Let's Merchandise

2 Peter

But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.

3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

I don't know about you but I see a lot of exploiting going on. Just the other day an exploiter was on television panhandling. The man was trying to get me to support his newest building. He wants a prayer chapel or prayer building up on his Christian funded hill. For a gift of money ($1000) he will put a plack up in my name.  He will hang it there in his new building, dedicated in my honor. OH! BOY! That's a great idea. Would you like to donate some money to my prayer barn. I need a new barn. I guarantee that I will pray in it everyday. I will hang a plack with your name on it and think of you often. 

My prayer barn will really look like I'm doing a work for God. I will get my neighbors to pray for your needs and be open 24 hrs a day. In fact, you can come live by me and freely man my phones lines for God's greater good. Notice the word, "Freely." I won't pay you. You will be giving yourself to the greater good of My Ministry. Notice also I used, "My Ministry."

I really can't believe there are those peddling with a straight face. This one guy often says, "The love of money is the root of all evil" and yet he likes what money can buy. Most of those peddling for Jesus sees it as a great opportunity to have things. "It is more blessed to give than receive so give a little to me," is their motto. 

Jesus gave us an example that we can do a work of God with little or no money. In fact many times he told His disciples to leave their money at home. 

"Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses, Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat" Matthew 10:9-10.

We are not doing God a service by supporting those in His name who are building empires. We are not to love the things in this world.

"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him" 1 John 2:15.

It's great to have a ministry for God but we should not expect the people of God to pay for all our worldly thrills and gadgets. We should examine the fruits of those who teach and preach in God's name. If they are building an empire for Jesus, it is a indicator that something is wrong with their mentality. 

Yes, we are taught to be givers of our time and talents. This also includes the so-called ministers who like to reign over us. We are not commissioned to build a kingdom of wealth by peddling Jesus. Those of us in the ministry should lead by example and not by lording over the flock and exploiting them by taking all their money. If the minister wants to live a life of plenty then go to work at a job in the world. God doesn't need them. Their occupation does not suit their lusty ambitions.

Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings without us: and I would to God ye did reign, that we also might reign with you" 2 Corinthians 4:8.

It is time to pray and put a stop to men that want to exploit us. They are not building anything for God that will last. It doesn't take a Porsche or Cadillac to preach the gospel. It only takes two legs and a mouth. We must also practice what we preach. We must be careful not to make money our security. God is our security. When we look down at our dollars, is it in god that we trust? God is not our money. Use your wealth for meeting the needs of the hour but not for squandering it away on useless junk.

When helping those in need use your eyes. Do they have better things than you do? Then you should be helping yourself instead of those who want to exploit you. Does your minister have a cable television or some other high priced network that he enjoys? Then he should be giving to you who can barely afford a radio.

I must confess that I have a lot of junk in my life. I think I might start giving it away. We need to evaluate our lives and live with just the mere necessities.  Life does not consist of the things we own. We need to invest in things that will make us healthier and yet not burdened with excessive crap. Having said all that, we must also make sure that we preach to others within the Christian world not to be covetous. Covetousness is just as bad as loving money. Especially covetousness that exploits other people in the name of God by acting like they are of God.