KneEmail - a devotional by Mike Benson associated with Forthright Magazine
Cash
BECAUSE THE CHURCH is a spiritual kingdom (Col. 1:13), having Jesus Christ as her Lord, there are spiritual principles that govern her life...
Jesus never intended for us to adopt worldly wisdom with its principles which guide and organize human institutions and make them force them into the life of the church.
If the kingdom of Christ is not of this world, then why is it that in some many locations the church is governed by worldly principles adopted by its leading businessmen? Nowhere do the Scriptures of Jesus' teaching indicate that the kingdom of heaven is a business or to be operated as a business. Business, by their very nature, are principally concerned about the bottom line. What is their margin of profit?
In too many places, this line of thinking has slipped into the church and has been adopted by the elders of many local churches. Too often the eldership has been reduced to little more than a board of directors who are the decision makers being interested in how much the church can save and/or invest. Some congregations, even small in number, are saving hundreds of thousands of dollars. What is the purpose of these funds? When the Lord returns, what is Jesus going to do with all the money the church has accumulated for Him? Can we hear Him saying, "Well done, thou good and faithful steward of my cash?" The church must not make a god out of the cash in the Lord's checking account as some individuals have done.
Today, the church needs shepherds who are tending the flock rather than its board of directors. (Tim Childs)
KneEmail: "Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood" ( Acts 20:28).