Paul warns those who think godliness is a means to financial gain.
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“Some
things are buried in the earth.”
(Photo
by Bill Hunt c. 2011.)
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Jesus,
sending the disciples out to preach, teach, and heal, sent them to go
in faith without basic provision, trusting for their keep.
Luke, as well as Matthew, reported this same instruction.
v3 He told them: “Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra shirt (Lk 9:3 NIV).
Jesus asked the disciples later if going in faith, they lacked anything.
v35 Then Jesus asked them, “When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?”
“Nothing,” they answered
(Lk 22.35 NIV).
Paul the
Apostle exercised the same faith, working instead to provide his own
provision.
v8
Nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the
contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we
would not be a burden to any of you (2 Th 3:8 NIV).
He
mentioned his efforts at preaching free of charge different times in
his epistles.
v18
What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may
offer it free of charge, and so not make full use of my rights as a
preacher of the gospel (1 Cor 9:18 NIV as also 2 Cor 11:7; 12:13; ).
Paul
supported the rights of other apostles or ministers to seek
provision.
v17 The elders who direct the
affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially
those whose work is preaching and teaching. 18 For Scripture says,
“Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,”and “The
worker deserves his wages (1 Tim 5:17-18 NIV).”
However,
Paul strongly warns against those ministers who would seek to use
God's work as a means of financial gain.
But godliness with contentment is great gain
(1 Tim:6:3-6 NIV).
MinistryWatch.com is one Christian site that profiles Public Charities, church and para-church ministries. It is also a place to learn about how to be a responsible giver. Although we may not agree with some decisions, we refer you to this source for your own information and discernment.
Each
year MinistryWatch.com produces a list of 30 Christian
ministries they believe are among the most exemplary of the many
great ministries doing the Lord's work.
Each
year MinistryWatch.com also produces a list of 30 ministries that
engage in questionable practices that should cause donors to pause
before giving.
They
refer to this list as "Donor Alerts" as these organizations
have various red flag issues including: revocation of tax-exempt
status, government investigations of their practices, extremely high
salaries, ties to cultic practices and more.
Donors
should prayerfully consider not giving to these organizations due to
the very serious flaws highlighted in each case.
I dare
say you will be sadly surprised at key ministries who do not seem to
exercise transparency, open honesty, or responsible stewardship
toward donated funds used for God's work. Is it possible some are
gathering funds into barns to hoard for their own wealth? Good
stewardship does not hide from or seek to avoid responsible
oversight.
– Bill
Hunt
"The
LORD* will bless you and He will keep you.
The
LORD* will make His face to shine upon you
and He
will be gracious to you.
The
LORD* will lift His countenance to you
and He
will establish Shalom for you"
(Num
6:24-26 One New Man Bible, from the Hebrew).
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