... You can not serve God and the riches

* Luís Alberto Alves

"No man can serve two masters,
whether one loves and the other, or whether he will devote himself to one and despise
to the other. Ye can not serve God and riches, "Book of Matthew,
chapter 6, verse 24. This, perhaps, is the strongest idol in life
of various weak Christians in the faith. Has full domain. Destroy marriages, friendships, ministries and professional lives.

It also puts father against son, husband against wife and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law. It manages to enslave people easily, with the promise of putting power in the hands of those who can gather large fortunes in the banks. It is currently used as bait in various ministries, preachers of prosperity theology, who take the maximum of hoarding treasures on earth instead of doing it in the heavens.

The god "money" acts in the mind, duplicating the messages sent by the heart. A Christian without money, nowadays in some ministries, is synonymous with disgrace and sin. No matter the means, the important thing is to fill the checking account, to appear good standard of living, or that for this sin is responsible for opening doors.

One of the tools used by the god "money" is the strong desire
to consume, mainly, the disposable. Just to show people the degree of bonanza, in a clear sign of pride. It is when the weak Christian in faith dives deep into the overdraft and credit card. The budget bursts. He goes to work just to pay off unnecessary purchases.

 The god "money" does not like to enter easily into the churches that
practice the gospel recommended by Jesus Christ. In this case, it seeks to create difficulties for the Christian to offer and tithe. It puts in their minds that any amount serves. Jesus Christ must receive crumbs, when the right thing is to sow the best. Depending on the marriage, the wife turns the husband's life into a living hell.

 Nothing is good. With a few months of use, the television should be changed, as well as the microwave oven, washing machine, clothes dryer, blankets, duvets; in the most radical cases even recommend buying a house or apartment in a more bourgeois neighborhood, to increase the image of rich new.

In desperation, many Christians who are weak in faith
loans or financing that could make them more bankrupt in the not too distant future. The god "money" uses the media as a tool to maintain financial slavery. Advertising is in charge of selling the "dream" of consumption to satiate that will.

Example of this happens in the salary question: when someone wins
four minimum wages, he likes a type of clothing and footwear. With 20 minimum wages, the pattern changes. Even the type of food is influenced. The place gives way to seafood, such as prawns, lobster, tuna, salmon or picanha, breast and baby beef. Yogurts, fine cheeses and milks of the most exquisite brands.

The popular car is exchanged for another more powerful, to pass the image of successful. The children will study in colleges preferred by the elite. The furniture acquired in the stores aimed at the povel are now bought in designer places.

Economy-class travel is replaced by first-class aircraft, so the financial pattern is clear. Even in the church it is possible to perceive changes. Do not talk to siblings who have little money on the checking account. In the new car, there is no place for rides, especially for sisters who have many children.

The god "money" puts on the head of this weak Christian in the faith that he can not mingle with poor people. For they would be in sin. It is when pride instils in the mind of this person that it was her effort to be responsible for this bonanza. So you do not have to go to church every day.

You've already got your blessing. Now multiply the treasure and show
to others that he has the "anointing" of prosperity. Avarice is one of God's "sisters" money. That wealth should not be shared by brothers who like to pray a lot, to climb
to the mountain at night, to intercede until he is hoarse, to evangelize fervently in the streets and to speak of the love of Jesus Christ to those in need.

For many of them have only the necessary little allowance of the Lord. They are only concerned with accumulating treasures in the heavens,
because they know that when they die they will not take anything. The risk of helping someone may embezzle some real bank account. The important thing is to


largest volume of money in the bank. Ostentation must be maintained. The house of numerous rooms and spacious yard will never be used for performing revival services or even vigils.

Not to pass the image of "fanaticism" to the neighbors. Order and decency need to be maintained. Noise only in the church, for in those days he will not be there. The god "money" causes radical changes in the life of the weak Christian in the faith.

* Luís Alberto Alves is a pastor