“A person’s character is put to several tests when he suddenly acquires or loses a considerable amount of money”
It is high time ministers of God take a deep look about the issue of money again. Lots of ministers are in the ministry but know next to nothing about the place and power of money in our lives and works. Many know their Bible, but don’t know the pervasive influence that money has in the ministry We grow up to meet money in the world and were not really taught the pros and cons of it. We just wake up to discover that everyone is after money in the rat-race of life And in a society like ours, which is so monetized and money is everything-keeping your value about money right is a herculean task.
Moreover, the place and power of money in ministry is becoming too critical that whoever wants to live to please God must take stock and re-appraise his or her life again and again concerning financial matters in the light of the scriptures.
A. FACTS ABOUT MONEY Eccl. 7:12; 10:19; Psalm 62:10; Haggai 2:8
As a formal definition, money is paper and coins with the value printed on it. It is the most acceptable means of exchange in the world. Money is a tool to accomplish eternal dividends. It is called different names in different places dollar, pound. Euro, Naira, Rand or Kwacha etc.
1. Everyone Spends, of His Life Searching for, Making and Keeping Money.
Here is your age and money:
- 0-24 years-learning time
- 24-50 years-Active eaming years
- Passive earning 51-65 years years
- 65-90 years-Rest and enjoyment of money
2. Money Is The Only Power Competing With God In The Hearts Of Men Matt. 6:24
The mammonic spirit is sly, mean, merciless, destructive and domineering. It demands for total worship and controls men’s heart.
3. Money Can Be A Wonderful Servant, But A Terrible Master
As a servant, money does things for you but as a master it corrupts and drives God out of people’s hearts
4. Money Will Never Be Enough (Eccl. 5:10)
It is transient, fleeting, uncertain. corruptible, unsatisfying, deceitful and depreciating Pro 28.20. 27.24, 23:5 22:16: Psalm 49:10-18
5. God Does Not Condemn Money (Haggai 2:8).
It is wrong attitudes of greed, avarice, selfishness, covetousness, stealing and worship of money that He hates and detests
6. Money Can Serve Productive And Eternal Purposes:
When properly, wisely and materially handled Gen. 13:2: 26:13-14, 30:43, 36:7, Il Chro 9:22 Job 1:3, 42:12: Matt. 27:57
7. Money Is Not Ordinary, It Is Spiritual:
That is why it demands for worship people go to any length and will do anything to get money.
Money has a spint and is a spint that takes over people’s hearts and lives. It drives out God’s Spint from the church. The strategy of salan is to cnpple ministers and the C. church with the spirit of Mammon. And He is succeeding too mucht
B. THE PERVASIVE POWER OF MONEY IN LIFE AND MINISTRY TODAY-Pro. 22:16
A brief overview of the body of Christ today will show that there are serious money issues that are prevalent but which nobody seems to be talking about. Check these out:
- There are lots of extreme teachings and practices about money in ministry
- Lots of ignorant and suffering ministers in rural, inner city and missionary.
- Lots of personal business is going on in churches which is breaking away people.
- Lots of bi-vocational pastors which is affecting the spirituality of the church.
- Wrong practices is bringing much shame to the name of the Lord-ostentatious and extravagant living by ministers of the gospel
- We need money for ministry, but don’t do ministry for money
- Guest preachers are now charging. demanding for fat honorariums, opulencce. hotels and first-class travels.
- Lots of wealthy people have come to church and are buying up titles, positions and leadership
- Lots of church leaders are available to the highest bidder and the message of the gospel is being compromised.
- The get-rich-quick syndrome is prevalent among preachers and ministers
- Lots of wrong money attitudes from church leaders
- Personal and corporate ministry money are not being separated.
is obvious that too many questionable practices about money abounds in the ministry of today by ministers Most ministers run their ministries as a personal enterprise, not on biblical standards and how wealthy you are has become the yardstick to measure ministry success. And this is helping the mammonic spirit to do much more damage to the church and in the church.
Recommended Reading
FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE FOR MINISTRERS & MINISTRIES
Pulling Down Strongholds: Weapons of our Warfare
9 Mistakes Singles and Newly-Weds Need To Avoid
C. YOUR ATTITUDE TO MONEY IS MOST CRUCIAL – 1 Tim. 6:17-19; Heb. 13:5-6
Over the years, I have come to discover that wrong perspective, mindsets and attitudes about money is very prevalent among gospel ministers
Lots of preachers that teach, collect, receive and manage money from others are also sadly not free from bad attitudes to money. I have seen preachers of big, small and middle size churches displays wrong attitudes to money. And once your attitude to money is wrong, every other thing will be wrong in your life.
1. Wrong money attitudes lead to stealing. profiteering, bribery, tying, killing. cheating to gain as much as possible
2. Wrong mindsets about money lead to placing undue emphasis on money. making it at all cost cutting comers: dishonest gains, using scripture and prophesy to hoodwink people, charging for ministrations and turning to professional beggar in the name of ministry. Jesus and the word of God condemns in no small terms these wrong attitudes to money:
- Covetousness discontent with what you have
- Greed wanting to keep much more to yourself
- Avarice shortcoming and cheating others.
- Selfishness not considerate of others
- Worship of money readiness to do anything to gain more.
- Stinginess-reluctance to give but only to take from others
If your attitude to money takes after anyone of these, then you will need God to purge you of them before they ruin you. “If you have nothing but only money, that is the greatest poverty on earth” Your money attitude will serve as limitations over your life and ministry You will be like the ‘for 4. prof prophet-Pet 2 14-16. Note these-
- God wants His ministers and church to be a true model in money handling.
- He wants us to set the pace in integrity and night attitude to money
- Review your own source of income and spending habits
- He wants us to choose simple living and balanced lifestyle-Pro. 30.7-9.
- He wants us to display right values of honesty, integrity and generosity
If you are not truthful, clear and open with money, you will not last in ministry. If you don’t master money, you cannot mature and make heaven in life and ministry.