“15 They came to Jerusalem, and He went into the temple complex and began to throw out those buying and selling in the temple. He overturned the money changers tables and the chairs of those selling doves, 16 and would not permit anyone to carry goods through the temple complex.

17 Then He began to teach them: “Is it not written, ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations?’ But you have made it a den of thieves!” 18 Then the chief priests and the scribes heard it and started looking for a way to destroy Him. For they were afraid of Him, because the whole crowd was astonished by His teaching.

19 And whenever evening came, they would go out of the city.”

Mark 11:15-19

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It’s frustrating to flip through tv channels and come across stations where people who claim to be Christians have placed themselves in opulent surroundings. Where there is always a call for an investment or ‘seed money’ that is more about increasing the comfort and wealth of the supposed evangelist than actually spreading the Gospel. 

Bad suits sitting in golden throne chairs with overdone hair piled high on top, televangelists seeking out private luxury jets that cost more than most of us make in a lifetime. Giant houses, fancy cars, all well beyond ‘need’ and into the realm of personal indulgence. Widows and the poor bilked out of their money so that these greedy few can have giant golden globes spinning behind them on their programs that make them look even more ‘impressive’ as if the Gospel message needs luxury and grandeur to legitimize it! 

God has given to His people so that they might invest in His Kingdom and see good work done that benefits everyone, not just the few. The widows are cared for, the orphans are fed and missionaries are sent out. Scripture says not to muzzle the ox while it grinds the grain, but the ox doesn’t need a $10000 suit, to get its teeth whitened every week or to go home to a solid marble barn stall with gold trim and a personal masseuse. 

The people in the temple and its courtyards had been distracted from God by the greed of a few, and it simply was not acceptable. Their worship had been waylaid and their sacrifices had been deemed ‘unworthy’ by unscrupulous men and money hungry priests. 

Jesus’ cleansing of the Temple was blunt, done in perfect, righteous anger and it was liberating for many. The people coming in knew it wasn’t right, but they probably felt like there was no way to fix the problem. They felt helpless under the power of those in authority and so they played into this corrupt system. 

As we GoLove people in Jesus’ Name, we need to remember what God has called us to and what really matters in this life. Is it comfort? Entertainment? Or should we invest in Kingdom work? Should we build up pastors and preachers into some corporate/CEO standard of living or should we keep the focus on reaching the lost and expanding the Kingdom of God? What is the proper use of the resources of the Bride of Christ? What does God desire? 

It is better to sacrifice and go without and see people reached for Christ rather than rob God and live in temporary comfort. I would not dare try God in this, His anger is poured out on those who fraudulently coerce and plan so that their pockets might be lined. Those who do this are self-condemned and do not represent His Kingdom or His Son.