Blog

Dirty money.

It’s not just the Netflix series about corporate corruption. It’s the headline some believers apply to money.

After all, Jesus Himself said it was dirty — once, sort of, when He called money “adikia” — unrighteous, unjust, iniquitous, wrong. But this was as a postscript to His story about the shrewd money manager.

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Here’s a conversation that could never happen. Why? Because it’s between a fictional farmer from one of Jesus’ stories and Jacob!

Like I said, that ain’t happening.

But if these two did talk, what do suppose they’d have to say about owning wealth? Who it belongs to? How it should be used?

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“Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.” (John 6:27, NIV)

I saw it this morning, while walking my dog. An hour before daybreak, the shadowy figure of a coyote disappeared and re-appeared between the streetlights just ahead of us. After my dog let out a nervous huff, it stopped, turned to stare at us, and then kept trotting ahead.

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“And so the people were restrained from bringing more, because what they already had was more than enough to do all the work.” (Exodus 36:6-7, NIV)

Here’s a silly question: Is there ever such a thing as too much giving? When it comes to generosity, is the sky always the limit?

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What’s the cost of church renewal?

It depends on the type of cost, right? Fees for renewal programs range from hundreds to thousands of dollars; but there’s also the human cost of soul searching, prayer and repentance.

Which cost would you rather pay?

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I once suggested to a funeral director that his standard pay rate for conducting a funeral service be raised. His curt reply: ‘I thought you did this for ministry.’

Ouch

So when does greed leach into ministry? Where’s the line and how do we know it’s been crossed?

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Let’s have some fun with a sermon challenge! Here goes…

Could you or would you ever compose and preach this sermon: “Jesus Is the Key to Your Financial Success”?

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“With that kind of money, anybody could have their dream job and not worry about failing. How sweet is that?”

This is a line I rehearse regularly whenever I hear about the careers and lifestyles of people I consider to be uber-wealthy. Wanna hear another one?

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“For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.” 2 Corinthians 5:14

Trust me, you’ve already seen this movie a time or two: a pastor is asked to sit down to “hear what some people are saying” about the church’s current ministry.

The lines are so tired, you can parrot them as they’re spoken: “The sermons are weak. The flock isn’t being fed. There’s too much emphasis on the community. What about us?”

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A simple reflection from somebody who knows a thing or two about quarantine.

Dear pastor,

I keep thinking of you. The afternoon doldrums take over my thoughts, and there you are. The reaches of the night find me restless, so I pray for you. I pray for your family. I pray for new mercies and for shalom.

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