MONEY GRUBBING IS OUT
The Church is the kingdom of the poor (part 1)

‘In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.’ (Luke 14:33,NIV)

Money-grubbing has no place in God's kingdom. Jesus makes it crystal clear that we can't have two bosses at once - it's God or money (Luke 16:13). No divided loyalties: money-love competes with Jesus. Selfish greed is as bad as carving your own little god and bowing down to it (Ephesians 5:5). The greedy don't qualify as citizens in the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9).

Radical Jesus-followers must avoid wealth for self like the plague: it chokes the life of God and strangles real discipleship before it's even really got started (Matthew 13:22).

Remember the yuppie who couldn't let go of the cash when challenged by Jesus? He went away gutted - and addicted (Mark 10:17-23). Our pride and holier-than-thou attitudes, so often the result of dosh and power, are major hindrances to loving Jesus (Luke 18:9).

What's the word of the Master on the topic? 'Get rid of it!' (Luke 14:33). His most severe words were reserved for money-grubbing religious types (Luke 16:14).

Jesus people live out the righteousness of Jesus love.

Forget inequality or partiality in Jesus' kingdom. Personal accumulation is off the agenda! (1 Timothy 6:9-10). Share your stuff! 'Rich' and 'poor' are outmoded concepts in the new society. (Acts 2:42-7, Acts 4:32-35).

Unlike the dodgy world system, in Jesus' radical kingdom the poor are treated with dignity and respect, the weak are protected, the stranger is welcomed, the marginalised are included (Acts 6:1, James 1:27). Favouritism towards the posh rich is unacceptable: they're the ones who persecute the church and have a go at homeless Jesus (James 2:1-7, Matthew 8:20).

Church leaders must not be stuffy, power-mongerers with hefty pay packets: they're servants and should embody personal poverty - like the One they call Lord. (2 Corinthians 4:7-12; 6:4-10; 11:23-29, Luke 6:46).

The first church clearly shone with this alternative society: if daily conversions, healings, miracles and deliverances are any thing to go on, God honoured them (Acts 5:12-15). God is with the poor.

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