The Color of Money the Go$pel

This is the counsel of the blessed Jesus—”Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven!” Matthew 6:20

The treasures of most men are perishing, earthly treasures; cankered and moth-eaten treasures; treasures of vanity!

Where is your treasure?

Is it in this world—or in the eternal world?

Is it in present vanities—or in future glory?

- Matthew Mead

I have noticed some disturbing things the last couple of days, and that is the more-than-comfortable lifestyle of some of those who make their living from the gospel. Granted, Paul makes a strong case in favor of those proclaiming the gospel rightly deserving to be sustained and supported from the gospel (1 Cor. 9). But, does that justify lavish cars parked in front of the gaudy mansions of husband and wife pastor teams, private jets and 2nd & 3rd vacation homes, and a $10,000 made-to-order desk for the church office of a youth pastor?

I am reminded of Paul’s words concerning those who, “suppose that godliness is a means of gain. But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content.” – 1 Tim. 6:5-8

My thoughts keep coming back to a conclusion I don’t want to make, which is that those involved in the examples above may have godliness, but their godliness is not accompanied by contentment. We all (including myself) must always be ever mindful of not being guilty of idolatry. For idolatry can be committed even when a person gives away tens of thousands of dollars in the name of Christ, yet continues to needlessly raise his own standard of living just because he can. Brothers, these things ought not to be so.

I fear that the good news of the gospel is being peddled for profit more and more in the name of Christ and ministry (be it from the pulpit, the para-church, or the professional Christian artist), yet what is really taking place is an ever growing tide of laying up earthly treasures rather than heavenly ones, all the while becoming a bigger and bigger stumbling block to those who look up to and are influenced by these leaders of the faith. I am talking to myself as much as anyone here when I say, ask for wisdom to be a good steward of what God has given you. After all, what you have really belongs to your Master anyway, seeing as even you are not your own, but have been bought with a price – the precious blood of Jesus – and are His possession.

In light of that, shouldn’t we strive to be a good and faithful slave of what He has entrusted to us while we are here for but a moment in comparison to what awaits us?

The color of the Gospel is not green, as is the testimony of so many by their lifestyles of discontent. But, it is red. Red, from the precious blood of Christ. Red, from the price of your ransom.