In recent years, we have witnessed the spread and infiltration of prosperity gospel into Christian communities and the hearts of followers. Though it comes in different forms and extents, prosperity gospel teaches that believers can achieve wealth and good health. People flooded into conferences to receive healing, financial blessing, and good feeling. Nothing is wrong with desire to have financial stability and healthiness or to be filled with Holy Spirit. However, that is the only focal point of this wrong doctrine as repentance and holiness were ignored or taught superficially. This gospel makes people fall in love with money, status, and health which are the things the world runs after. In this issue, we want to address the validity of prosperity gospel according to Holy Bible.
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Weren’t Solomon and Joseph wealthy?
With God-given gift of dream interpretation, Joseph correctly foreknew seven years of great plenty followed by seven years of famine (Genesis 41 25-31). He was later assigned to govern the king's business and became second man after Pharaoh. Joseph surely achieved high status in life, but let us not forget Joseph was sold by his own brothers, falsely excused of sexual abuse and sent to prison for the act he did not commit. How many men today can resist lust and temptation from Potiphar's wife spirit? How many men in our current time will be able to endure shame, doubt, and anger that might have happened in the case of Joseph? (This train of thought might have been inspired by a teaching of RAPEC ministry in Nigeria.) Joseph has shown his complete trust and faith in God to deliver him, unlike many who quickly turn away from Christ when they hit hard road.
Moreover, Joseph's destiny to become man of influence in Egypt is to serve God's greater will for Israel. We have to know that God has plan for His people from generations to generations. Each era has its own purpose. God brought Joseph to Egypt to prepare a safe place for His people during time of famine. Joseph's position is not for him only, but also for the well-being of Israel.
Genesis 45
5 Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.
6 For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest.
7 And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.
In the case of Solomon, he was brought to the position of a king to continue the work of David. One of his most important tasks is to build the temple. It was not possible for David to fulfill because wars were about him on every side (1 Kings 5: 3). The Lord gave the land rest and provided enough resources to build splendid house of the LORD. That was the purpose of Solomon's generation.
In his prayers, Solomon did not even ask for wealth, but wisdom and understanding to judge the people. He also showed humility when calling himself a little child. This request pleased God. His heart was not after wealth or long life as prosperity teachers might ask. Thus, God rewarded him more than what he asked because of the condition of his heart.
1 Kings 3
6 And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.
7 And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in.
8 And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.
9 Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?
10 And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.
11 And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment;
12 Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.
13 And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days.
14 And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days.
Richness and authority come with great responsibility. Solomon later married so many strange wives and polluted the land with idolatry. This kindled God's wrath and The Lord stirred up an adversary to Solomon and Israel. (1 Kings 11)
The example of Jesus: Was Jesus rich when he was on earth?
We have to understand that when Jesus arrived on earth, the mission that God intended has been shifted from building physical Israel to establishing and expanding spiritual Israel. Jesus's purpose was to bring salvation to a condemned world and salvation cannot be bought with gold and silver. When a certain man wanted to follow Jesus to whatever place He went. Jesus replied with Luke 9: 58.
Luke 9: 58 And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.
This verse may show the nature of Jesus's mission that required mobility, but it also implied that Jesus did not hold on physical wealth as he did not even have a place to lay his head. Jesus performed many miracles only to draw people to receive the gift of salvation. If Jesus had desired wealth, he would have agreed with Satan or performed miracles to have gains.
Matthew 4
8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdom of the world, and the glory of them;
9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
How about His followers?
Following the footsteps of Jesus, Paul, after conversion, worked diligently for the Gospel of Christ. Because of the work, he faced hardship including robbery, hunger, and thirst.
2 Corinthians 11
26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren.
27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.
28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.
29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?
Believers His servants have obtained good reports because they chose to be destitute, afflicted and tormented instead of conforming to the way of this world.
Hebrews 11
35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:
36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:
37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
Covetousness
The fruit of prosperity gospel is covetousness. From the head to the toe of this prosperity gospel body, it is all about money. People even had to pay for prayers. Pastors of this movement acquired mansions and luxurious cars.
Luke 12: 15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
True wealth in Kingdom of Heaven:
Matthew 6
19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
The true treasures that Christians must accumulate are in heaven. No human or demon can go there to steal from us. Christians must put effort to achieve purity, holiness and righteousness rather than richness in this world.
This issue was written in 2020, the year of coronavirus Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown and of protest and riot. Nobody in a booming economy could even imagine the shutdown of many businesses, leading to high unemployment and uncertainty. Stores were also looted. Once again, it proves how temporary and vulnerable the richness of this world is.
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Closing passage
It is advisable to read through verses below and learn from wisdom of God. It is sinful to follow and support false doctrine of prosperity gospel.
Luke 12 22-31
22 And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.
23 The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.
24 Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?
25 And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?
26 If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?
27 Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
28 If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?
29 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.
30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.
31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Acknowledgements
Photos in this issue are from Pexels.com which allows the use of free images. Please check their license, if you want to reuse the images.
Some ideas and verses have come from and during Deeper Life Bible Church online service.
A train of thought might have been inspired by a teaching of RAPEC ministry in Nigeria.
Vocabulary and grammar checks were done by the help of Dictionary by Merriam-webster.com, Microsoft Word,
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