My Temple will be a house of prayer, but you have turned it into a den of thieves. Luke 19:46
Have you ever been told that if you give enough money to a church, God would heal you, bless you, or protect you?
Carmen is a widow living on very little. But when a visiting preacher said that an offering of one month’s salary would unlock God’s financial blessing, she gave it. She had genuine faith. But months passed. The blessing didn’t come—but the debt did. Carmen wasn’t lacking faith. She had been manipulated.
When Jesus was on earth, He saw the same kind of abuse. He was furious when he found people profiting from worshippers at the temple in Jerusalem. He said, “My Temple will be a house of prayer, but you have turned it into a den of thieves” (Luke 19:46). People were being charged outrageous prices for the sacrifices they needed to worship God. Their desire to worship had become someone else’s business opportunity. Jesus wouldn’t tolerate it.
The same wrong things still happen today. People believed God was revealing personal details through a televangelist. They trusted him and gave generously to his ministry. In reality, he was receiving information through a concealed radio earpiece.[1]
The Bible warns about those who use supposed godliness for personal profit. It says “ … their minds are corrupt, and they have turned their backs on the truth. To them, a show of godliness is just a way to become wealthy” (1 Timothy 6:5).
God’s gifts aren’t for sale. His blessing is never unlocked by an offering to a human leader. Salvation, grace, and access to God were already paid for in full by Jesus. If someone’s charging you for what Jesus has already purchased, they aren’t preaching the gospel.
[1] John Dart, “Skeptics’ Revelations: Faith Healer Receives ‘Heavenly’ Messages Via Electronic Receiver, Debunkers Charge,” Los Angeles Times, May 11, 1986, https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-05-11-me-5518-story.html.
