Deal of the Day: Get a $50 cash bonus with the Chase Freedom credit card. Chase Freedom offers cash back rewards up to 3%, a 0% APR for up to 12 months, and no annual fee. Check out our Chase Freedom review or get more details from Chase at www.chase.com/freedom.
Does God Want You to be Rich?
Does God want you to be rich? Before reading any further, post a comment to this article answering that question. I'll wait . . . . Ok. I imagine the answers to this question will range from "Yes, He does" to "No, She doesn't" to "God? There is no God." Some will take this question very seriously, while others will view it as downright silly. Yet this question is asked (and answered) in churches throughout the U.S.
T.V. evangelists discuss this topic and authors publish books about it. In a Sunday School class at my church a couple of months ago, the teacher asked the class this question. His answer: Yes (it's silly to think that God doesn't want us to be rich, right?). And furthermore, the Sunday School teacher added that one will prosper by tithing to the church and then giving even more (the even more is called an offering). Now, my church doesn't teach this. This was the Sunday School teacher's view. Fine. But here's what really bothers me about this question--it's so American. Only in the U.S. do we have the time and affluence to sit around asking such shallow questions.
Last Sunday, I wrote about mega-churches in the U.S., comparing one such church to a mega-church in Nigeria. And I wonder, does the congregation in this Nigerian church ask whether God wants them to be rich? Given the starvation and civil unrest in Nigeria, I'm guessing they're more likely to ask, "Does God want us to survive, today?" And even if they did contemplate whether God wanted them to be rich, their idea of wealth would probably look far different than our idea of wealth here in America.
I recognize that some verses can be plucked from the Bible to support the prosperity doctrine, as it is called. But when it comes to money, isn't the message of the Bible to avoid the trappings of wealth (note, the trappings, not wealth itself), and to be content with what we have?
Not a sermon, just a blog.
{ 2 trackbacks }
{ 19 comments… read them below or add one }
The prosperity gospel is also growing in Australia, New Zealand, the UK and parts of South America. I would even guess that most churches in Nigeria teach tithing. The preachers are getting fat and prosperous while their members stay poor. It is a scam and a scandal. I’m glad your church does not push it.
The prosperity gospel makes me really sad
I ran into it today in a seminar at work, believe it or not! I was a little stunned.
JadeEJF, you ran into the prosperity doctrine at a seminar at work? Where do you work, if you can say? What kind of seminar?
Ok, so I realize this is an old post…just came across the site via a link to this article at ChristianPF… I agree that this is a sadly shallow question…and probably one that is far too common here in the US. I think that a lot of Christians see wealthy non-Christians (or other Christians, for that matter) and think, “Well, if they’re so successful/wealthy/etc., then surely God has even greater things in store for me because I am his child/so faithful/etc.” While this is true, i.e. God does have even greater things in store for us, the “things” are not always what we think they should be. The true heart of the matter is that it is not WHAT God blesses us with, but HOW we manage and take care of what he has given us. It’s called Stewardship. I, like you, am tired of the “name it and claim it” gospel that teaches all you have to do is pray enough or be faithful enough, etc. and God will give you whatever you wish… My response is, “Who are you to ask God for more when you don’t even take care of what he has given you.” It makes me think of my 18 month old son…the other day it was dinner time and we’ve been letting him feed himself, even if he gets messy, so that he can learn how. Well, half way through his dinner, he starts throwing a fit. He had eaten all his peaches, but left most of the chicken on his plate. We’ve taught him a few sign language words, so he starts signing “more” and crying. MORE MORE MORE MORE MORE he cried. But he still had food on his plate (and he loves chicken). What I’m saying is that we as Americans sometimes are so focused on what we don’t have that we cry out to God, “MORE MORE MORE MORE”, and God is smiling and gently saying…”Look at your plate” (we didn’t give him more peaches by the way…and eventually he ate all his chicken and went to bed peacefully).
Living2serve, thanks for your thoughtful comment. It is interesting to me that we define success and wealth in very American terms. That is, we only feel successful or wealthy if we have just a little bit more of both than our neighbor does. So I think you are right that often times we ask for MORE, only to fail to appreciate what we have. The point is not to get what you want, but to want what you have.
God? There is no God.
And anyway:
“…I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
-Matthew 19:24
Mr. Twain, what is a rich man? Lower middle class Americans are unfathomably rich compared to many in the world. Are they rich? Solomon was wealthy. Did he make it through the eye of a needle? Matthew and Luke were both probably rich. Paul did ok for himself. Did they make it? I should add, these questions are not designed to challenge Matthew 19:24. They are aimed at challenge what we take from Matthew 19:24. I feel very rich, but I still work for a living and have far less than many that I know. Not a sermon, just a thought.
Well, the bible teaches that you should not pursue riches (that is my interpretation of the quote I posted previously). Admittedly, the bible is often self-inconsistent. But, if you agree with that particular teaching, it appears that Christians would have a better chance of getting into heaven by selling their assets and distributing the money to the poor. Also on that premise, Christians should not tolerate the hoarding of riches by the administrators of their religion (pope, etc.).
The eye of the needle was a small opening in the wall of a city where merchants were required to get there camels on their knees and inch through the opening to the city. God wants all poor in spirit and pure of heart. The proverbs say”Lord made me neither rich nor poor.” If I become rich I may become arrogant and think I don’t need You. If I am poor I may forget Your concepts and steal.
Dan, that is well put.
Yes, I think God wants all of us to be rich. Yet I think God wants above all for us to live for Him. For many people wealth distracts them from loving Him and loving others. Thus I think God wants all of us to enjoy the blessings He has given us, financial blessings included, the question for me as a Christian is to ask if being rich will bump loving God and loving others down from the top spot in my priority list.
yes, the blessing of maketh rich and add no sorrow. he want us to rich to show forth His Glory.
God doesn’t want us to be rich in a sense of having all the money in world. People who do have the money seem rich on the outside but are they rich in the inside? Do they have true love or is it just greed? God wants us to have peace at heart, the love within our family, and the understanding we have for each other. If we’re too rich, we won’t have that but greed. If we’re too poor, we might steal and that’s against the ten commandment. God wants us to have “enough” in our lives. Not too much and not too little. ^__^
Does GOD care if we are rich or poor? I don’t think so. I think he cares if we are good. Love GOD and then love thy neighbor as thyself. If I am rich and a trustworthy steward, doing good in GOD’s name, that will bring spiritual reward. If I am poor but still would give what I have to further the work and word of GOD then that will bring spiritual reward. Certainly GOD would want us to make the most of whatever talents and wealth we are given, whether we are rich OR poor.
Am I successfully applying this philosophy? probably not, but I will keep trying and hoping those around me are also doing their best to live good honest lives, regardless of their theological beliefs.
You can stand assured on this answer. Yes God wants you to have plenty. It would be wise to recognize all of the ingredients to a happy life. You can’t put a price tag on a sound mind, healthy body, and a complete soul. In Gods terms, he is focusing on your soul first. This is the best part. It means you’ll be able to enjoy all aspects of your life. However, without love you can be rich and still be miserable. So Lets take a look at what the bible says about wealth.
First things first, God is Love.
1 John Chapter 4 8 – Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love.
3 John 1:2 – 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.
2 Corinthians 9:8 – And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times; having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. ( key word here is abound, as in leaps and bounds)
Deuteronomy 11
13 And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day, to love the LORD your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul, 14That I will give you the rain of your land in his due season, the first rain and the latter rain, that thou mayest gather in thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil. 15And I will send grass in thy fields for thy cattle, that thou mayest eat and be full. (First – love God, with all your heart and soul.) Cattle, Oil, Wine, Corn are extremely wealthy items for biblical times. Translated for today it means, “overflowing”
NIV – Mark 10
29″I tell you the truth,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel 30will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life. 31But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” — You’ll need to read this verse in context, starting at Mark 10 17- but we see the same message as before, putting God first in your life is the answer to the question; does God want me to be Rich? Wealth is a byproduct of Love, and God is Love. Simply being a rich man, is looked at like as a self oriented state of mind or an independent carnal attitude.
Galatians 6:9 – And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
John 10:10 – The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
A tip: Be grateful for what you have already, say thank you everyday. And expect good things to happen in your gratitude, ( gratitude is part Love and God is Love) each and every day abounding more and more.
Mark 10:25
It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
Luke 18:18-30
A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 19″Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 20You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.’[a]”
21″All these I have kept since I was a boy,” he said.
22When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
23When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth. 24Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! 25Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
26Those who heard this asked, “Who then can be saved?”
27Jesus replied, “What is impossible with men is possible with God.”
28Peter said to him, “We have left all we had to follow you!”
29″I tell you the truth,” Jesus said to them, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God 30will fail to receive many times as much in this age and, in the age to come, eternal life.”
All the answeres are in the Bible. They are clear and not open to interpretation like Americans have been taught. God does not want us to be rich. Agape Love- look it up.
Next “Sunday School, Sunday Teacher” One day I asked God to reveal to me the “Sabbath Day” in prayer (4th Commandment). I was a keeper of Sunday worship but asked for Gods will in my life because I had no good nor solid answere to why I was a Sunday worshiper and Jesus was a Sabbath keeper (Saturday). many churches have a good foundation and mean well- but this is a salvation issue as God has instructed to keep His Commandments. I am 26 and have been a Sabbath keeper for 2 years now. Please, Please look into this. I have been abandoned by family and friends to make this change. I have been called many names. Is that the Christian way? No. All because I obey the Lord on Saturday, all because I rest on Saturday. there is soooooo much to this. (blessings, rest, family time, time to praise the Lord and it lets you watch Sunday Football with no guilt). haha.
Always pray for the will of God in your life. He will show you. God rests on the seventh day (Saturday). he does it to hear your prayers, he does it to build a relationship, he does it to pour blessings on you. I hear “its just a day”, “we should praise the Lord every day” – yes always praise God- but there is a day set aside, we can’t rest every day can we? We can’t have Sabbath when we want it. email me with questions. jarrod.chambers@hotmail.com
Jarrod, thanks for your thoughtful comment. I’ve read the text many times, although I note that many references in the Old Testament speak of God’s financial blessings for those that follow him. Solomon was wealthy. Luke and Matthew were likely very wealthy by standard of that day. Paul I think did well for himself.
For sure there are many refferences to good wealthy men.
Prosperity teaching is a lie from the devil himself. My son has been involved in this for over 20 years he has nothing, got divorced and still has nothing. He only has the money he gets paid at the end of the month. They were taught give and God will bless you with more. Invest in the pastor and the church and you will be blessed your debts will disappear. Only the pastors enriched themselves and go on the most expensive holidays and live in palaces. No I have seen enough but you know what God loves them and all we can do is pray for them that God will heal them from spiritual blindness.
Jesus said my Kingdom is not of this world. There are people that he blesses everybody cant be rich as Jesus said the poor you will always have with you. Nowhere in the New Testament does it say we must pay 10% it was in the time of Moses where the people will still under the law. New Testament giving is grace giving give what you have and more. If you give God only 10% in any case you are robbing Him. The bible says true faith is to look after the widows and the orphans. We need to praise God everyday for spiritual blessings and Grace that we do not deserve. He is faithfull He knows what each one needs and all we need to do is love others share if we are rich with those who dont have.