“A
bishop then must be…not greedy for money…” (1 Timothy
3:2 ,3
NKJV)
Covetousness
is a basic prohibition—the sinful spirit forbidden in the tenth
commandment. The New Testament calls it
idolatry. Covetousness is a cancer of
the heart—materialism—that becomes a consuming craving which captivates the
pastor’s passion and clouds the pastor’s vision.
If a
preacher doesn’t get into trouble with the lust for a woman, then this is the
next most powerful enticement—the love of money. “Covetousness characterizes false
teachers (Tit 1:11 ; 2Pe 2:1–3 , 14 ; Jude 11 ), but not Paul’s ministry
(Ac 20:33 ; 1Co 9:1–16 ; 2Co 11:9 ; 1Th 2:5 ).”[1]
The
pastor who is greedy will supplant the Biblical bottom line of seeking God’s
glory with pursuing monetary benefit.
This corrosive force decimates the minister’s testimony. The world believes that every man has his
price—and if we succumb to greed, then we have affirmed their worst thoughts
about pastors and their hypocrisy.
The NASB
renders this to be, “free from the love
of money.” There is a liberating
power in contentment to preach and serve without concern for how it affects the
giving of some wealthy member who might not appreciate the message or desire a
different direction in the church. We
don’t work as a hireling, but as a true shepherd!
Contentment
is the antidote to the disease of covetousness.
Let us cultivate it by focusing on the eternal and find the blessedness
of giving rather than getting.
The
question is, “Where will a pastor invest his life?” Will it be in the pursuit of God’s Kingdom
agenda or in building his own little kingdom?
Will the shepherd fleece the sheep for his profit or will he feed them
for their good and God’s glory?
A PRAYER
Blessed Giver of All Good,
Thank You for Your assurance that You will supply our needs. May we rest in contentment that the One who feeds the fowls and clothes the flowers will do so for His servants. Grant us Your spirit of generosity that will root out the spirit of greed which is the spirit of the age.
In the Name of the Perfect Provision, Jesus,
Amen.
[1] MacArthur,
J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study
Bible: New American Standard Bible. (1 Ti 3:3 ). Nashville ,
TN
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