THE MONETIZED BELIEVERS

THE MONETIZED BELIEVERS

"Don’t be naive. There are difficult times ahead. As the end approaches, people are going to be self-absorbed, money-hungry, self-promoting, stuck-up, profane, contemptuous of parents, crude, coarse, dog-eat-dog, unbending, slanderers, impulsively wild, savage, cynical, treacherous, ruthless, bloated windbags, addicted to lust, and allergic to God. They’ll make a show of religion, but behind the scenes they’re animals. Stay clear of these people" -2 Timothy 3:1‭-‬5 (MSG)

Many years ago a young man went to China as a missionary with an income of $2,500 annually. A company decided that they wanted this young man to work for them and offered him a position with a $5,000 salary. He declined the offer, and it was raised to $7,000 and then to $10,000, but he still declined. The company asked him if the salary was his sticking point and he answered, “Oh, the salary is big enough, but the job isn’t.”  (The Speaker’s Quote Book, Roy B. Zuck)

One salient admonition that every believer must pay closer attention to now is the warning on the risk of monetising or  commercialising our kingdom's service as we approach the end time ( 2 Timothy 3:1-5). Unfortunately, this serious admonition seems to have fallen on the deaf ears of many believers in this generation. The spirit of monetisation has possessed the church and almost everything in the kingdom can now be monetised and commercialised with ease. There are now many money-hungry men and women behind the pulpit more than ever before. Many anointed singers and instrumentalists have commercialised their gifts in order to satisfy their lust for the ephemeral. Some Ushers and Treasurers have monetised their service by stealing from God like Apostle Judas Iscariot (John 12:4-6). Many believers insatiable appetites and greed for earthy gains and pleasure have turned them to caricature of their real self. Like Gehazi, many Christian have mastered the act of running after Naaman to receive gratifications for their kingdom service and exploit (2 Kings 5:15-27). While some believers  have monetised their kingdom duties by outsourcing it to the few active workers in church. They claim that they are too busy to serve, thereby, monetising their service with tithes, offerings and gifts for their pastors. They believed that their pastor should understand better moreso that their cheques are coming into the church purse regularly. Humm!  What a myopic mind-set!  What a serious blunder! They seem to have forgotten what Jesus Christ says in Matthew 6:24 about danger of monetisation in the kingdom. 

“You cannot serve two masters at the same time. You will hate one and love the other, or you will be loyal to one and not care about the other. You cannot serve God and Money at the same time"- Matthew 6:24 (ERV)

Friends, what have you monetised or commercialised in the kingdom?  Is it your talents, gifts , calling or anointing? Are you one of those "monetised believers" in the kingdom today? Please repent today before the gate of mercy is closed against you. Like that young missionary in the story above, don't monetise or commercialise your service to God. Always remember that serving God is a special privilege and the greatest adventure in the world. Serving God does not only pay, but pays the most and the best (Exodus 23:25-28, Job 36:11). Wholehearted Kingdom service gives incomparable dividends and out-of-this world order of divine blessings which is immune to all kinds of sorrow (Proverbs 10:22). It also secures posterity and procures longevity, health and vitality. Engaging in Kingdom duties is the master key to a life of fulfilment, sweatless triumph and supernatural joy. When we are ‘on the go’, serving the interests of the Kingdom, we will always return with joy, which secures our harvest (Luke 10:17).

"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord"- 1 Corinthians  15:58 

One special hymn that expresses the mind of God on kingdom service is titled "It Pay To Serve Jesus". As you meditate on the lyrics of this powerful hymn,  please trust God to cast out every spirit of monetisation that is wrecking havoc in body of Christ in our generation. And in case you have never surrendered your life to Jesus Christ,  then today would be a good time to make that a reality. The fountain is still flowing for you. Please come to the Lord right now and let Him use your life to preach to the world that it really pays to serve Jesus.

IT PAYS TO SERVE JESUS by Frank Huston , 1909

"It pays to serve Jesus, I speak from my heart,
He'll always be with us, if we do our part
There's naught in this wide world can pleasure afford;
There's peace and contentment in serving the Lord.

CHORUS
          I love Him far better than in days of yore
          I'll serve Him more truly than ever before,
          I'll do as He bids me, whatever the cost,
          I'll be a true soldier, I'll die at my post.

And oft when I'm tempted to turn from the track,
I think of my Saviour, my mind wanders back
To the place where they nailed Him on Calvary's tree.
I heard a voice saying, "I suffered for thee."

A place I remember where I was set free,
'Twas where I found pardon, a heaven to me.
There Jesus spoke sweetly to my weary soul,
My sins were forgiven, He made my heart whole.

How rich is the blessing the world cannot give,
I'm satisfied fully for Jesus to live;
Though friends may forsake me and trial arise,
I am trusting Jesus, His love never dies.

There is no one like Jesus can cheer me today.
His love and His kindness can ne'er fade away,
In winter and summer, in sunshine and rain,
His love and affection are always the same.

Will you have this blessing that Jesus bestows,
A free full salvation from sin's bitter throes?
O come to the Saviour, to Calvary flee,
The fountain is opened, is flowing for thee."

Finally, if you are not a "monetised believer", please join us for the Global Outreach Day 2020 (GO 20) on Saturday 30th May, 2020 as we witness Jesus to everyone in our neighbourhood and communities. It is my prayer that the Great Shepherd whom you are serving faithfully will continue to take care of your needs and also bless you abundantly with things that money cannot even buy in Jesus name. Amen

Good day and God bless you.

Maranatha!

Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo
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