Read:
1 Samuel 2:12-17
Bible in one year:
Ezekiel 37:15-39:29
Psalms 74:12-23
Hymn:
Sing hymn 14
The worst of all thieves in the church are the ministers who take the
tithes, offerings and first-fruits collected from members for their
personal use. You hear them say, “He who serves at the Altar must eat
from the Altar.” As true as this statement may be, custodians of the
Lord’s sanctuary should be wary of greed and the love of money. 1
Timothy 6:10-11 says:
“For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some
coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves
through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things;
and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience,
meekness.”
In the Bible reading for today, the children of Eli corrupted the
people’s sacrifice through greed. Unfortunately, the same thing is
happening today; some ministers of God, through greed, have made the
tithes, offerings and first-fruits that people bring to the sanctuary
unacceptable to God. Sometimes, members of the congregation suspect this
foul play and begin to ask the ministers in charge what they use their
tithes and offering for. Though the ministers should be accountable to
God through men, however, the tithes and offerings become an abomination
before the Lord when the givers monitor it to the extent of wanting to
know what God does with it. This is the reason people claim to be paying
their tithes and offerings and there is nothing to show for their
giving. In Matthew 6:3-4, Jesus Christ said:
“But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy
right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father
which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.”
It is dangerous when brethren are not being encouraged or motivated to
give more because they do not have anything to show for their previous
giving. This happens when they begin to develop a negative attitude
towards the way their pastors handle the finances of the Church. Some
people leave their local assembly to go and pay their tithes and
offerings elsewhere. This is counterproductive. Hence, the ministers
handling God’s assets must be very careful. They must not become thieves
in the sanctuary. The Lord enjoins us to fight the good fight of faith,
lay hold on eternal life whereunto we have been called, and keep away
from the love of this world. If it is dangerous to rob God by not paying
our tithes and offering, it is deadly to steal out of the one that the
brethren are faithfully contributing for the advancement of the Kingdom
business. We must learn from the children of Eli and the children of
Samuel himself (1 Samuel 8:1-5).
Memorise:
Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?
Romans 2:21
Prayer Point:
Father, please deliver me from the demon called mammon and don’t let me end up like Judas Iscariot.
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