04/26/19 Filthy Gain

READING: 1 Samuel 8-10,  Luke 17:20-37

It’s almost frightening what a desire for money will do to us. We probably need not look far to find stories of fraud, bribery, theft, and deceit in the pursuit of dollars. Often, those dollars are intended to support some other idolatrous habit, but the desire for money remains the same. Sadly, even the church world has stories of leaders who embezzled money. Apparently, even church-going people can be tempted by immoral financial gain.

Samuel’s sons are evidence of this reality. Their father had appointed them to be judges over God’s people, but they “did not walk in his ways—they turned toward dishonest profit, took bribes, and perverted justice” (1 Sam 8:3). They surely knew better, for the scriptures clearly condemned such actions (Exod 23:8; Lev 19:15; Deut 16:19)—but the lure of gain was so great that they didn’t care how they got it. In fact, they perverted justice in order to gain more.

One would hope that none of us would make such choices. At the same time, though, I doubt most people who commit such sins start out with the assumption they will seek dishonest gain. Money has a way of grabbing even the purest hearts if we don’t stay alert to its power.

PRAYER: “Father, guard me from living for dishonest gain. Stop me from allowing Your blessings to become my idols.” 

TOMORROW’S READING: 1 Samuel 11:1-14:14,  Luke 18:1-23

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