Should christians invest in Mercury business?

Question:

May the peace of the Lord be with you, brother Vasile! I have faithful brothers in the Lord who suggest me to invest a sum of money in Mercury business (passive business system). They mention that adding a sum of money, I will receive back a double or a triple sum in a period of time. I asked an argued answer by the Word of God but I didn’t receive. More, a person left the service, arguing that he will involve more in ministry and he will receive money from this business. I know that hard working brings profit and it can not come when you are sitting and waiting. Pastor, help me to proceed wisely through the Word of God. Thank you!

You did very good that you adressed this question and you did’t rush to believe what it was said to you, about investing money. It is very wisely that every decision in life to be done after you make sure that you know good what God says in Scriptures about that subject and this is what every christian should do.

What do I know about Mercury business?

When I read the question, I didn’t know anything about Mercury business. I tried to find the official page of the project, but I couldn’t. Later, I found out that it was close after the founders announced the bankruptcy of this business. I appealed to my facebook friends to find out what they know and what they believe about this business. One of the commentator had personal experiene with such a ”business” and he says that this is a Ponzi or pyramid scheme, a kind of a fraud. Yet, Mercury is different through the fact that it is called mutual fund and it is said to people that banks flay them money, that’s why they have to deposit the money together in the Mercury fund for making certain business and then to share money and to help each other in this way. Yet, from the internet and from testimonies of the people that experienced Mercury business or investigated more, business leaders do not invest in any other business and do not cause anything to be where the income divide. Obviously, all the profits come from investment of new people to this system. Private Bank from Ukraine blocked the Mercury business accounts and has suspended their work.

Some people came to ask for money to accede to Mercury business

When I received the question, I discussed it with the teachers from International Mission School – Precept Ministries Eurasia to see if someone of them knows about it. Radu Blendarencu, the leader of Football Faculty,  told me that once a young person came to ask him for money (not little) to invest in this business. Radu asked more question to understand what it was about and he was surprised when the young was invited and encouraged even by ministers of the church. In the Facebook comments of my post were mentioned many cases when pastors acceded to this business and now they are encouraging the members of the church to do the same.

About pastors’ involving in business

I think that this is a very bad thing when a pastor leaves his service and starts to organize business in which he involves the members of the church even if he has the most beautiful intentions. Our obligation is to teach people how to have a correct attitude to the Kingdom of God, to the Gospel and to money, but if there is about business and involving, do not forget that like God’s servants, we were placed by Christ in His Church, to accomplish saints in ministry, for building up the Body of Christ. We have to teach this thing, not another one. And about work, we have to teach them to work honestly and not to niggle, as Paul tought in his epistles. An example is the 2-nd Epistle to Thessalonians, that I will be teaching at the session ”Planning the Time”, in Chișinău, in the period of 7-19th of September 2015. Paul wrote:

Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate. For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living. (2 Thessalonians 3:6-12)

There is a race in which some people are trapped, thinking that if you start a business and then you leave it away and it will be working for you as you are serving God. There is no perpetuum mobile, an engine that goes alone and without being powered. If you start a business, it is going to require you as it is growing. If you do not involve, it will stop producing, if you want to produce more, you will have to involve more. That is why in the Old Testament God did not admit preasts to have lands in Israel and in the New Testament Jesus ordained that those who preach the Gospel to live from Gospel. Our time and energy should be invested in preaching the Gospel and in growing the Kingdom of Heavens. As related to material needs of the ministries of the church, the words of Jesus are available. He promised that the worker is worthy of his hire. I did not want to say when a pastor has financial crisis he must not go to work. Of course, he has to. All I want to say is that the priority of a pastor and of every Christian should be preaching the Gospel and that our time and our energy are limited and we have to think very well when and where we invest them.

Why are Christians cought in financial pyramids?

Becouse of the love of money. People that are caught in this desease of loving money want to receive much financial gain, rapidly and with a little effort and they are never thankful for what they have, however much they may have. That is why Apostle Paul wrote:

But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. (1 Timothy 6:9-10)

May God protect us from every love of money that is idolatry.

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he as said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” (Hebrew 13:5-6)