Oh there was sorrow and there is sorrow for us today: sorrow for witnessing Christians and those that make known the Lord, even in their family. We see people reject the Lord, sometimes after great effort to lead them and show them the way to salvation.
We read of some rich ministers, the prosperity gospel ministers, fabulously rich. One of their chief stars owns multiple jet planes if you please. Nothing like the example of the apostle Paul. We have to live modestly, at most. Be like the apostle Peter – ‘Silver and gold have I none.’ But he said to the needy, ‘what I have that I give unto thee.’ That is the example of the ministry.
I even hear of reformed ministers here and there, particularly in the USA, who are rich men. One died two or three years ago, well known teacher leaving a small fortune. But I remember an old minister saying years ago when I was a youngster, a rich minister cannot be without compromise. And you cannot. How do you get your wealth? Well, you overcharge and you charge for the gospel and you charge royalties for your books and things like that. Should ministers do that? And you build up a fortune. But along the way you do not reprove worldliness and you do not reprove contemporary worship. You do not reprove these things that are wrong because it would hurt your reputation, and it would hurt your income. There is always going to be compromise where you have got a rich minister, even if he teaches well, even if much of what he does is true and right. The apostle Paul is the standard for us. We do not have to be in poverty but let all of us be careful what we own, be careful of what we possess. Put the Lord and his word and the gospel first and you will one day go to glory possessing everything.