INSPIRED! Not for Sale
By Ian Oliver

There's money to be made! for sure,

Within the Christian setting:

But are our motives really pure,

With all this gain were getting.

 

Let's take a look deep down within,

Our hearts and motive see;

Could be were clouded in with sin,

When the gain obtained should be free.

 

We quickly claim what was given "Inspired"

Or given us by God's Spirit...

But make a fortune in passing it on,

As if by our own merit.

 

We get so much gain from what was given,

To us from our Lord so free.

So when ministry by money is clearly driven,

Then corrupt it surely must be.

 

Jesus told us how we should go,

"No script" or "purse" said He;

So writing and charging was not His way,

For the gospel message to be.

 

Now making money is not a sin,

From business, work or our lands;

But to take what's freely given by God,

And charge for ? As if by our hands!

 

If you say "It's inspired by God" as you do,

Whether sermon, song, poem or book,

How dare you charge an exorbitant price,

That others must pay just to look.

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The cost of it's making can be seen,

As a legitimate price one must spend,

But when charging much more for profit galore,

The Scriptures we clearly must bend.

 

I once heard a preacher on the radio tell,

Of another who met his disdain,

For an MLM he was involved in now

His livelihood trying to maintain.

 

The radio preacher was insistent you see.

To make money this way must be wrong.

It's okay to make a bundle of money;

Through a sermon or poem or song.

 

More proper it seems to make gain from our schemes,

If they're not wicked, corrupt or evil.

But what's given by God there should not be a charge;

As this would give place to the Devil.​