DEAR MINISTER Pt.12
Colossians 4:17 And say to Archippus, “Be sure to carry out the ministry the Lord gave you.” NLT.
RUN FROM THE "ABC" TRAP (C)
Recently, it was reported in the news that a preacher who came for a crusade in Nigeria swindled God's people after which he bolted.
He collected their phones, over 50 phones. He sold a bottle of water to them at the rate of N4,800. He said there was perfume inside the bottle water, and many people paid for the water.
C for cash. This is the commonest of all traps. From the onset, some are in ministry basically for the cash while the focus of some changed from souls to getting cash.
In a bid to getting cash, they lie prophetically using God's name to swindle the people and to make them part with their monies. They merchandise the gospel and rip the people off.
I am an advocate of good welfare for preachers. Yes, it is biblical to support a minister of the Gospel. God ordained it. Poverty slows a minister down. I hate it.
That said, as a minister, you don't set your heart on using your privileged office to amass wealth. You will be tempted into doing wrong stuff.
But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction (1 Timothy 6:9 NLT).
Dear man of God, do not let the love of money overcome you. The love of God and souls should dominate your heart.
Apostle Paul has good counsel for us here: "For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows. But you, Timothy, are a man of God; so run from all these evil things. Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness"(1 Timothy 6:10-11 NLT).
Dear minister, do not get trapped by the "C" syndrome. Be contented and trust God to supply your needs.
Paul said, "Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it" ( 1 Timothy 6:6-7 NLT).
Don't put a price tag on your ministry neither should you monetize the grace of God. You are a Gospel messenger not a gospel merchant.