When money is involved we can never be too careful. A prominent lawyer for well-heeled, rich and famous seniors confessed in court that “there was something evil inside” him. He was charged for helping himself to grossly excessive fees from a deep-pocketed client. He later told a Disciplinary Committee: “I always had to watch these bad things inside me. I had to realize that I had not only breached ethics, but that something evil was inside me. I had to manage it.” Hopefully he learned from his experience. But what he was saying about himself – applies to me and you as well. We all have the capacity to covet, steal and be dishonest and slippery with cash. We all have the inner potential to play around with the figures, juggle the numbers and cook the books to our advantage.

When the Apostle Paul was orchestrating financial support for poor Christians in Jerusalem he was super cautious. He made sure that more than one person was in charge of the money from beginning to end. The last thing Paul wanted or needed was someone to level an accusation at him for the way the money was handled. He didn’t want a scandal or even a hint of a scandal. Even an allegation is damaging.

Paul wrote to the Corinthians about their collection for the poor and how it was to be handled. He made sure other believers were involved and then he said:

Just because the money is associated with spiritual things, does NOT mean it’s handled in a spiritual manner. Think of the money scandals associated with religion on television – where vulnerable people are robbed by pulpit pounding preachers. “If you send us your money, God will bless you.”

You may have handled everything honestly in the past, but that does not mean you won’t be tempted to ‘help yourself’ in the future and tragically fail. I am sure people who have swindled money or have falsified records or have been caught with their hand in the till …. I doubt if they ever intended to go so far. No one deliberately sets out to have their reputation wrecked.

The Apostle Paul wasn’t content just to go to sleep at night knowing he was in the clear with the Lord with respect to the money. He took every possible precaution to be clear from any accusation people might try to level at him, even if they were false accusations based on incomplete or inaccurate information. Some say: ‘Well technically it is allowable. I think it would pass a judge’s scrutiny when he weighed precedents and case law. My staff may not understand how I juggled those figures for the accountant but I know in my heart of hearts, what I did was legal.” But if employees are going around saying: “Wow! Some Christian she is. I can’t believe that she asked me to do that!” …. Is that a good thing for the cause of Christ? Paul was concerned about how people perceived his actions.

As a young person, if someone asks you to handle cash that’s not your own or to maintain ledgers that aren’t yours, do NOT trust yourself. Protect yourself from not only being tempted someday down the road but also protect your reputation from needless accusations. Whether it is in business or in the local church, always make sure a 2nd person is involved whenever possible. Make sure someone else checks what you have counted. Make sure the cheques are signed by two people – not just your signature. Remember it must not only BE honest, it must APPEAR TO BE honest! That’s the Bible standard.