Emphasis Preaching Journal

Some years ago a church purchased a piece of land with an eye to future expansion. Later a drilling company struck oil nearby, and the membership finally gave permission to have an exploratory well sunk on the edge of their property. One day a gusher came in, providing the assembly with a large unexpected sum of money. It was decided to pay off the indebtedness and remodel the church. Meanwhile the oil kept flowing. Eventually as the royalties mounted, greed began to creep into the hearts of the parishioners. A meeting was held and a decision was made which provided that future receipts should be divided proportionately among them. Slowly but surely the real mission of the church was forgotten. Things came to a climax a few months later when one of the leaders rose at a special session and said, "Because of the helpful income we're all enjoying, I make a motion that we take in no new members!" His suggestion was approved. Having become rich, the congregation had fallen into a snare. The disciples, having prospered through fishing, could likewise have become materialistic. However, their good fortune instead portended the success that later would come when fishing for men. Jesus' lesson for them ultimately focused not upon the temporal but the eternal.