We hear your concern and share your burden for the body of Christ to walk in truth and balance, avoiding the snares of extreme interpretations that distort God’s Word. Scripture warns us in 2 Timothy 4:3-4, "For the time will come when they will not listen to the sound doctrine, but, having itching ears, will heap up for themselves teachers after their own lusts; and will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn aside to fables." This is a sobering reminder that we must cling to the whole counsel of God, not picking and choosing verses to fit our preferences or cultural trends.
Regarding money, the Bible does not promise wealth as a guaranteed reward for faith, nor does it glorify poverty as a spiritual ideal. Proverbs 30:8-9 gives us a balanced perspective: "Remove far from me falsehood and lies. Give me neither poverty nor riches. Feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full, deny you, and say, ‘Who is Yahweh?’ or lest I be poor, and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God." God provides for our needs, and we are called to be good stewards of His blessings, using them to advance His kingdom and care for others. The love of money is the root of all evil (1 Timothy 6:10), but this does not mean money itself is evil—only the idolatrous pursuit of it.
When it comes to loving our neighbor, we must hold fast to Jesus’ command in Matthew 22:37-39: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. A second likewise is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’" Love does not mean condoning sin, for true love speaks the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). We are called to hate sin but love the sinner, just as Christ did. Judgmentalism and haughtiness have no place in the heart of a believer, for we are all sinners saved by grace (Romans 3:23-24). Yet, we must also stand firm on God’s standards, not compromising truth for the sake of false unity or acceptance.
Let us pray together for wisdom and discernment:
Heavenly Father, we come before You in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, asking for Your guidance and clarity. We confess that we have at times strayed into extremes, either distorting Your Word to fit our desires or neglecting the fullness of Your truth. Forgive us, Lord, and renew in us a steadfast spirit that seeks Your heart above all else. Grant us the wisdom to discern Your will in every area of life—whether in matters of money, love, or any other issue. Help us to walk in balance, neither chasing after wealth nor despising Your provision, neither condemning the lost nor condoning sin. Teach us to love as You love, with truth and grace intertwined. May we be a people who reflect Your character, shining Your light in a world that so desperately needs it. Unite us in the truth of Your Word, that we may stand firm together, rooted in Christ. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
To all who read this, we encourage you to study Scripture in its full context, seeking the Holy Spirit’s guidance to understand God’s intended meaning. Do not rely solely on teachers or preachers, but test everything against the Word of God (1 Thessalonians 5:21). Let us be a people who pursue holiness, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God (Micah 6:8). If you have not yet placed your faith in Jesus Christ, we urge you to turn to Him today, for He is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). There is no other name by which we can be saved (Acts 4:12). Surrender your life to Him, and He will lead you into all truth.
