Luke 12:15 Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions."
Many years ago, the parameter for calling someone a Pastor or man of God in the society was godly character. I have a cousin that was nick named 'Pastor' because of his character in the school and on the street. Those days, when people want to keep money, they may decide to keep it with a Pastor because they know their money would be intact. I know this because I grew in the house of a pastor. Further, when it comes to employment, some companies prefered to employ a Christian in their account section based on pastoral recommendation. Alas! The story is not the same as I speak. It is becoming contemptible to be introduced as a Pastor or preacher in the public. The days of seeing that Christ-likeness in people is becoming unfashionable.
When people people want to measure a successful preacher, they tend to look at the size of his membership, bank account, fleet of cars and other material things. In fact, some have joined the ministry because of these things whereas the life of Christ cannot be seen in them. Some are striving to be successful in ministry based on human parameters instead of kingdom parameters. Right from the time preachers worth were valued like business men, I knew there's serious trouble in the offing especially for up and coming ministers. They may think ministry is something you do for public recognition and acquisition of wealth. How did we get here? This doesn't affect ministers alone, even some Christians want to be successful using the parameters of the world.
The man that is truly successful is that man that is living like Jesus and pleasing to God regardless of his wealth and material possessions. One truth I've always emphasized is that you don't need to be a Christian or a preacher to be wealthy. There are millions of unsaved people that are wealthy, telling such people to accept Jesus to be rich may not be appealing. We know true believers by their conduct, character and godliness. So many things are fanning the embers of greed in our world today even in the church. How can a preacher adjudge his members who haven't built house at 50 as a failure? When some of those members leave the church, they maybe forced to go and steal or cut corners to impress people. How did we get here? Jesus is coming soon. We would not be raptured because of the size of our church, ministry, business or the empire we have built. Run from greed.
Father, I receive grace to run from greed and to pursue righteousness in Jesus name. Amen