If a doctrine can be twisted, then be sure, it will be twisted.
I have said for years that if the great Deceiver (the devil) cannot keep you from entering the Kingdom and receiving the emancipating grace and atonement of Jesus Christ, he will resort to strategic plan “b” which is to twist legitimate doctrines and confuse you so you will live far beneath your scripturally endorsed right.
Case in point…
Prosperity.
It appears to me that every couple of years there is a renewed zeal concerning the evils of the “Prosperity Gospel”.
Why, for the life of me, would Christian ministers and pastors preach to their congregations the rejection of prosperity? It certainly cannot be based upon its scriptural basis, for I can readily produce numerous Bible passages and characters which enjoyed righteous prosperity. It cannot be based upon the supposed depravity of money itself, for the Bible is clear that it is the “love of money which is the root of all evil” (I Timothy 6:10) and not the acquisition of it. And it certainly cannot be based upon the virtue of poverty, for almost every Christian ministry universally accepts the notion that impoverished people need to be lifted up from their destitution and (wait for it) prosper.
Then why the relentless critique of prosperity?
I am beginning to believe that the persistent denunciation of prosperity is not so much a call to doctrinal precision, but actually a justification (or smokescreen) for jealousy.
Let me be clear by putting a couple of points on the table…
Do I believe people have twisted prosperity to justify their sinful greed?
Yes…
Do I believe that prosperity has been preached as a gimmick for preachers to manipulate people into giving offerings?
Yes…
Am I embarrassed by the twisting of a doctrine to justify opulence and avarice at the expense of the biblical Gospel?
Of course…
Remember, if it can be twisted, it will be twisted.
Anyone, including me, can generate a long list of abuses and concerns about the misuse of money in both clergy, ministries, and churches. But let’s be honest, there are also untold numbers of individual Christians and Christian businesses which are equally guilty of malfeasance before the Lord with respect to their income and profits. So to simply target the so-called “prosperity” preachers, or even prosperity as a concept, one should at least be consistent with their application of the critique. Otherwise, you become an economic socialist who camouflages themselves in the self-righteous cloak of virtue.
I also recognize that prosperity is not simply related to monetary wealth but rather an overall quality of life existence which includes contentment and satisfaction of current blessings. I would even stipulate that prosperity can look differently in various places and nations. So, do not think that I believe prosperity is synonymous with a profit and loss sheet exclusively. I am well aware of the breadth of interpretation and application the word “prosperity” carries within the Scriptures.
I have listed before and will now do so again, the FOUR main ways I have come to understand HOW the Lord prospers His people. Please note that the references cited are only a few which could be offered as scriptural proof of the validity of biblical prosperity.
WORK
“He who has a slack hand becomes poor, But the hand of the diligent makes rich.” (Proverbs 10:4)
The primary way God prospers His people is by their working. Hard work pays off. Laziness is an abomination to the Lord. There is no vice in being compensated for your skills, knowledge, or labor. In fact, as skills, knowledge and labor time increases, so does compensation.
WISDOM
“To acquire wisdom is to love yourself; people who cherish understanding will prosper.” (Proverbs 19:8)
God gives wisdom as to what to do with one’s wealth and resources. Investments, savings, and property purchases can all fall under the category of wisdom. It is the ability to know what to do with money and when to do it. Buying low and selling high are all simple principles of prosperity. You can accumulate wealth by simply exercising wisdom in your finances.
WITTY IDEAS
“I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.” (Proverbs 8:12)
“The blessing of the Lord brings wealth, without painful toil for it.” (Proverbs 10:22)
God, through the work of the Holy Spirit, can give ideas about books, inventions, products, and services which can prosper a person’s life. A writer may have to labor long and market feverishly to get a book to the public. Conversely, if a writer expounds upon a relevant and compelling topic, their sales can literally skyrocket. The idea becomes the springboard for prosperity.
Ever watch “Shark Tank”? The whole premise is to solicit new ideas and inventions which can make a profit. I have personally known people to whom God has revealed ideas which has made them wealthy. In turn, because they can be trusted with Kingdom wealth, they have generously given into Kingdom projects. This should be a normal occurrence amongst God’s people.
WORD
“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” (Joshua 1:8)
This will drive people crazy, I am sure, but the fact is that God will supernaturally prosper His people through obedience to His Word and the faith-act of the believer. Yes indeed, there are times giving and acts of generosity are multiplied back to you. It’s not to be treated as a gimmick, but rather an act of obedience through faith that God will honor what a person has done on account of His Word. Personally, I have too many stories that could be shared to underscore this point. “Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.” (Luke 6:38)
And yet, the prosperity bashing abounds.
My only answer to why is…
Jealousy.
Those who relentlessly bash the righteous, biblical precept of prosperity are simply jealous towards those of us who practice those precepts. And just as the greedy person sins while promoting a prosperity Gospel, so also does the jealous person sin as they seek to impoverish the people of God by undermining a righteous precept.
I want God to prosper me…
I want God to prosper you…
I dream of the ministries that could be resourced and missionaries that could be assisted with more dollars. I don’t need a bigger house or nicer car. I want to underwrite hundreds who are enlarging the Kingdom and Christ’s Church. I would love to resource mission hospitals and orphanages. I would delight in writing a check with lots of zeros at the end. I want to be a man whom God can trust as a conduit of great finances.
I believe in prosperity…
And I am a man most blessed in my present state as my wife and I practice the principles of generosity and adhere to the 4 “W’s” above as we wait upon the Lord to use us even more as a pipeline of His resources.
May God enlarge each of you in the same way.
“Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” (3 John 2)
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