prosperity and slavery

Yesterday I talked about being happy in our slavery. Today I want to talk about something somewhat related to this.

God does not want you to be rich. He does not want you to be poor either. I truly believe that money and Christianity have no connections. He tells us to tithe, out of obedience. He tells us the love of money is the root of all evil. Last time I checked, poor people loved money too. Nowhere in Scripture does it every say anything about God wanting us to be rich, wealthy, and self-sufficient. Most places it says the opposite.

Lets look back at the chapter I wrote about yesterday- Jeremiah 29. I hear many preachers on TV talking about how if you obey God, he will bless you with money and possessions. On how God can give you your "Best Life Now." All of that is lies.

Look at Israel again. God's chosen people. What does He do with them? He puts them in slavery. A man comes along and says that God will free them in two years. What does God do? Tells them "When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place." (Jeremiah 29:10) Instead of 2 years, God tells them 70. He tells them to start families, have children so that their children can have children. To plan to die there (Jeremiah 29: 5-6).

Scripture is drastically different from this "prosperity gospel" preached all over the world right now.

God doesn't want you to be rich or poor. He wants you to be obedient in His decisions. God blessing you because you give your pastor a check for $1,000 is just as likely to happen as God not blessing you because you give your pastor a check for $1,000. Honestly, God isn't going to bless you financially or materialistically because you write a check.

He might bless you with wealth if he knows you can be responsible with it, use it for His purposes, and things like that. But look at Jesus- Jesus was a homeless man who didn't have food or money. I don't think any of you would argue that Jesus was blessed by God (he was God in human form).

God wants you to be obedient, joyful, and happy. Yes, happy and joyful are different. Happiness is being content with your surroundings- if you happen to like ice cream, and you find yourself eating ice cream, you are happy. Joy is (supposed to be) permanent.

Be joyful and happy in your situations that God gives you. Don't be fooled that God doesn't love you if you are poor, or that God loves someone more because their rich.