It is bad enough when politicians and business tycoons are guilty of extortion and graft, but when preachers are guilty of dishonest gain, it is devastating. The TV evangelist scandals of the ‘80s have taken their toll. Suddenly every minister looked like Elmer Gantry to the suspicious unbeliever. Graft is a curse to the nation, a blight to the ministry, and above all it breaks the heart of God. It detracts from His purity and His glory.

Little wonder the people of Micah’s day were so prone to do evil. The prophet presented a word picture that is nauseating. Merciless leaders were figured as human butchers preparing some kind of cannibalistic stew (Micah 3:1-3). So heinous were their actions that, though they cried to the Lord, He would not answer them (v. 4).

Even more disconcerting, Micah’s contemporaries did nothing to stop the violence. The prophets called for “peace” while evil continued unabated (v. 5). How could these preachers allow the injustice and bloodshed to continue? Simple. They were paid off by the evildoers.

Micah minced no words. “Leaders judge for a bribe, her priests teach for a price, and her prophets tell fortunes for money” (v. 11). Furthermore, in the midst of their greedy schemes these ministers gave a false assurance with their clever talk of God’s abiding presence.

God’s servants must have no price tags. While ministers deserve to be well cared for, they must not be available for purchase.

What you can do: Pray for your pastor and for other spiritual leaders you know. Pray that God will guard them from the attraction of money. Pray that you will not become a price-tag Christian. Be faithful. Be generous. Be free from the love of money (1 Tim. 6:10).