Avoiding The Distraction Of Money In Following Christ: A Practical Exposition Of Matthew 6:19-24 -- By: James Harmeling

Journal: Conservative Theological Journal
Volume: CTJ 04:13 (Dec 2000)
Article: Avoiding The Distraction Of Money In Following Christ: A Practical Exposition Of Matthew 6:19-24
Author: James Harmeling


Avoiding The Distraction Of Money In
Following Christ:
A Practical Exposition Of Matthew 6:19-24

James Harmeling

Pastor, Pleasant Valley Baptist Church, Camarillo, CA

One of the tips I received while learning to drive a car concerned safety precautions at night. The lights of oncoming traffic could distract my vision, especially when maneuvering around a corner, and prompt me to lose sight of the dividing lines in the road and drift across the lane. Therefore, it was important that I concentrate on the road line next to the front wheel. This would help me to concentrate on the road.

As with driving, there are diversions in life that can prompt believers to veer off their path of growth and head into dangerous territory. One subtle yet strong spiritual distraction has to do with material possessions. Over the last half of the 20th century, the evangelical church in America has enjoyed great prosperity. Both churches and parachurch ministries have been the recipients of a sizeable amount of money as our nation’s economy has prospered.

Yet, this growth in resources has not been without some consequences. Michael Hamilton recently documented this financial upswing in evangelicalism over the past half century and noted a number of ways in which the church has been affected by it. While evangelicals did some positive things with their increased wealth, like expand social welfare, human services, and private education, Hamilton observed some disturbing trends. He saw a growing segregation in the church based upon financial status, an increased emphasis on fundraising techniques and a

deeper concern over public image.1 The evangelical church also utilized more and more of their funds for political purposes.

On a more scandalous note, a number of Christian leaders made the headlines of national news with their displays of materialism and greed. Plus, various ministries in an attempt to gain more wealth in a rapid space of time were lured into various fraudulent investment scams and lost tens of thousands of dollars. The worst product of the prosperous church has been the mainstreaming of an entire theological system that promises financial profits through Christ’s atonement. The wealthy evangelical church at the beginning of a new century has increasingly manifested a preoccupation with money. This has led Randy Alcorn to ponder, “Can a materialistic world ever be won to Christ by a materialistic church?”2

Jesus addresses this subject in his discourse on discipleship in the Sermon on the ...

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