Local Church Budget
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AUTHOR: Nelson Silva
PRESENTER: John Mathews
Like yellow fever, greed is an illness that overtakes people’s lives to the point of doing unthinkable things. For instance, during the 1800s the gold rush fever broke out, and people from around the world traveled to San Francisco with the goal of becoming rich overnight. Many died in the attempt to reach their destination as they were unprepared for multiple dangers, illnesses, and unfavorable environmental conditions.
Money is amoral, which means that it is a tool. Money can be used to build up a community or destroy it. San Francisco, for instance, became a city of greed, moral decay, and crime during the Gold fever era. Money, however, could be used to feed, shelter, and educate a community instead. “The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil” (1 Tim. 6:10).
Covetousness, the invisible sin, is deep and private and devastating. In fact, most sins can trace their roots back to it. Coveting money, for instance, can lead to a series of maladies such as stealing, gambling, lying, bribery, oppression, family-breakdown, wrong kind of business, breakdown of the Sabbath, murder, war, muddling the motives of religious workers, and far more (see Leslie B. Flynn, Your God and Your Gold, 65–81).
Someone has said, “If you wish to be delivered from the love of money, give freely.” Giving is the cure to the inherently selfish nature of humanity. God instituted the tithing and offering system to help believers keep greed in check. May you love God more than money. May you avoid greed by giving generously.
Today’s offering will go to support our local church and its outreach to others.
2016-10-15