Money

Many pastors argue that Jesus taught more about money than about heaven and hell. I will not get into that argument because I have not done any study to confirm or deny it. But I am also not in a hurry to do it because I also think there are more important topics to research on than those statistics.

Like I have argued again and again there is only one thing Jesus came, lived and died to deal with; sin. It would for me be extreme folly to focus on peripheral issues though mentioned a thousand times and forget the one thing Christ came for even if it is mentioned only once.

I will compare it to putting the most elaborate lighting fixtures in a house that is not wired for electricity as they will be simply decorations however costly they are.

But let me take their argument as they want me to. Is all that mention of money in the scriptures limited to give me, give the church, give the pastor or preacher, ad infinitum? Is it confined to sow this or that seed in me or my empire? Does it all talk about the preacher and his kiosk when requiring that we give? This is because there is only one verse that is always applicable to the preachers, whether they are pastors, bishops, apostles, evangelists, etc.

The horseleach hath two daughters, crying, Give, give. There are three things that are never satisfied, yea, four things say not, It is enough: The grave; and the barren womb; the earth that is not filled with water; and the fire that saith not, It is enough. (Proverbs 30: 15, 16)

One thing he had not observed is the modern preacher because he is worse than those four combined. Why do I say so?

You give him a bicycle, he asks for a car. You give him a car, he asks for a car with a ‘bigger testimony’. You pay his house rent, he wants his own house. You buy him the house, he wants a mansion. You buy him a mansion, he needs a palace.

But is that the only financial instruction we get in the Bible? Is that the only thing Christ mentioned more than He mentioned heaven?

Now why am I talking money? Why must I rattle these complacent folks who are swimming in motivational prophecies?

Some banks have crashed, and with them many depositors’ money, even futures. And it is so bad because that shock has taken some of the victims to hospital, I suspect due to despair.

I have heard a few pastors preach to congregations and heard nothing I can associate with a voice from heaven as it is their usual prophetic motivation that things will turn for the better and nothing else. I am yet to hear a preacher speaking scriptural guidance and diagnoses of the situation, a diagnoses that cuts deep into the spiritual fibre to effect deep healing and direction..

Now there is nothing inherently evil with telling people to keep their chins up. But it is wicked to do so when all along you have been prophesying great days ahead. Many have been prophesying the great cancellation of debts as if they are talking about the debt of sin, yet sin is the only topic diligently avoided. It is wicked when you have been prophesying astronomical growth of account balances. Aren’t you ashamed of visiting someone who is in hospital because they took your prophecy seriously enough to invest into a sinking bank or business empire? Don’t you fear the wrath of God when you know that there probably are people who have no food because you did not prepare them for the eventuality of a failed business, yet they have kept you in excellent comfort? Aren’t you ashamed of standing on the pulpit to preach the same old song when you know that some may die due to that erroneous teaching? How do you feel when you walk into that house or sit in that car you know you have because of that deceptive preaching?

But it is really true that the Bible does teach (not just mention) giving, many times. But give, give and give the preacher or church is not it. It talks about banks and failing businesses. It mentions interest and auction. It mentions loans and collateral. It mentions investments and real estate. It mentions seed capital and advertisement.

Why do pastors not teach all these scriptural principles to their congregations? Why do churches and their leaders start businesses instead of preparing their people to do them? Why do they advertise and sell real estate instead of teaching their people to be the best in the same?

Because only one reality operates in their lives, their stomach and all it entails. Unless and until they eat, nothing else exists. Anybody can eat only as long as the big guy is eating, and eating from the others. You can starve so that he eats and that is not a problem. He will prophesy anything that will make people pour things into his stomach. That explains why a pastor of an impoverished neighborhood and church will comfortably drive a very expensive car and live in a very expensive house yet there are members of his church with children at home for lack of school fees, fees that a slight reduction of his weekly fuel money could easily resolve.

(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.) (Philippians 3: 18, 19)

Leeches

The Bible is the best financial and investment manual when it is read and obeyed. We fail when we allow other people to read and interpret it for us when God released it for our continuous and consistent intake. God never meant the pastor to replace the Holy Spirit or His word. We are therefore open to deception when we allow people, irrespective of how spiritual or holy thy look, to be God’s agents of instruction instead of the Bible faithfully read and carefully obeyed.

I will put down just a few verses from the Bible for our consideration. I will remind us that I have dealt with giving and tithing several times and there are posts with such. I therefore will not get into that, at least not today because I know many are wondering whether God is ever interested in the hurts of His people who are really the victims of a false Gospel (not failed banks) that feeds some as it kills others.

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. (Matthew 6: 19 – 21)

Jesus is not saying do not save. He is just giving the reality of business and asking us to focus our attention on God and what He has to say about our finances (not through a spiritual superstar, however spiritual they are or look). We will thus not compete to increase our bank balances without asking God whether He wants that money to do something else. I suspect some people sacrificed vitally important things to raise their balance that much. Some have been labeled beasts because there were gaping needs they refused to meet for those balances to grow. Some may have watched a close relative die since they refused to pay for their medication to ensure that balance grew. No wonder it is devastating when a bank goes down.

The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender. (Proverbs 22:7)

When did you hear that verse being mentioned in a sermon, even obliquely? Again this is a statement of fact, a fact that we know all too well when we owe something or see auctioneers. How does a prophecy cancel a loan? Was that the purpose for the loan in the first place?

A friend of mine had a microfinance that went down. A lady was so excited that she went to give the testimony that she was now free because her lender was down, without knowing that a friend was in that church. Is that debt cancellation?

He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved. (Psalm 15:5)

He that by usury and unjust gain increaseth his substance, he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor (Proverbs 28:8)

He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it: and he that hateth suretiship is sure. A gracious woman retaineth honour: and strong men retain riches. The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh. (Proverbs 11: 15 – 17)

Woe unto them that join house to house, that lay field to field, till there be no place, that they may be placed alone in the midst of the earth! (Isaiah 5:8)

Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. (Matthew 5: 23, 24)

Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 6:1)

No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? (Matthew 6: 24, 25)

Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also.  Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again. And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same. And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. (Luke 6: 28 – 38)

I hope I have given someone some scriptural light to help guide through the confusion of failed financial structures and lives.

I remember the pyramid schemes several years ago that crushed many people. And the main reason was that they were run from the churches, even by pastors or some very close associates.

I remember telling people that God had showed me that those very attractive things were wrong and some would laugh me off, wondering how I could dare imply that their pastor has not heard from God when he advised them to sink their money into those bottomless holes. But the story changed when they lost their money. A friend told me that his pastor called him and said that if he had only one chance to listen to him, then God’s voice was that he sinks his money into the scheme. And he lost a tidy sum.

It was on the news recently that the main guy in one such scheme was able to get so many people was through his reputation as a born again financial consultant and writer. Though I have never read his books, I would be surprised to find any of these verses I have quoted. I would expect what I would get in most financial books, only with a spattering mention of a verse or another that says nothing different from what the worldly financial expert is saying.

I will close with this

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. (Matthew 6: 33, 34)

If your pastor’s preaching does not lead you to this position and determination, agree with me when I call him (there are many hers as well) a spiritual conman. This is because if God is not the ultimate guide and focus of your finances you will eventually sink, whether in the mire of sinking empires or in the deception that could eventually lead to a Christless eternity though immensely successful here.

For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? (Matthew 16:26)

(I have not even mentioned the sports gambling (betting) craze that is the ultimate in financial manipulation and destruction, and that because it is more addictive than drugs once it sets in. And sadly there are also church leaders in the leadership of those houses from hell. Again pastors will hint a temptation along those lines so that the winners will bring those ill gotten returns to their pockets. Yet the Bible aso has a lot of say on that as well)