In the story of Pollyanna, there is a woman who runs the town. She’s not the mayor and doesn’t even sit on the city council. It’s just that she has inherited a tremendous amount of money from her father, and she has a controlling interest in all the major businesses in town. As a result, no one wants to cross her for fear of losing their jobs.
She even tells the preacher what to preach every Sunday; and for four years, he allowed himself to be swayed by her opinions. After all, she was a major contributor, but it nearly destroyed the church. Then the preacher meets a little girl, Pollyanna, who tells him, “No one owns the church,” and it brings him to his knees.
It’s a glorious moment in the story when the pastor dares to say what he feels God wants him to say even though it crosses the woman. There is a scowl on her face, but a new spirit in the church as they are set free to follow the Lord.
There are those who think their money gives them a right to be heard & to tell everybody what to do, even in the church. Well, let me tell you: There is only One Person in charge. That’s the Lord. & Those who have money need to submit to Him instead of expecting others to submit to them.