You know what? I am really getting tired of preachers who hypocritically blast the “prosperity gospel”.
Prosperity gospel? That’s what they like to call it.
It’s true, there are definitely people who live for the buck. They treat the word of God like it’s their good luck charm. But that’s nothing new. Paul even had to confront that kind of thinking in his day.
“If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain. Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.” (1 Timothy 6:3-10 ESV)
I said, “hypocritically” didn’t I? These preachers preach against the prosperity gospel (largely due, I suspect, to green eyed envy), and yet bawl and squall because their congregation isn’t giving like they should!
What should they expect? They should be excited because God’s Word is working right before their very eyes.
“Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” (Luke 6:38 ESV)
“Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.” (Galatians 6:7 ESV)
“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.” (2 Corinthians 9:8 ESV)
Here’s the truth about the prosperity gospel: God IS for you, NOT against you. He’s not against you having money and resources; He’s only against them having YOU. God tells us to give to whoever asks. That can’t be done unless we’ve discovered the law of giving and receiving (or seedtime and harvest). And it WON’T be done unless we trust Him with all our heart AND our stuff.
Did you read what Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 9:8? Here it is again: “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.” (2 Corinthians 9:8 ESV)
All sufficiency, in all things. Does that sound like He wants us to just barely eke out an existence? Hardly.
He’s rich to all who call upon Him. In other words, He has more than enough to go around. He’s generous by nature; and we should be, as well.
Let’s drop the dollar signs when we think of prosperity. The gospel is the power of God unto salvation; for our spirit, soul, and body. When we receive God’s word and begin to act on it, our whole being prospers.
“And may the God of peace Himself sanctify you through and through [separate you from profane things, make you pure and wholly consecrated to God]; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved sound and complete [and found] blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah).” (1 Thessalonians 5:23 AMP)
“Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in every way and [that your body] may keep well, even as [I know] your soul keeps well and prospers.” (3 John 1:2 AMP)
God has never promised to make you or myself a millionaire. But He has given us everything that pertains to LIFE and GODLINESS. Every book of the Bible is a testimony of God’s faithfulness. And it’s a testimony for us.
There isn’t enough room in this post to share everything about God’s truths in regards to finances, etc. I have written a couple of eBooks on the subject, though. See them here:
I will soon have a paperback book published combining both “Breaking the Spirit of Poverty” and “Generosity” into one. It is titled “Breaking the Spirit of Poverty with the Spirit of Generosity”.
Please. If you need to address error, then do it biblically. Don’t act as though prosperity is of the devil. You know you really don’t believe it.
Coveting and selfishness IS from the deceiver. Prosperity is NOT.
Jan Grace 
2 responses to “Prosperity Gospel”
I would like to hear our preachers preach on the goodness of the rich. I think of it and I think it. Then I think it was a rich man who gave his tomb to our Lord.
I have heard mature Christians say how it makes them sick when they see big expensive homes when people are going hungry.
KIng David was rich and many pastors are rich.
These women are shocking me as I have many successful business people in my family and I know how hard they have worked to be successful and I don’t forget how many families they help by giving them employment.
I think they need to be reminded about jealousy and if you want something get a job and work hard set a goal for yourself that is what I did and I am happy with my home and I don’t judge people by their lifestyle we all have beds and a roof over our head in my church.
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Good thoughts. It isn’t the money that gets people into trouble, it’s the love of money.
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