I remember something brought up during the astronomy association. Where there was an event held for stargazing for the public and there was this very very enthusiastic member who brought a lot of reporters and media to promote our club. In a way, it is very good that our club can be promoted and that this member should be commended. However, by doing so, the night was a disaster. Because of all the lights from the videos and camera flashes. I later understood that that member had other problems with the club and left.
Does support like that really profit? I was once asked to support a church's event by attending a course it organized. I refused right away because if the lecture truly has something for me to learn, it is not I who is supporting, just the opposite. I would pay the fee if the course is really worthy, not to show support.
When I say we do not "support" God's ministries, it means that we should see God's ministries as our responsibility, not some request.
I find it crucial that I make this clear by good testimony. So that others can clearly see God's glory and not man's. In no way am I asserting men are despicable. Just the fact that the glory of God leaves no room for human merit. This is a good thing, even for men. It is only bad if we perceive this from a worldly matter, that the world works for reward, not for the sake of God's name.
When we misunderstood support for God's ministries, we will use our own wisdom to deal with it and we see many problems. Why God wouldn't allow Gideon that many soldiers? Many today read these verses yet still love great numbers of support. What's more unfortunate is that they fail to relate problems arising from this erroneous principle, instead, they blame the problems on something else, something that's not the root of the problems.
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