Be Clear It’s Not About The Money

Esther 9:10 (NIV) – the ten sons of Haman son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews. BUT THEY DID NOT LAY THEIR HANDS ON THE PLUNDER.

Esther 9:15 (NIV) – The Jews in Susa came together on the fourteenth day of the month of Adar, and they put to death in Susa three hundred men, BUT THEY DID NOT LAY THEIR HANDS ON THE PLUNDER.

Esther 9:16 (NIV) – Meanwhile, the remainder of the Jews who were in the king’s provinces also assembled to protect themselves and get relief from their enemies. They killed seventy-five thousand of them BUT THEY DID NOT LAY THEIR HANDS ON THE PLUNDER.

A good act inspired by money that one will receive at the end is no longer a good act. The money aspect makes it seem selfish. Where money is involved it becomes difficult to verify if the intentions were pure or they were inspired by money.

The opposite is true. If a good act is done without any money at the end, the act seems purer. The presence of money corrupts the perception. It becomes difficult and almost impossible to believe that money wasn’t the main aim, when money is involved.

If I insist on how much money I will be reimbursed after a trip to a preaching assignment, the focus shifts from preaching to save souls to my attempt to create personal wealth. If before baptism or wedding or burial or whatever other event I insist that the organizers give me a figure of money they will reimburse or even sent as appreciation, that insisting changes my purpose from pure pastoral work to a selfish personal agenda.

When Jews were given permission to destroy their enemies, they did it and they didn’t take the plunder. Plunder is money and money equivalents that can be rightfully collected from a war situation. Rightful collected. But they did not touch the plunder. The fact that they did not touch the plunder made their intentions pure even in the presence of their enemies!

Three times in one chapter the Bible tells us they did not touch the plunder. Three different incidences during revenge and where they had every right to take the plunder, but the Bible records that they did not take the plunder. Three different groups of Jews in far flung different places, and all of them did not take the plunder. It became clear, it was not about the money and its equivalents!

A higher calling can easily be stained by insistence on material things. How will I travel? Where will I sleep? What will you reimburse me? How much will I make at the end. It’s no longer mission, it’s about the money. When doing ministry, be clear that it’s not about the money!

Ministry is offered for free. Ministers should be appropriately facilitated. Ministers should not be shortchanged and they end up in discomfort or they end up spending their own money. Organizers should make it easy for ministers to trust them to make a correct judgement on what is fair. Ministers should minister with focus on the ministry and no single word on the money and its equivalents. So that it’s clear it’s not about the money!

Ministers should be willing to go everywhere. Where there is material comforts and where there is none. That demonstrates to the world that it’s not about the money. Ministers should look at the situation of those they serve and gladly serve them understanding that God will fix deficiencies of their best efforts.

Ministers should find it difficult to accept appreciation worth fifty seats from a church struggling to buy seats. Appreciation should be way less than that or be deferred. Ministers should avoid guilt tripping the members during occasions when ministers are being appreciated. Be clear that you can do without the appreciation and what is within their ability is acceptable. Be clear in your ministry by word and actions that it is not about the money!

1 Corinthians 9:7-12 (NIV) – 7 Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat its grapes? Who tends a flock and does not drink the milk? 8 Do I say this merely on human authority? Doesn’t the Law say the same thing? 9 For it is written in the Law of Moses: “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.” Is it about oxen that God is concerned? 10 Surely he says this for us, doesn’t he? Yes, this was written for us, because whoever plows and threshes should be able to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest. 11 If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you? 12 If others have this right of support from you, shouldn’t we have it all the more?

But we did not use this right. On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ.

Apostle Paul makes it clear that ministers have every right to being supported financially and materially as they serve. It’s a principle in scripture. A minister should not serve you at his own expense. His own transport. How own accommodation. Yet he has come to serve you!

However, at the end of that pericope, he says they did not use this right so that the gospel is not hindered. They had rights but if they were expected to demand their rights, they chose not to. This is because, had they demanded their rights, they would like they are ministering for the money and not because of the calling.

1 Corinthians 9:13-18 (NIV) – 13 Don’t you know that those who serve in the temple get their food from the temple, and that those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar? 14 In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel. 15 But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing this in the hope that you will do such things for me, for I would rather die than allow anyone to deprive me of this boast. 16 For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 17 If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me. 18 What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not make full use of my rights as a preacher of the gospel.

Apostle Paul refused to demand his rights, because that demand will make him be misunderstood. There is no pleasure in ministry if those you serve and serve with think that it’s all about the money. Live your life in ministry that makes it clear to the world that it’s not about the money.

If you are given less than what you should be given as reimbursement of what you spent, ask for it in the politest way possible or if you can, go in the name of the LORD, He will bless you. Do not make demands in fury and tarnish your higher calling. Be clear it’s not about the money!

Insisting on a certain amount makes it seem like you are selling the gospel. Avoid any situation where it seems you are selling the gospel. Avoid any situation where it seems you are being paid for pastoral duties that should be offered freely. You can’t be paid for baptizing. You can’t be paid for burying. You can’t be paid for officiating a wedding. Do not demand a certain amount of money or a suit. Be clear that it’s not about the money!

1 Corinthians 9:18 (NIV) – What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not make full use of my rights as a preacher of the gospel.

I have rights to many comforts while ministering, but I will not make such demands, so that it’s clear that it’s not about the money. My pastoral calling should not be marred by my rights in ministry.  The purity of the ministry should be a minister’s priority as it was for Apostle Paul.

Matthew 10:8 (NIV) – Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. FREELY YOU HAVE RECEIVED; FREELY GIVE.

Ministry is not a service we offer for pay. We serve freely. Those we serve are expected to ensure we do not end up using our own resources. Those we serve are supposed to ensure our comfort. Those we serve should not put us in a place where we must ask for what is a right – some degree of comfort and reimbursement. This will help us to offer freely a ministry that we freely received. We wish to be clear that it’s not about the money!

There is no harm when ministers encourage members to give money to support the ministry of the church. It is however different when the minister talks about money that ends up as his own. Emphasis on your own money at the pulpit or in private talk, will corrupt your ministry. Emphasis should be on money that serves the church mission, because that money doesn’t end up with you. Be clear that it’s not about the money!

If any leader or congregation shortchanges you and it’s clear they want it to look like it’s about the money, give up your rights. Do not make any further demands or inquiries. Let God step in and fix the problem. He will!

The ministry is pure when it’s not about the money. The ministry has a greater impact when it’s not about the money. The ministry is a blessing to the minister and those ministered to when it’s not about the money. Therefore be clear that it’s not about the money!

The best thriving businesses focus on the service they offer and not the money. If the service is desired, the money will come. If customers think you are selling for money, they will avoid you. If they think you are offering them goods and services, they will flock your business. If the money is the obvious motivation, you have lost it. Be clear it’s not about the money!

Employment is best when the passion is service and not money. You will enjoy working if you like the job more than the money attached to it. If your only motivation is money, each working day will be difficult. Therefore ensure that it is not all about the money!

Our studies in school should be inspired by what we love and are gifted to do. If the focus is on money, we may end up taking courses of study that will strain us and we will suffer in school and at work. Be clear that it’s not only about the money!

May God help us to make sure that it’s not about the money. May we never be driven by our personal needs to end up making demands to those we minister to. May our ministry and services be pure and uncorrupted by money demands. In Jesus name, Amen!

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