Idolatry, Murder, and Money

I am almost done listening to the Q and A with Randy Alcorn and Wayne Grudem from the recent Clarus Conference at Desert Springs Church in Albuquerque.  I would strongly recommend that you download it and give it a listen.  They deal with issues of money, business, ethics, and other very practical topics for beliveers. 

One story that Randy told was very poignant concerning idolatry and possessions.  I'll transcribe it for you here. 

There was a couple in our church years ago, actually when I was still as pastor, came to me because they had gone way over their heads as many people have and they bought a house and the payments were manageable based on two incomes.  Hers and his.  She then gets pregnant.  She can not afford to no longer work for them to continue their house payments and literally they were this close to getting an abortion.  They actually had an appointment to get an abortion. 

Now think about this... how Satan works.  Here is a young couple.  Their first thought was this:  This will be a great home to raise our children in...  Now God gives us a child and we are this close to killing that child so we can afford to continue to pay for this home. 

That is from the pit of hell.  

How easy it is for us to lull ourselves into idolatry in the name of "ministry".  Oftentimes someone has to die for us to continue to maintain our love of our idols.  May we be on guard against this great and grave temptation.  There is a reason that Jesus spoke more about money than any other topic. 

1 Tim. 6:6-10 - 6 Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, 7 for we brought nothing into the world, and  we cannot take anything out of the world. 8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.