30/06/2014 Today’s Meditation: 1Timothy 6:3-8 Errors and Heresies in Today’s Church 12 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself 1Tim 5:3-5. One of the greatest errors of the modern church is the undue emphasis on financial prosperity and inordinate ambition for wealth. A man called for the meeting of ministers of God in my city some years ago. The advert was captivating, so I also decided to go. However something else cropped up and I did not make the meeting. But I heard that in the course of the meeting, the man asked those in attendance to stand up. He then announced that those who came in their own car which was at least a Mercedes Benz “V-boot” to sit down. They did. He then turned to the rest ministers of God, who either came in commercial vehicles or cars of small statues, and announced that “God has not called you”! That was not only reckless, it was also criminal! God certainly has a programme of blessing for all His children; to prosper is a legitimate right of all children of God. But to mount the pulpit and announce that those who are not rich are not serving God is a reckless and an irresponsible statement from any minister of God. Men of God must teach their members how to make it, they must also pray for their prosperity but they must run away from excessive and unguided utterances that suggest that once you do not have money, you are not on the side of God. Such irresponsible statements has led the church to this present state where there is no more integrity among those who call on the name of the Lord; men of God and their congregation can now do anything to make money. That is why you hear on the news everyday ministers of God being involved in robbery, drug trafficking, ritual killing and the likes all in the name of making money at all cost. Any gospel which does not emphasize contentment is not the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. “Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows” 1Tim 66-10. That is the word of God! It is never out of place to see genuine ministers of God forgoing earthly benefits in the pursuit of the service of the Master. Our Lord is a perfect example of this. “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich” 2Cor 8:9. Apostle Paul was also a good example. “But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ” Phi 3:7-8. And in his letter to Timothy, a son in the ministry, Apostle Paul wrote: “No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier” 2Tim 2:4. Some men have chosen a lowly life in order to bring the gospel of salvation to those who are lowly, for God is the God of both the rich and the poor alike. Those who say that the poor will not make heaven are blind and strangers to the love of God. Beloved, avoid this “get rich at all cost” messages of today; it will only lead you to a ruined eternity. While I counsel you to be diligent in all your life pursuit and pray for the release of the blessing of God, do not help God and step into damnable atrocities just because of the reckless preaching of deluded servants of gold parading themselves as servants of God. I have been advised many times to abandon my duty post in a village to come to the city center where money is. My reply always is I am not in the ministry because of money. If I wanted money, I would not have been a minister of God in the first place. If you are a young minister, let it register in your sanctified soul that money does not determine the success of your ministry. My own definition of a millionaire is not a man who has millions in his bank account but a man who is able to influence millions for God. For the man with millions in his account will lose everything at death must the man with million souls will keep them and will continue to rejoice in his true wealth throughout eternity. While trusting God to make your life comfortable legitimately, see a better wealth; be rich in God and towards God! As you step out of June today, you will step out of all your struggles and pains in Jesus name. In His infinite mercy, the Lord will visit your life today and turn your situations around; the glory of the Lord will rise over you in Jesus name. Go out this week and prosper in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. It is well with you. Feel free to ask questions as we study on in this series. Add your friends to the group to learn the truth; share the messages with them if you can.
Posted on: Mon, 30 Jun 2014 05:11:39 +0000
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