Don't Preach For the Sake of the Offering

565 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from: 2Sa 16:3,4, “Then the king said, "And where is your master's son?" And Ziba said to the king, "Indeed he is staying in Jerusalem, for he said, 'Today the house of Israel will restore the kingdom of my father to me.'" 4 So the king said to Ziba, "Here, all that belongs to Mephibosheth is yours." And Ziba said, "I humbly bow before you, that I may find favor in your sight, my lord, O king!" (2 Sam 16:1-4) Ziba has given a generous gift to David as the kings readies to leave for the wilderness. Then Ziba tells a blatant lie about Mephibosheth and David doesn't take the time to get the real story. He immediately hands over all of Mephibosheth's property to Ziba. There is so much wrong here. Let's start with the necessity of establishing a matter with two witnesses. 2Co 13:1b says, "By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established." And in the matter of church discipline, Jesus says in Mt 18:16, “take one or two others along with you that every charge may be established.” Still another bothersome part of the story is the possibility that David was quick to look the other way because of the nice gift he had received from Ziba. This can be a temptation in the church even today. Pastors, elders, church leaders can find themselves looking the other way at the indiscretions of those who generously fill the offering basket. Paul's instructions to Timothy in 1 Tim 5:21, were, “do nothing from partiality,” and in James 2:3,4 “and if you pay attention to the one who wears fine clothing....have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?” Then in James 2:9, “But if you show partiality you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.” Ex 23:8 And you shall take no bribe, for the bribe blinds the wise and perverts the words of the righteous. The offering basket must never wag the tail of the church. A church that preaches for the sake of the offering,....well, “verily, verily, you have your reward. Truth must never be watered down for the sake of cash flow. Father, help us to remain steadfast in Your Word.