Do You Do It For Money?

 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;

8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;

9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.

10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:

11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.

12 One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, the Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.

13 This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;

14 Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.

15 Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.

16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

-Titus 1:7-16 (King James Version)

Paul has some pointed words concerning the office of the church Pastor. It's words that we must adhere to today. Unfortunately it's words that seem to be going unheard. 

Verse 9 says, "Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers." By holding onto the faithful word and sound doctrine that he was taught, the Pastor must teach and convince those who don't believe the Word to believe it. He must proclaim the truth. This, though, isn't limited to the church Pastor. It goes for you and me as well. You see, we come in contact with many, many people who would never set foot in a church, who would never listen to a carefully crafted sermon by a Pastor. We must hold fast to the faithful word and sound doctrine of the Bible. Verse 10-11 says, "For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: 11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake." There are many people who proclaim the word for money, for financial gain. Because of that love for money, they are willing to change and alter the message. Paul refers to them as vain talkers and deceivers. And there are plenty of them around today. He says their mouths must be stopped. 

Are you selling the truth of the Gospel for financial gain? Are you preaching sound doctrine, or carefully crafted myths and teachings of men? Think About It.