Our reading from the gospel today includes what is commonly referred to as “The Cleansing of the Temple.” This is one of a handful of accounts that appear in all four gospels in essentially the same form (Matthew 21:12-13, Mark 11:15-19, Luke 19:45-48, and John 2:13-17). Each tells the story of Jesus entering the temple in Jerusalem and driving out those who did business there, selling livestock or changing money. Quoting from the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah, Jesus accuses these business people of changing the temple from a house of prayer into a haven for thieves. In short, worldly qualities and values had taken root within this most holy of places, where God’s presence alone was to be recognized.
Jesus’ response to the state of affairs in Jerusalem should not surprise us. As was often said of him, he was zealous for God’s will. But I wonder what Jesus might do were he to enter one of our congregations today. In fact, this is a question we all should struggle with. Financial concerns occupy a great deal of time for church leaders. Annual budgets, stewardship campaigns, endowments, investments, bequests, building loans, insurance policies, salaries, utilities and so forth are constant factors of church life. Have we turned our places of worship into erstwhile financial institutions? Well, frankly, we are probably more money conscious than we should be. Most spreadsheets leave little room for faith as a line item. But that doesn’t have to be the case. Giving, in and of itself, can and should be a form of spiritual discipline; a “get-to” not a “have-to” as it were. But it should not replace prayer, study, or active participation as our primary function.
In my opinion the congregations that worry the most about money are probably the ones in most danger of considering it to be essential for survival. Ultimately money should only be seen as a tool to do the work of the Lord, not as a reason for being. Financial well-being is important, but a Spirit-filled, Christ-centered group of people can accomplish great things with very little, as long as God is at work there.
Prayer: Lord, bless us with the tools we need in order to serve you most faithfully. And help us to use what we have wisely and generously. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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