BEWARE, MAMMON ON RAMPAGE!

But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money" (Acts 8:20). 

Money is good if a man has it, and it could be very frustrating when you don't have it. Virtually everything in today's world has been completely monetized so that it is very difficult if not impossible to meet life's basic needs without money. To get food, clothing and shelter, money has to exchange hands. Today, more than ever before, education, health, and even religion have become costly, and we have to spend so much to get those things we have previously taken for granted. Even water which is abundantly available everywhere through the gracious providence of God has been commercialized and we have to part with money in order to quench our thirst and have our bath. 

But money has also destroyed many lives, wrecked many relationships, corrupted many ministers and Christians, and overthrown many careers in the public sector. Indeed the love and want of money has become the root of all evil and the cause of much error. Furthermore, the unrighteous and unwholesome use of money has brought untold calamities to our world. And until we master money and refuse to become enslaved to it, our world will never know peace and it will be impossible to nurture a healthy society. 

In our text for today, Apostle Peter was about to be corrupted with money. Simon the sorcerer attempted to induce him so that Peter could give to him what was not meant for him. Of course, Peter like any other human being would have needed money. We always need money. But blessed be God that the apostle had mastered money. He was not a slave to gold or silver coins. And so he answered wealthy Simon, "Thy money perish with thee". Our world will be a better place when we have preachers who can tell those who are not living right and are bringing filthy money to the church, "Thy money perish with thee". 

But preachers are not the only problem in our world. Our society will become a better place if we have citizens who can tell corrupt politicians who are offering bribes in order to get votes, "Thy money perish with thee". The place of governance will become sanitised when we have politicians who can tell political godfathers with their filthy wealth, "Thy money perish with thee". We shall succeed in building a just society when we have judges and lawyers who cannot be bought over by corrupt public officials and can say to corrupt politicians, "Thy money perish with thee". 

I tell you, the world will be a better place when we have doctors and surgeons who can tell abortionists and those wanting sex change or any other operation to alter the perfect works of God in the human body, "Thy money perish with thee". The business environment will become admirably decent when we have executives and directors who can tell drug barons and those who have brought profitable business ideas but which will harm the society, "Thy money perish with thee". When our young ladies can stand their ground, and refuse to be slaves to money, then they will be able to say to those men who are old enough to be their father, "I refuse to sell my body for money. Thy money perish with thee". 

Money, I have discovered, is a spirit and it will only respect those who have mastered it and would not be enslaved to it. Jesus said you shall not worship God and mammon. May God give you grace to stand your ground and may the resources you need in life never fail you.