" ...We Do Not Peddle The Word Of GOD For Profit."

If you really want to get folks 
to open their wallets, you should . . .
(Don Fortner)

"Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds 
of Israel; prophesy and say to them: This is 
what the Sovereign LORD says: Woe to 
the shepherds of Israel who only take care 
of themselves! Should not shepherds take 
care of the flock?" Ezekiel 34:2 

While eating lunch at one of our favorite 
restaurants a few years ago, my wife and I 
could not help overhearing the conversation 
of two men sitting next to us. They were 
preachers. One was a young pastor. 
His guest was a middle-aged evangelist. 
I listened as the older man gave instructions 
to the younger man. 

He talked about one trick and then another 
to get men and women to give their money, 
having special meetings to teach people 
to give, etc. Every word they spoke to one 
another was about how to get people's money. 

Finally, the older preacher said, 
"If you really want to get folks 
to open their wallets, you should . . .", 
and proceeded to suggests another method 
of religious thievery as the young pastor 
sat spell-bound before his advisor. 

In the thirty or forty minutes it took us 
to eat, not one word was spoken about 
GOD, HIS SON, HIS glory, HIS grace, 
HIS salvation, or the souls of men. 
The whole conversation was about 
raising money!

Because it was a public place, and 
I was not a part of the conversation, 
I chose to say nothing; but I said to my wife, 
"I would like to say to that young man: 
If you will preach the free, saving grace 
of GOD in CHRIST three times a week 
to them, GOD'S people will give generously 
because they want to. You will not have 
to trick them to give.'"

My abhorrence of such men is inexpressible. 
They are self-serving thieves! GOD'S people 
do not have to be tricked into opening their 
wallets, or talked into being generous; 
nor will they be threatened into tithing.


Arthur Pink: 
"Beware of all who solicit money! 
There are few things we loathe more than 
to see those professing to be engaged in 
a work of faith, soliciting money. We 
sincerely trust that many of these bogus 
'faith' enterprises, which have for so long 
preyed upon a credulous public, will soon 
go out of business. The world will be no 
worse off, and GOD will be less dishonored."

"I will not burden you, for I am not  
seeking what you have, but you." 
2 Corinthians 12:14

"Unlike so many, we do not peddle 
the Word of GOD for profit." 
2 Corinthians 2:17

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Arthur Pink "Profiting from the Word"
Chapter 9. The Scriptures and JOY