he submitted to it, that he might work upon the Jews, do away their prejudices, prevail with them to hear the gospel, and win them over to Christ. Though he would transgress no laws of Christ, to please any man, yet he would accommodate himself to all men, where he might do it lawfully, to gain some. Doing good was the study and business of his life; and, that he might reach this end, he did not stand on privileges. We must carefully watch against extremes, and against relying on any thing but trust in Christ alone. We must not allow errors or faults, so as to hurt others, or disgrace the gospel.
This is a decent supplemental article by pastor Paul Edwards.
Bible Boundaries on Your Pastor’s Salary |
Everyone who is any part of the body of Christ knows that too much is too much.
The scriptures do not support the faces we have come to know from television and media.
What surprises me more is the fact that with all this money why aren't they making more? Gaining interest? Investments?
Establishing solid ministries which provide for the sick and needy, caring for the widows, giving out free Bibles? With this much wealth it could be easily parlayed into a revenue stream to do this.
But no....its sit on a private jet, writing speeches fly around and take cruises and con people with spiritual koolaid (Heavens Gate pun) about happy happy joy joy koombayah and how to empower your own life and overlook the needs of others while asking for money.
Kind of selfish is you ask me. How would I know? I was worthy of condemnation. I was selfish. I know its ugliness.
Televangelism is propaganda. The fruits speak for themselves.
To conclude..
Christ died for you on the cross. He bore the penalty for sin. Not only did he carry and have sin nailed to the cross, he carried your shame, regret, sadness, pain, and sorrow. Condemned for loving you so much he gave up his life willingly, voluntarily.
He was buried in a tomb. The author of all life!!! buried in a tomb!!!
On the third day, according to and fulfilling scriptures, he was raised from the dead to be glorified of the Father in the heaven.
For 40 days he was witnessed by more than 500 people who attested to his resurrection.
Then he ascended to heaven where he is on the right hand of the Father.
This power of resurrection, I care that you receive it so that you have life eternally.
I don't want your money, nor do I need it. God willing, I can and will work for my own food. I might even work at the same place you do. But the same love resides within me as the Holy Spirit. I want to share that with you. Christ shared it with me. Since he offered it freely, it is free to enjoy.
