No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. Matthew 6:24
Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God. Matthew 19:24
I contend one of the most dangerous things in the Christian institution is the ‘paid minister’. It is the holy grail for those seeking “ministry” to get to the point where they can secure a ‘salaried’ position for their ‘ministerial’ work. They become part of the ‘religious elite’ just like the Pharisees in the days of Jesus. Why do I consider it ‘dangerous’? Ponder the above scriptures and ask the question whether a person is more apt to follow the instructions of the Holy Spirit when it could possibly affect their ‘livelihood’ / salary or will they dismiss the prompting of the Holy Spirit as ‘not Him’? If what the Holy Spirit is asking you to do something that …in your own mind … will actually make people uncomfortable, angry, or actually stop giving you (or your organization that pays you) money — how will you reconcile within yourself what to do? Will you be able to do the very thing that could possibly stop the money flow into your bank account? Can YOU trust those professional career ministers to actually speak the Truth if they are always weighing how their words will effect the money flow? Will they be able to speak the Truth of the present situations? Those that money has zero effect on them are extremely rare. Even Jesus talks about how difficult that is. The ‘eye of a needle’ scholars say is a reference to a very small door in the city gate in which if you were to get a camel through it the animal would have to be completely stripped down and literally pulled through the little door. Camels are NOT light and it would take a great effort to get them through the door. The metaphor is very plain. A rich person who loves their money will have to forgo that love and put Christ ahead of everything that money provides for them. That’s why Jesus said this… in just the previous sentences…
Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” Matthew 19:21
I confess I too entered into a para-church organization in a salaried position around the year 2000. I too was tasked at fundraising my entire office budget (Included my salary, assistant’s salary, office rent, office equipment, and everything the ‘ministry’ has to do). It was constantly fighting the inner thoughts of how this could affect the ‘giving’. I was miserable. But when I followed the Holy Spirit’s instructions somehow the donations just came in. The corporate ministry admin above me wanted me to explain how I was receiving my donations. I often explained to them it was through His mercy and my attempts to be obedient to the personal given instructions to me by the Holy Spirit. But as the Corporate influence of the ministry grew nationally they imposed their own guidelines for fundraising and formulas on every ‘field agent’ of how it had to be done. Why? Many were not being fully funded and fundraising was a struggle for 99% of them. It literally became a ‘grind’ and manipulative. I was so disheartened. I didn’t last long after all of that. But that experience allowed me to see the financial ‘underbelly’ of the entire organization of “institutional Christian ministry”. I got to see all the avenues of so called Christian institutions both Catholic and Protestant and their financial ‘workings’.
The compromise to the Holy Spirit in the area of financial is … massive. That’s why the first scripture listed in this post is SO stark. Money is possibly the largest competitor for becoming a person’s ‘master’. Jesus knew this and said it plainly.
This truth Jesus stated also speaks DIRECTLY to our personal situation as well. But we should also not think that somehow Christian leaders are immune to this HUGE conundrum of whom they will ‘serve’. And as that organization grows …the weight of responsibility and need for money only increases. And if you aren’t following the Holy Spirit’s advice at an ever increasing level with strict obedience — you are compromised.
Where are you currently with this issue of who you ‘serve’? Is Jesus REALLY your Lord and Master? Are you trusting your bank accounts for your safety and security rather than the Lord? Are you constantly worried you don’t have enough? Is every thought have to do with how you can secure more money?
This is NOT an easy challenge… but is becoming a VERY big one as the situation around us gets worse.
What is the Holy Spirit asking you to do now concerning your money and the material things you have in your possession? How is He leading you?
Now consider this scripture after reading this post…
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. 1 Timothy 6:10
Whom do you choose to serve?