WISDOM FOR LIVING DAILY DEVOTIONAL
FEBRUARY 25, 2024
TOPIC: YOU CAN’T BUY THE GIFT OF GOD WITH MONEY
BY T. O. BANSO
“And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, saying, ‘Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.’ But Peter said to him, ‘Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money!’” (Acts 8:18-20 New King James Version).
There are different kinds of people in church, including the rich and the poor. The poor must not be despised, and the rich must not be given preferential treatment. The poor and the rich are one in Christ. There should be no favouritism.
James 2:2–4 says, “Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, ‘Here’s a good seat for you,’ but say to the poor man, ‘You stand there’ or ‘Sit on the floor by my feet,’ have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?”(New International Version).
The Apostle James continues, “Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? But you have insulted the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? Are they not the ones who are slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong?” (Verses 5-7 New International Version). You should love both the rich and the poor. Verse 9 says if you show favouritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.
Not everyone gives to the church or pastor with the right motives. As I have said, there are different kinds of people in church. Among them are those who think that they can use their money or material gifts to influence the church leaders or pastors to give them positions in the church. They want to buy the holy things of God with money.
Some of them may not give the offerings that others give but like to get the pastor’s attention by giving him personal gifts. They may not attend church programmes, but they can come to the pastor’s office or visit him in the house with gifts. Proverbs 18:16 says a man’s gift makes room for him and brings him before great men.
Some people in the church try to use their money or gifts to gain access to the church leadership and buy positions. They try to use money and gifts to get the holy things that others receive through divine choice, devotion to God, commitment, sacrifice, and consecration. They erroneously believe that with money they can get anything. We find such a case in Acts 8. Simon Magnus, otherwise called Simon the sorcerer, tried to do that, but Peter stopped him.
Acts 8:18-20 says, “And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, saying, ‘Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.’ But Peter said to him, ‘Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money!’” (New King James Version).
Paul rebuked Simon further: “You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity’” (Acts 8:21-23 New King James Version).
There is no record that Simon repented of his wickedness, as Peter asked him to do. His reply to Peter was, “Pray to the Lord for me, that none of the things which you have spoken may come upon me” (Acts 8:24 New King James Version). There is also no record that Peter prayed for him.
The term “Simony,” a form of ecclesiastical corruption, came from Simon’s act. It is the buying or selling of spiritual offices or privileges such as forgiveness. A living church must not allow or encourage simony; spiritual or church offices should not be given to the highest bidders. The ‘Simons’ must not be allowed to take over leadership in the Kingdom of God or corrupt it. The rich must not be favoured in appointment into holy offices because of their money. Bribes must not be demanded or received in the appointment, promotion, or posting of ministers.
A Pastor should not love gifts or money otherwise he will not be able to stop the ‘Simons’ in his congregation. He will not be able to reject their money as Peter did. The Bible says the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows (1 Timothy 6:10). That’s why the Bible warns the ministers of the gospel against the love of money.
Christians, including church leaders, cannot serve God and money – they must choose one (Matthew 6:24; Luke 16:13). Among the requirements for being ordained a bishop is that he should not be a lover of money (1 Timothy 3:3). Also, Titus 1:7 says a bishop or pastor must not be greedy of filthy lucre. In other words, he must not be greedy for money. A shepherd or church leader must care for the flock of God, not because of what he will get out of it, but because he is eager to serve God (1 Peter 5:1-2).
Not every giver is a ‘Simon,” and not it is not all gifts that a minister of the gospel should receive although the Bible encourages giving and receiving. It is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35). Paul says in Philippians 4:15 that in the beginning of the gospel when he departed from Macedonia, no church had fellowship with him in the matter of giving and receiving but only the Philippians. According to Galatians 6:6, those who are taught the word should share in all good things with him who teaches them. But while it is right to give and receive, it is not everyone that a pastor should receive from. He must not receive gifts from the ‘Simons’ who want to buy the holy things of God or spiritual offices.
The sacred things of God, positions in the church, forgiveness, etc. are not for sale. They are not for the highest bidder. Holy things must not be called common – there must be distinction (Leviticus 10:10). Don’t offer money to buy the holy things of God, as Simon did. Also, as a church leader, don’t encourage the ‘Simons.’ Don’t let them corrupt you or the church with money. Reject their money or gifts, as Peter did. The holy things of God or spiritual offices are not for sale. They must not be given to those who pay for them but to those whom God has chosen.
TAKE ACTION!
If you are not born again, you need to give your life to Jesus now. I urge you to take the following steps: *Admit that you are a sinner, and you cannot save yourself and repent of your sins. *Confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. *Renounce your past way of life – your relationship with the devil and his works. *Invite Jesus into your life. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start attending a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church. There they will teach you how to grow in the Kingdom of God.
Kindly say this prayer now: O Lord God, I come unto You today. I know I am a sinner, and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me and God raised Him on the third day. I repent of my sins and confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I surrender my life to Jesus now and invite Him into my heart. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank You, Jesus, for saving me and making me a child of God.
I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations! You will need to join a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church in your area where they will teach you how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like a palm tree and grow like a cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things and become all God wants you to be. I will be glad to hear from you. The Lord be with you.
PRAYER POINTS: I shall not be possessed by the love of money and sell the holy things of God or spiritual offices. I will not encourage the ‘Simons’ to corrupt me or the house of God with their gifts. I shall not be a Simon who tries to corrupt the church leaders to buy the holy things of God or holy offices.
(For over 900 in-depth and powerful messages by T. O. Banso, visit www.cedarministry.org).
T. O. Banso is the President of Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria.
Phone No: +2348155744752, +2348033113523
WhatsApp No: +2349081295947
Email: cedarministryintl@yahoo.com,
cedarministryng@gmail.com
Website: www.cedarministry.org
