It hurts my heart to believe that preachers and teachers of God's word would focus more on receiving material wealth on this earth than how to live for God in the midst of a perverse generation.

As protectors of the Gospel message, watchmen of God's flock, and teachers of truth, I believe we have a responsibility to proclaim His message of truth as He intended. It is not for us to pick-and-choose messages (or portions of messages) for our leisure or profit.

In my own experiences, I have found that many people are not interested in living the way God intends. They say it's too hard or strict...so they look for a preacher to tell them what they want to hear. They look for a preacher that will fill their hearts with the hope of riches, favor, and deliverance, but without the conviction to change their lifestyle in accordance with Jesus' commands. They look for preachers to entertain their lifestyle of greed, pride, and immorality than preachers that lead them toward righteousness in Jesus Christ.

I have witnessed many preachers cater to these demands of comfort and soothing of the flesh. These preachers may have many reasons for their messages of prosperity, but the end result may be congregations of immature, disobedient Christians ill-prepared to serve as Ambassadors of Christ and unfit for the Kingdom of God.

2 Timothy 3:1-7 (KJV) - This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Paul's prediction of the coming days is becoming an increasing reality within our churches. It's not enough to look godly, we must be godly.

I would like to close with two scriptures: one to encourage preachers and another that describes what will happen to preachers that fail to adhere to the 'conditions' of their calling in order to increase their stature and bank accounts:

2 Timothy 4:2-5 (KJV) - Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

Ezekiel 34:1-10 (KJV) - And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks? Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock. The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them. And they were scattered, because there is no shepherd: and they became meat to all the beasts of the field, when they were scattered. My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them. Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the LORD; As I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely because my flock became a prey, and my flock became meat to every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, neither did my shepherds search for my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my flock; Therefore, O ye shepherds, hear the word of the LORD; Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against the shepherds; and I will require my flock at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the flock; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more; for I will deliver my flock from their mouth, that they may not be meat for them.

Image retrieved September 10,2006 from the CNN website: http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/09/10/time.cover.tm/index.html