Don’t love the world’s ways. Don’t love the world’s goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father. Practically everything that goes on in the world—wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important—has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from him. The world and all its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out—but whoever does what God wants is set for eternity. -1 John 2:15-17 (MSG)

A brother in Christ sent me a link to a YouTube video about televangelists who prey on the gullible. One guy was selling some sort of “anointed water” that would bring its recipients wealth and even miraculously cancel their debt! Apparently, this guy had been exposed for his fraud years earlier and his ministry ended up bankrupt, but he managed to get right back into peddling his “spiritual wares.” This is one reason I am often skeptical of most televangelists, especially when I read of their enormous wealth or personal scandals. Some of them are wolves and give Christianity a bad name in the eyes of those who do not know Christ. I’m sure Satan loves it. Please don’t misunderstand me, I’m not saying that every preacher on television or the Internet is bad. Millions of people were introduced to Jesus through the crusades of Billy Graham. I have nothing but the deepest respect for his ministry. I think that teachers like Charles Stanley are also very valuable resources for encouragement and strengthening in God’s Word. I have learned much from him and others like him. My advice would be to always pray for understanding and be prepared to check everything they teach with the Bible like the Bereans did: These Jews were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they eagerly received the message, examining the scriptures carefully every day to see if these things were so. -Acts 17:11 (NET)

Please don’t put your faith in T.V. preachers just because they draw big crowds or promise wealth and good health by “speaking the Word.” God is not your personal butler or ‘genie in a bottle.’ He is the Sovereign Lord, Creator of the universe and all that is. It’s enough that He loves us so and sent His only begotten Son for us. Keep your eyes on Him.