Ministry and Money Part 4

Money isn’t important to God, but because it’s important to us, He greatly uses it to accomplish His purposes for us—dependence, healing and exposing our flesh. If cooking was the most important thing to us, cooking would be what the Lord used the most to get our attention. For those on the receiving end of true (Life-giving) ministry, though the Lord will honor and care for His ministers, that doesn’t let you off the hook. Because every minister has bills to pay, if that minister or ministry has shared what the Lord has given them, and you have received it, you are obligated to respond in kind, regardless of whether you are supporting other ministries, churches or charitable organizations. One of the reasons there is a lack of Present, Immediate, Applicable Truth and Power from the Lord (and there is an incredible, unnecessary lack), is because so many of those who know how to depend on the Lord and are willing and able to share it, are instead working at secular jobs (or in religious organizations) just to meet their natural financial obligations, or have been forced to resort to using secular marketing techniques to support their ministry, watering down their message, to gain commercially what was meant to be given gratefully. Often those who are assigned by the Lord to be supporting true ministers, but have not heard or responded to the Lord, are nickeling and diming every passing donation plate, or “dining without paying for their meal.” Likewise, if the Lord decides that the task He has for you requires you to be unencumbered by an occupation, He is responsible for your compensation. If you look to the people you’re ministering to, or to your finances for support and motivation, you’ve kicked God off the throne of your self-life in favor of the security of the control of your livelihood...which may very well be part of the lesson He’s trying to teach you.