𝗪𝗛𝗘𝗡 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗖𝗛𝗨𝗥𝗖𝗛 𝗜𝗦 𝗥𝗜𝗖𝗛 𝗕𝗨𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗣𝗘𝗢𝗣𝗟𝗘 𝗔𝗥𝗘 𝗣𝗢𝗢𝗥

WHEN THE CHURCH IS RICH BUT THE PEOPLE ARE POOR

A Rightly Divided Warning to the Body of Christ

INTRODUCTION

When a church grows bigger, but the saints grow poorer—spiritually, emotionally, and even materially—something is wrongly divided.

“For the love of money is the root of all evil…”
— 1 Timothy 6:10 (KJV)

In the dispensation of grace, ministry is not built on luxury, celebrity, or excess, but on love, truth, and edification of the Body.

① PROSPERITY WITHOUT PASTORING
Acts 20:28

A. Buildings are enlarged, but believers are neglected
B. Crowds are gathered, but souls are not guided
C. Success is measured by size, not shepherding
Paul warned elders to feed the flock, not impress the masses.

② PULPIT PRIDE
2 Corinthians 10:12

A. Pastors exalt themselves
B. Platforms replace humility
C. Titles replace testimony
Celebrity Christianity is foreign to Pauline ministry.

③ PURSUIT OF PROFIT
1 Timothy 6:5–6

A. Giving is pressured, not voluntary
B. Offerings are emphasized over outreach
C. Gain is confused with godliness
Grace giving is cheerful, not coerced.

④ PALACES FOR PREACHERS
Matthew 6:19; Philippians 4:12

A. Ministers live in excess
B. Members live in distress
C. Contentment is absent from leadership
Paul learned to abound and abase—not exploit.

⑤ PEOPLE LEFT POOR
Galatians 6:10

A. Saints are spiritually malnourished
B. Needs are ignored
C. Compassion is selective
A grace church cares for the whole man, not just attendance numbers.

⑥ PERFORMANCE OVER PREACHING
1 Corinthians 2:4–5

A. Entertainment replaces exposition
B. Emotion replaces doctrine
C. Experience replaces Scripture
Faith must stand in God’s power, not production value.

⑦ POORLY DIVIDED WORD
2 Timothy 2:15

A. Kingdom truth mixed with grace truth
B. Israel’s promises applied to the Church
C. Confusion replaces clarity
Wrong division always leads to wrong direction.

⑧ PERSONAL EMPIRES
2 Corinthians 4:5

A. Ministries become brands
B. Pastors become owners
C. Christ becomes secondary
Paul preached Christ Jesus the Lord, not himself.

⑨ PAULINE PATTERN RESTORED
1 Thessalonians 2:3–9

A. Ministry marked by sacrifice
B. Leadership marked by service
C. Love marked by labor
True ministry builds people, not mansions.

CALL TO ACTION

Stop supporting exploitation
Start examining doctrine
Stand for grace, truth, and rightly divided Scripture
“Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.”
— 1 Thessalonians 5:21 (KJV)
Follow Christ, not charisma
Follow Paul, as he followed Christ (1 Cor. 11:1)

CONCLUSION

A rich church with poor saints is a grace failure.
God never intended the Body to fund luxury living while believers struggle to survive.
“Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you.”
— 2 Thessalonians 3:9 (KJV)

FINAL THOUGHTS

Big buildings don’t equal big faith
Pride replaces pastoring
Profit corrupts purpose
Luxury reveals imbalance
Saints are neglected
Performance replaces power
Truth must be rightly divided
Empires replace evangelism
Paul’s pattern must return