Very often I come across people who love to be followers of the powerful.
They don’t crave position or post, but love being seen around politicians or the rich, and gain their popularity by just being followers.
Jesus too had many who wanted to be His followers. In the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter Eight, we read about two who wanted to do so: 19 Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.”
20 Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay ,his head.”
21 Another disciple said to him, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”
22 But Jesus told him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”
Suddenly, both realised that there were costs involved. One, was that of poverty and piety, and the other that of immediacy.
I’d like to concentrate on the first today, because when I see preachers making money out of their gospel work, it is extremely bothersome! I find the phenomenon of preachers living lavish lifestyles while espousing a message of humility and simplicity a troubling trend.
The Jesus of the Bible is depicted as a humble, compassionate, and selfless individual who preached a message of love, forgiveness, and sacrifice.
The lavish lifestyles of many preachers are a far cry from the humble, simple life that Christ modelled himself on. These preachers often reside in opulent mansions, own private jets, and flaunt their wealth on social media. This blatant display of wealth and materialism undermines the credibility of their message and raises questions about their true intentions.
Because as mentioned in the verse, Jesus only wanted only one type of people to go about preaching His gospel, and that was those who believed in humility and piety.
We have just finished the Christmas season and have done away with the plastic or wooden mangers and cribs we used in our living rooms.
We have just stopped singing, ‘away in a manger, no crib for a bed,’
Why would an all-powerful, omnipotent God, prefer to be born in a manger and not in a palace? And then after you have pondered on that question go back to what He tells one of those who want to follow Him, ‘“Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay, his head.”
What kind of a bed does your preacher lie on?
How does he transport himself? Business or first class, or is he comfortable taking a train or traveling economy?
And finally, is all this wealthy behaviour coming out of the coffers of his or her congregation?
Think about it: Maybe you’ve got the wrong man or woman as your shepherd..!
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God heals his faithful even in a luxurious preachers retreat. God’s mercy and his simple people’s faith! Nothing comes in between.
However God knows when to pull the strings back
Thank you Bobby for the interesting article. Simple living and high thinking is the mark of a great leader as he models a life to his followers that helps them cut their coat according to their cloth and they won’t be covetous but generous