“He said to them, “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be called a house of prayer,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves!””Matthew 21:13 NLT
I was reminded of this back in 1990’s. My husband and I were pastoring a new church in a place called Wyong NSW. We had purchased a building and converted it into a church. In my desire to have the people read I had taken books on consignment and set them up in the left front corner of the sanctuary in the building, in sight from the congregation. I knew my eyes were constantly drawn to the books instead of listening and partaking in the service and was convicted that what I had done was wrong.
Many churches today have coffee shops at some section of the church building. Here they sell food and drink. I am not saying they are wrong, I think the position of the books in my case was wrong.
I am mindful that I am the temple of the Holy Spirit. This makes me accountable to the things I transact there. Do I try to make a business of something God wants as a ministry? Am I completely honest in all my financial dealings?
As I think about the ancient temple in Jerusalem: the Holy of Holies; the Holy Place and the vestibule. Does my temple respect the holiness of God’s house? Or is it invaded by things it should never be invaded by? Is holiness important to me? Do my eyes and ears only hear that which is pure and clean or is it party to uncleaness? Are my financial dealing pure? Do I respect God as the owner of all I have?
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