* Those who think gain is a sign of godliness.

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

There are people who think gain is a sign of godliness.

Preachers often seek more church attendance.  It seems a sign of success.  But it often means you are withholding unpopular scripture to entice people to come to your church group and in such cases a large church group would be a sign of ungodliness.  (also more people usually means more offerings/more money)

According to his advertising agency, Jimmy Swaggart wanted more people to attend his meetings.  He had background as a country western singer so they came up with a plan to draw more people to his meetings by adding more singing and having less preaching, according to his advertising agency.  (entertainment over preaching)

A few years ago, I attended a dinner at a museum at our local university.  I was seated next to a man who was wearing around his neck the largest cross I have ever see.  Shortly after I sat down, this man introduced himself as retired pastor from Indiana Street Baptist Church.  He then began to tell of the problem his church was having in seating people.  He said so many were attending their services they couldn't seat everyone though they kept adding to the main auditorium.

I replied, "If you would teach what Jesus said, 'The man who marries the divorced woman commits adultery,' about 1/2 of the people would leave you and you would no longer have a problem with seating."

I got up and left the dinner even before the food arrived.  There was no way I was going to sit through an entire dinner next to this man.

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I Timothy 6:5    Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.

Having a large house and expensive cars and clothing does not mean the person is godly.  It does not show God is blessing that person.  It might be the opposite.

Many people who get ahead in this world and in accumulation of things of this world means they have defrauded another person.

When I hear of rich and famous people who have died, I often wonder where are they today after their death.

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I Thessalonians 4:6-8    That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.

(Often preachers use scripture to entice and even force people to give money to them and some even defraud by promising 100-fold return on their offerings, causing blasphemy against the scripture and the Bible.) 

For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.

He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us His holy Spirit.

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There can be and is a blessing of God when we seek God and do that which is right in the sight of God.  In that case, it is God who has given us all things to enjoy.

I don't believe many are entering into that type of blessing however.

Most people seek more money and more achievements and more things of this world.

And the Bible warns us about such:

I John 2:15-17    Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

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If you see someone defrauding another, do not be bitter but sad, knowing at the judgment seat of Christ God will reward each of us for the things we do on this earth whether good or bad.

To me it is a very sad thing when preachers or individuals could have gone the right way but instead go after more money, damning themselves in their pursuits when there could have been eternal blessing from God rather than temporary wealth and reputation among men of this earth.

Seek what is right in the sight of God and do that.  Choose life.

Deuteronomy 30:19  I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:

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