Now before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus, knowing that His hour had come that He would depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.
John 13:1 NASB2020
Ministry is not a business. It’s a lifestyle of loving others like Jesus loves. Making disciples is not a business. It’s a lifestyle of walking with others, loving them patiently, until they mature enough to go and make disciples themselves.
Everything that the Father does is motivated by love. He desires fellowship with us. He is holy and righteous. There’s no way for us, as sinful as we are, to stand in His presence without being in Christ. There’s no way to the Father except through Jesus. No one comes to the Father except through the leading of the Holy Spirit.
What I’m trying to say is that we need to rethink what Church is and how we “do it.”
The world loves money. Everything we do revolves around acquiring and spending money. What if money didn’t exist? Could we still survive? Of course. Plants don’t use money, yet they thrive anywhere there is light and moisture. Animals don’t use money, yet they thrive anywhere there is a food source and safety.
Everything we need for life and godliness has already been provided for us by God. We live in an illusionary economy that requires everything be accounted for in monetary terms. That’s the mark of the beast. The beast does not love. It only buys and sells and consumes our souls.
Money is a tool, not a god. Don’t become its slave. Use it to further God’s agenda, not your own. What would happen if we quit worshipping wealth? Those who love to make a profit would become poor. Those enslaved by the rich to a paycheck would become free.
Prepare yourselves for a new economy. The economy of the Kingdom. The economy of love. Give and receive freely, without using money. Share with those in need, expecting nothing in return. That’s how He loves. He gave His life for us. We had nothing to offer in return except our sin nature. He pays our debt and accepts us anyways. That’s how He loves.
Decide today who is your master. Is it money? Is it your pride? Is it your flesh? Or is it God Almighty?
Jesus made a way where there was no way. Jesus shows us the way. We have a choice. Will we follow the way or go our own way?
Father in Heaven, give us our daily bread. And give us some to share with our neighbors in need. To the glory of God. Amen.
The crowds asked him, “What should we do?”
He answered them, “Whoever has two shirts should share with the person who doesn’t have any. Whoever has food should share it too.”
Luke 3:10-11 GW