May 4, 2012 (2 Samuel 8-9; 1 Chronicles 18-19; Matthew 21)
From the Life Journal of Adam Proux:
Scripture: “He said to them, “The scriptures declare, My Temple will be called a house of prayer, but you have turned in into a den of thieves!” Matthew 21:13 NLT
Observation: Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out all the people buying and selling animals for sacrifice. He knocked over the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves. He was upset because making money had become the purpose of the Temple and the number one priority. People came from miles away to worship at the Temple only to be manipulated into paying a higher price for the animals that were to be sacrificed. They even had money exchangers so they could take all forms of currency, no matter what country the people were from.
Application: Unfortunately this same type manipulation still goes on today. We may not be selling animals for sacrifice, but the Temple is still a profit center and manipulation is still the preferred method of getting the peoples money. Now days we charge high prices for “leadership” conferences, (and the like) that will encourage and instruct people into becoming better “leaders”. We market the conference in a way that makes it look like this is what it cost to put this thing on. But behind the scenes things are not so innocent. In most cases a conference, a golf outing, a BBQ lunch, a special singing, these things are just clever ways of raising funds for various ministries. And there’s nothing wrong with raising money for ministry, but manipulation should not be a tool that is used in doing so.
Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for this day. Thank You for Your mercy and grace that provide and protect me everyday. I pray that You would bless the leadership conference today and bring about some good from it. If manipulation was used in the marketing of this conference, I pray You would convict the leaders that have been blinded by the need for finances. Renew them and place within them a clean heart and a right spirit, in Jesus name, Amen!