False Hopes of the Prosperity Gospel
A large contingent of preachers are currently
promoting the popular “prosperity gospel” today. The idea behind this
teaching is that those who believe in Christ will see an abundance of
physical, monetary and material blessings.
Now, there are some ways in which our faith in God’s Word can help bless
us. For example, if we believe God’s Word we believe in the necessity of
work. It is God’s will that we work for our daily bread (2 Thessalonians
3:10).
In addition, if we live a holy life we will avoid wasting our money in
greed and covetousness, or on sinful items like drugs, cigarettes and
alcohol. Avoiding these sins, in turn, benefits our pocketbooks, our
health and helps us be better stewards with God’s money.
Yes, it is also true that God will take care of our needs. Jesus says in
Matthew 6:33, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His
righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”
The Old Testament version of this command may be David’s quote from
Psalm 37:25, “...I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his
descendants begging bread.”
Yet, verses like these are not a guarantee to every Christian for
prosperity. Instead, the basic idea behind all these passages is that
God cares for us and will take care of our needs. There is no guarantee
that we will find exponential multiplication of material goods coming
our way!
Yet, this is how many are trying to influence lost sinners today. If we
try to coax the lost world into becoming Christians because of financial
gain, we may be offering them empty promises.
Jesus was as righteous as it gets but he said, “Foxes have holes and
birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His
head” (Matthew 8:20). Not every night Jesus slept was in a
comfortable bed of a luxurious home. His message sometimes kept him on
the run with the doors of hospitality closed to him.
As Paul reflected upon his conversion he said, “...I also count all
things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord,
for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as
rubbish, that I may gain Christ” (Philippians 3:9).
Our hope in Christ primarily consists of spiritual prosperity, not
material. To preach otherwise is an appeal to men’s selfishness instead
of their service.
March 2006