Why is it such an extreme to both ends of the spectrum? No middle ground?
Matthew 6:24
ESV - 24 No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.
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A preacher of the gospel can not let money have any influence in what he preaches. Preachers can not let money influence what they preach. They are to preach the gospel, First Corinthians 15:1-4. If the people hear that gospel, and want a different gospel, and withhold money because they do not like the message of all grace for salvation, Romans 11:6. The preacher is not to change the message for monetary gain. Paul said in Galatians 1:7-9 Though we or an angel from heaven preach any other gospel than that which we have preached unto you, let them be accursed. As we said before, so say I again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received. Let them be accursed. So, a preacher would be in danger of being chastened by the Lord, and maybe even lose his life. If He was a believer, He could not lose his salvation, but God would most likely take him out of the ministry. It is interesting to note that Paul did not take any money and worked as a tent maker. Any money from one church to another was to help those in need. Now we have professional preachers. They are also government run whether we like to believe that or not. 501c3 churches are exempt from taxes which means they can not support political candidates or preach things the government says no to. In effect 501c3 churches are government churches. And the government can change their status at any time they deem necessary from a government tax exempt church to a taxed church. As they see fit. My personal opinion is churches should not be 501c3 churches. It gives the government to much control over how the gospel is preached. Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Having said all of that, the bible also says not to muzzle the ox who is treading out the grain. A good gospel free grace preacher should be given some kind of compensation equal to the average person in the congregation. No more, and no less. Money in itself is not evil. We all need it to survive. But to not preach what the bible says and change the message for monetary gain is not right. The bible also says that a man should provide for his family. And a man that does not work should not eat. The bible has a lot to say about money.
Jesus is instructing His disciples in various facets of worship and serving. He is as most of the time explaining how far the Pharisees and even Priest had veered from God's way. The religious establishment were hypocrites and desired self glory. Go back to Matthew 6:19-21 where Jesus says to be about heavenly treasure and not gaining so much earthly wealth, because a person will strive more to get wealth and keep it, even to the difference of spiritual gain. Wealth can become a master to one that lets it. I Timothy 6:10 declares the Love of Money is the root of evil. So when one begins to Love money it can become your master what you spend your time doing. The word used for hate in the Bible sometimes means that in comparison to love what is less loved is not favored. So if Mammon or earthly wealth is what motivates you it is a master that is loved and thus spiritual matters become less loved and lesser than love.
☆。・:*:・゚★,。・:*:・゚☆ 。・:*:・゚★,。・:*:☆ No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon (Mt. 6:24) ✿ Jesus is stating an ‘utter‘ impossibility. (Ref. Lk. 14:26). One must prefer God or love Him more than all else to be saved (Mt. 22:37). "God first" is the motto of the Bible. ❶ To hate here is an idiom of preference. If men prefer sin and Satan to God, then they are of the devil (1Jn. 3:8) and will be sent to hell with him (Mt. 25:41). ❷ Ye cannot serve God and mammon. The second time this impossibility is stated in this verse. And mammon means riches of the world (cf. Lk. 16:11). Mammon is riches, as it is contrasted in Lk. 16:11 with true riches. It is called here unrighteous riches (Lk. 16:9,11) because they deceive and lead to false security damning the soul if they are permitted to rob one of eternal life (1Tim. 6:9-10,17 Lk. 12:15-21). ☆。・:*:・゚★,。・:*:・゚☆ 。・:*:・゚★,。・:*:☆
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