Both Christian and non-Christian, often are confused and disturbed when Christians gain profit through selling Christian products. They may view this situation in varied perspectives. Often they see this as Christians who are misusing their faith in Jesus Christ, or falling into greedy temptations. On the contrary, Christians and non-Christians alike may be misunderstanding the entire situation. Do they truly see where the money is going at the end? First of all, let us consider how Christians work to make a career or living out of their passion or field of expertise (ie. Relationship with Christ). Did you know, in the Old Testament, priests were fed by their services in the Tabernacle? Whenever sacrifices were offered to the Lord, priests were allowed to eat certain parts of the sacrifice (animals, bread, etc). (Leviticus) This was also an expression from God that those who do his work will not go unfed. God feeds his people. Yet this does not include only priests, pastors, elders, and those who work in churches and large congregations. It is written that we are a priesthood before God, that He himself has given us that title. (1 Peter 2:9) So where do we draw the Line for the matter of greed versus being filled by Gods grace? Simply, we must understand the heart. It is written in the bible that our hearts are deceitful and full of mysteries, and it is so. (Jeremiah 17:9) We must understand that all that we gain through our Faith in Jesus Christ comes from God. Naturally, we are blessed. So we must understand where true profit (our ability to do business, the money we earn, and our prayers answered) came from. And it comes from Gods grace to provide for us. Unfortunately, we are easily hardened and quick to forget the blessings around us. Therefore, a warning is given to us and even in Proverbs, the writer asks God to not make him too rich, lest he forgets God and disowns Him. (Proverbs 30:8-9). Therefore, setting our hearts right before Gods eyes is key. Though a passionate businessman may be gaining riches beyond our imagination and proclaiming that he will give to the poor and needy, if God sees that the man is only saying those things to appear righteous among his peers, God himself will remove his hand of grace over him. I actually have an older sister that dealt with this issue for quite a long time. My family comes from a background of broken and poor businesses. Sadly, any business my family seemed to pursue would fail miserably. And since my father has no faith in Lord Jesus Christ (yet), he did not feel he had any need to pray to an invisible God. Thus, as this continued, my sister took the initiative to start her own business online, selling console video games. Of course, there were many discouragements coming from all sides, telling her to stop trying so hard. At this time, my sister was a senior in high school, and there were many times when I doubted her sudden lust for money. I often asked her why she wanted money so much. In the beginning, she told me that what she had was not enough. There will always be a need for money, whether it be for my own life or for someone else. This was during the time I became a Christian and my sister and the rest of my family were still struggling to understand why they needed a personal relationship with God. It disappointed me how my sister had no interest in using money for those in need of it, like the church, the poor, and suchyet I often told myself that I didnt know any better and that my nave view of this world was a false hope and my idea of charity may be a foolish way to waste money as others said. I left the issue aside, but one day, it bothered me to the point where I got on my knees before God and asked if there was something more beyond this. There must be something my human eyes cannot see I asked God to help us. I understood that she was not using her money for anything wrong, in particular, yet I prayed that God may open us up to opportunities where we can give and give without any worries. Though money is important, I ask God to never allow this to blind us from the true blessings that are found in Gods words and spending time with Him. Several months past and my sister truly dedicated her life to Christ and we were headed towards an amazing adventure as sisters who knew there would be an eternity with Christ. One day, as she was driving me to school, she began to talk about her business passionately, as she always did. Yet it was different from before, as she sighed and told me how hard it was for her to gain money in the beginning. She said it began to consume her and overtake her thoughts. It seemed to be the only thing she could think of. She told me that she began to understand that all the things she has ever earned were never hers in the first place. She began to understand that God Himself was her provider and that as long as she depended upon Him in all her business opportunities, she will never have to fear. Though she worries sometimes when bills are due, when money is short and rent is due, she says that she can still trust in God. That in all situations, He will come through and provide for our family when we trust in Him. So now, she has no fear and she wants to give back by giving to His people (church), the people that God cares for (poor), and anyone He convicts her to give. I was brought back to the verse that said how God provides for his people. (Genesis 22:7-9) I was amazed at what she said and I even asked her if she was feeling all right. Its amazing how people change the moment God touches them. As the years passed by, God has truly blessed my sister, and it was only for ONE REASON, a SIMPLE TRUTH that comes a long way to teach us. Give to God and God will multiply that by many folds. (Proverbs 3:9-10). We can turn to the story of Jesus taking the bread from the boy, and the first thing he did. He blessed it. (John 6:1-14) Imagine what the boy was thinking when he gave Jesus the piece of bread. Im sure he had no idea that God himself used it to feed over thousands of people. So the line is drawn. All your money earned, give God the glory for He is our provider. Also, be wise in your spending, knowing that God himself has given you that blessing and grace for your daily needs. (Matthew 6:11) Thus we pray, give us daily our daily bread, which is not necessarily in the form of money, in fact it is just food, or also the Word of God. Afterall, true profit is not worldly wealth, but the blessings that comes from the Gods words of life. |
