Pray the word with David Platt is a resource from radical.net.

Numbers chapter 22 verse 21.

So Balham arose in the morning and saddled his donkey and went with the princess of Moab.

In this story, Balam is going to Balak, but he's going with a greedy heart.

He's basically looking for material gain

through the word of God.

It's a picture of wanting to take advantage of a situation

for material gain and using the word of God toward that end.

Now I think about this in light of

well, pastors, church staff, who have material gain, like material provision for life and family,

through the church, through ministry of the word of God.

And we see that picture in scripture.

We see this picture in the Old Testament

and the New Testament of God's people supporting workers who are devoted to the building up of God's people.

So there is obviously good there, but there's also a fine line between

manipulating using the word of God

with a greedy heart to get more and more and more.

And so in a sinful world where the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.

Those who are supported by the church

need to pray all the more seriously

against this those they are leading. And we must always in every one of our lives guard against

desire for material gain in a way that detracts from obedience to and faithfulness to the word of God.

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