INCOME - Dag Heward-Mills

READ: 1 Samuel 15:11-35

Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the Lord, but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst evil in the sight of the Lord?

1 Samuel 15:19

Saul spared the goats and the sheep and raised some much needed money for the Kingdom of God. Indeed Saul’s disobedience raised a good income for the people of God. The spoil would feed the soldiers and make the troops happy. Yet God was not impressed with the money even though it was income for His house.

Raising money in the name of God and for His work is a common alternative to obeying God. It is amazing how decisions for the work of God are deemed to be right only if they are financially profitable. Doing financially profitable things is not the same as obeying God. Obeying God may be financially profitable but obeying God may be financially very unprofitable. It is entirely up to what the Lord wants.

Many people feel that once money is raised and a good income is achieved for God’s work, the will of God has been done. In fact, many ministers measure their success by the offerings they get. This is a very dangerous practice because being successful and being prosperous does not mean you are in the will of God.