Some believers make money by unlawful means and then give generously to the church, as though that settles it
Everyone wants to become rich and this desire is not bad. Money is an essential factor for a better living, though it alone is not sufficient.
There are many people who have plenty of money, but no peace and happiness in life. Similarly, there are many people who are very poor, but leading a life full of happiness and peace. This clearly shows that money or wealth is not the basis of happiness and peace in life. The source of peace is God the almighty, and anyone who puts his trust in God can lead a peaceful life.
But having more money or getting richer is not a sin. The means for it should be ethical. There are many people who adopt any kind of crookedness to make money, and this is not scriptural and God will not be pleased in it.
Whoever you are
If you are an employee, be satisfied with your salary or other perks, but do not make any effort to make money by bribes, wrong statements and the like.
If you are a businessman, you have the freedom to have your profit, but not by giving a substandard product and cheating the customer. Whatever is due to the government has to be paid, and the rest belongs to you.
If you are a pastor or a priest, never accept money to show partiality or to ignore the sins of someone. Nowadays the bribe has become a normal procedure in churches for transfer of priests or pastors. It is very shameful.
Nowadays the bribe has become a normal procedure in churches for transfer of priests or pastors. It is very shameful.
5Talents Magazine, February 2014
Never use the money, which is a gift of God, to bring disgrace to the giver, God almighty.
The balance sheet
There are some people, believers, who make money by unlawful means and spend more for the church and charitable activities. They think that by giving money like this, God will certify their income statement. No. God is a just God and will never be pleased in wealth accumulated by unjust means.
Let us see what the Bible says about such wealth.
People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
Dishonest money dwindles away, but he who gathers money little by little by hard work makes it grow.
Like a bird that hatches eggs it did not lay is the man who gains riches by unjust means. When his life is half gone, they will desert him, and in the end he will prove to be a fool.
You accept bribes to shed blood, you take usury and excessive interest and make unjust gain from your neighbors by extortion... I will surely strike my hands together at the unjust gain you have made and at the blood you have shed in your midst. Will your hands be strong in the day I will deal with you?
Let us try to keep our hands clean. Let our financial balance sheet be attested by our Lord Almighty. Eternity is much, much more valuable than all the earthly riches. Never lose eternity.
5Talents
Written by the 5Talents editorial desk.
Money · Ethics · India · Corruption