A Query

The latest Time magazine cover story is "Does God want you to be Rich?". Click here to read the article (Click on the Bentley commercial to be able to view the whole article). The main point of this article to awareness to the theology running around in church today that God does in fact want to bless us with material wealth while living here on earth. The article spotlights on Joel Osteen, Creflo Dollar, TD Jakes, and Joyce Meyer who all fall into this line of thought, and who all have many people following them. Their thoughts are contrasted against many different opinions from people of all different denominations who comment on how dangerously infective this teaching can be.

It seems that the main verse harked on among adherents to the prosperity teaching is John 10:10: [Jesus] came that you might have life, and have it abundantly." It might be a great verse to use, except a joyful abundant life does not come from material possession. And that is a very clear teaching of the Bible. Consider these thoughts. "He who loves money will not be satisfied with money (Eccl 5:10)". "Do not toil to acquire wealth (Prov. 23:4)". "Keep your life free from the love of money (Heb 13:5)". "For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil (1 Timothy 6:10)". "Do not love the world or the things of the world (1 john 2:15)".

Christ Jesus lived the most perfect, full, and glorious life ever to be lived on Earth. Yet he was a "man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief...He was despised and we esteemed Him not." He was poor yet making many rich, He had nothing yet possessed everything. And this is exactly how Paul exhorts us to live. When others look into our lives, can they easily see that material possessions aren't what drive us and make us happy? Or are they confused? Let us be like Moses who considered the reproaches of Christ greater wealth than all the treasures of Egypt. Why? Because he was looking to the reward. There's the key. Fullness of life is coming. Let us be bold in standing up for that Truth.