Article: The Wealth and Prosperity Message

THE WEALTH AND PROSPERITY MESSAGE.

What does the Bible say about the wealth and prosperity message? Many professing Christians today go about spreading the teaching, that if you had real faith you would be wealthy and prosperous. Does the Bible support such a teaching? The Bible is our sole authority regarding such matters. We cannot deny that God does prosper some individuals financially, but does this mean that he has more faith than one who is poor financially? If a Christian is poor because of laziness then, of course, he brings poverty upon himself as it says in 2 Thess 3:11, “For even when we where with you, this we commanded you that if any would not work, neither should he eat.” Also 1 Tim 5:8 says if we are not willing to provide for our own house, we are worse than infidels. These are strong words let us not ignore them. If we are able to provide for our families we are to do our best to do so.

Let us examine James 2: 1-8, James writes to the twelve tribes scattered abroad and to the church correcting them because they didn’t have the mind of Christ in regard to the to the respecting of persons, they were giving the richer the best seat and the poor had to sit anywhere they could find. In verse 5 is says, “Hearken my beloved brethren, hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him.” James says it is actually the poor who are rich in faith, not that they lacked faith. This doesn’t sound like a wealth and prosperity message to me. Verse 6 says, “But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats.” Verse 7 says, “Do they not blaspheme that worthy name by which ye are called?” If we look at the wealth and prosperity message we can see that it is filled with blasphemy and blasphemers. 2 Peter 2:3 says, “And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.” Most of these tele-evangelists need to meditate on this scripture.

Let us look at 1 Tim 6 1-12 (Specifically verses 5-12). Verse 5 says, “Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.” The Bible tells us to withdraw thyself from such teachers who measure a persons godliness by the size of his pocketbook. Is this not the standard by which most are promoted within a church, not by their faith but by their riches. Verse 6 says, “Godliness with contentment is great gain.” This is the root of the matter. The truly rich are those who are content with what the Lord has provided for them, and do not covet worldly riches. Verse 8 says, “Having food and raiment let us be therewith content.” Does this sound like God is calling Christians to worldly riches? Verse 9 says, “But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in perdition.” (Damnation) Verse 11 says, “But thou O man of God flee these things, and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.” Here we have a description of the true riches, the truly heavenly treasures which last for eternity.

In Matthew 6: 19-21, Jesus himself says, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon the earth, where dust and moth doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal.” Verse 21 says, “For where your treasure is there will your heart be also.” Also in Verse 25, “Therefore I say unto you, take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat and the body more than raiment.” The Bible expressly commands us not to spend all our time seeking the riches of this world, but to seek the heavenly riches. Those who seek after the riches of this world have no faith in God’s provision. As you can see when watching most tele-evangelists, what is their main focus? It is money to build up their worldly kingdom. They make merchandise of the simple and undiscerning. How often have you heard them tell you to give money to the poor and needy? No! They feel that they are among the great evangelists who are out to save the world as they drive around in their limos to their grandeur mansions from their glass cathedrals, where they pretend to serve Christ. The Bible is very clear the New Testament ministry did not promote wealth and prosperity to the world. According to the Word of God, financial security was not the focus of a Christian, but we are to seek to obey Jesus Christ no matter where he may take us. 1 John 2:15 says, “Love not the world neither the things that are in the world. If any man, love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”

Jesus Christ writes to the church in Smyrna in Revelation 2: 9, “I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (But thou art rich.)” Were these Christians lacking in faith> No! They had the true riches. Let us contrast them to the Christians of the Laodicean church of Revelation 3:17, Jesus says to this church, “Because thou sayest, I am rich an increased with goods, and have need of nothing: and knowest not that thou art wretched miserable and poor and blind and naked.” Was this the church full of faith because of riches? I believe this is a true picture of the last apostate church which is seeking an earthly kingdom of worldly power and glory instead of the glory of God, because they think that gain is godliness. They look to the pope of Rome the great false prophet and an anti-christ, who has all the worldly pomp and glory but no true Bible faith, maybe it's their example the last days apostate church following instead of the Word of God. Rev 18:1-19

Let us close in two more scriptures in Philippians 3: 18-19. “(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping. That they are the enemies of the Cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God is in their belly, and whose glory is in their shame. Who mind earthly things.)” As we have searched the Scriptures we can conclude that the wealth and prosperity message is contrary to the Word if God. God will provide for our needs as he deems in necessary. We are to seek to do his will, whatever tribulation that may bring us, we need to be faithful unto death as the martyrs who where burnt at the stake for the true faith. Phil 1:29 says, “For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also suffer for his sake.” Lord bless!