Filthy Lucre
The church I was raised in didn’t put much emphasis on
money. There was the Sunday offering plate, the emergency fund to replace the
boiler, collections for pagan babies and the bingo games. It wasn’t until I
changed denominations that money was much more a sermon topic. That may be
because Jesus talked a lot about money.
The phrase “filthy lucre” appears five times in the King
James Version of the New Testament. The reference is to those who are in
positions of authority in the church warning not to teach wrongly about money.
Apparently money or the love of it was an issue way back then.
I confess that I would rather have money than not to have
it. I also confess that I see no virtue in being poor. Having been a pastor for
a long time, I know from experience that you don’t make a fortune preaching the
gospel. Although there is a segment of the church which teaches that wealth is
a sign of God’s favor on your life. There is more to a prosperous life than
accruing wealth.
One of the biggest complaints about the church is that we
are out to get their money. Channel surfing on the religious cable channels, I
can see where you might get that opinion. Fleecing the flock is not an
attribute encouraged in the Bible. The Bible teaches that money is a means to
an end not an end in itself. Teaching and modeling the principle of giving is
the responsibility of every believer.
More than once in recent times, the media has heralded the
fall of a Christian ministry because of its misuse of money and the abuse of
the trust people place in the church. That kind of publicity makes the lucre
look filthier.
The Bible says: “But if it’s only money these leaders are
after, they’ll self destruct in no time. Lust for money brings trouble and
nothing but trouble. Going down that path, some lose their footing in the faith
completely and live to regret it bitterly ever after.”
Amen
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