I Wanted the Money

By Maureen Pranghofer

Hosea 4:8 NLT

8 When the people bring their sin offerings, the priests get fed.
So the priests are glad when the people sin!

This is definitely not a happy chapter! God is exposing all the priest’s sins. But, God in His amazing way, took me on a bit of a winding journey as I read this particular verse. It went something like this.

I was struck by the fact that the priests might encourage the people to sin so they could get fed. And then there came this question, “Have you ever encouraged someone to sin so you could get what you want?”

Immediately this experience came to mind.

I do Braille transcription for a living, putting print material into Braille so blind people can read it. Several years ago I received a book in the mail from a blind person who wanted it in Braille. I would have made a lot of money doing the project and I was eager for the work.

The book was titled something like “How to become a Buddhist”. Momentarily I thought, as a believer I probably don’t want to be reading this, but the thought of the money was so tempting.

My PCA was absolutely convinced that I should send the book back to the person and get it out of the house. As a believer, she felt I shouldn’t be reading about Buddhism. I argued with her, still wanting to do the project. And then, honestly, because I didn’t want her bugging me and was tired of the tension I reluctantly sent the book back to the person. And when I sent it back I explained about the God I believed in and why.

Eight years later I got an email from the person who had wanted the book saying something like “remember when I wanted that book about Buddha in Braille? Well, I kept thinking about what you wrote and now I have come to know your God.”

Thank the Lord that I had a friend who stopped me from doing what I had wanted to do, to sin by allowing someone else to know a different God so I could get some money!

Oh Father, give us wisdom to make good decisions, to have good discernment, and to be delivered from temptation, in the name of Jesus.

Amen.