Friday, March 28, 2008

Dancing for Dollars

We must be careful to keep pure motives in ministry. Temptation comes in many forms, and money is often a means of influence. What are we willing to compromise to make a check? What dances are "off limits" to us? We must know what we are not willing to do in movement ministry. We must make the decision as to whether we serve God or mammon. We cannot be slaves to both.

A little compromise is still disobedience. If the Holy Spirit warns us that certain garments, songs, events, and affiliations are not to be an option for us, are we willing to stand in the face of ridicule? Can we endure criticism from those who may think that we are trying to be "deep" in the things of God? Will we embrace being labeled "peculiar people" for the sake of obeying God?

Let us not let anyone control us with filthy lucre. There is nothing wrong with being blessed for serving in the Kingdom; However, when our deciding factor becomes money, then we have chosen to yield to another god. If we dance for dollars, then we are no better than those that work as entertainers for hire. Let us retain the promise of the Lord to be our Provider. He is a Rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.

Exodus 23:8 (NKJV)
"And you shall take no bribe, for a bribe blinds the discerning and perverts the words of the righteous."

Micah 3:11 (NKJV)
"Her heads judge for a bribe, her priests teach for pay, and her prophets divine for money. Yet they lean on the LORD, and say, Is not the LORD among us? No harm can come upon us."

Acts 8:20-21 (NKJV)
"But Peter said to him, 'Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money! You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God.'"

1 Corinthians 9:18-19 (NKJV)
"What is my reward then? That when I preach the gospel, I may present the gospel of Christ without charge, that I may not abuse my authority in the gospel. For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more."

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