Truth Prosperity 2
Exposing the worm theologians!
Myth: God gives us our needs, not our wants
This is so much the worm theology, which believes that we are to live on barely-get-by street, struggling throughout life just to make ends meet. God's Word tells us quite the opposite; He desires to give us the desires of our hearts!
Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
Psalms 37:3-4
Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God,who giveth us richly all things to enjoy.
1 Timothy 6:17
What is the context in the above verse? They use the words 'uncertain riches'... which is obviously referring to material wealth or money, right? So then it goes on to tell us not to trust in those things, but in the living God who freely gives us all things (could financial blessing or material goods be included in ALL things?) to enjoy.
God's Word even goes on to tell us that we shall enjoy the wealth and riches of the sinners, for they are laid up for us to inherit right here on earth!
But ye shall be named the Priests of the LORD: men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves.
Isaiah 61:6
Thou shalt also suck the milk of the Gentiles, and shalt suck the breast of kings: and thou shalt know that I the LORD am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob.
Isaiah 60:16
That sounds like a lot more than just living on barely-get-by street!
So if God doesn't want us to go into debt (see Romans 13:7, Proverbs 22:7 and Deuteronomy 28:12), and He wants us to give generously, then apparently He's relying on us having an abundance! How can we give generously to the poor, if we don't have an abundance to give from? We can't!
A lot of people who preach against prosperity, do so in a condemnation tone. Their arguments lay guilt and condemnation on those who desire the goodness and blessings of God. The Bible warns us about people who speak lies in condemnation (hypocrisy).
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy [loading people down with condemnation]; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving.
1 Timothy 4:1-4
With that said, we need to be careful not to preach things which are contrary to God's Word, saying that it's wrong to enjoy the good things that God has given the sons of men to enjoy (marriage, financial blessings, meats, etc.) when God's Word clearly tells us otherwise.
The wealth of the gentiles
Now this might sound absurd to some of you, but did you know that the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous? As I said earlier, who do you think God wanted blessed, when He financially blessed America? Was it the sinners? Or was it those who are precious in His sight?
A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children: andthe wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.
Proverbs 13:22
The wealth and riches of the sinners are stored up for us? Are those riches that we'll enjoy someday up in heaven? That's impossible! These are things that are for us to enjoy right here on earth.
But ye shall be named the Priests of the LORD: men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves.
Isaiah 61:6
We shall eat of the RICHES of the Gentiles (or sinners, in today's world)! What kind of riches do the sinners have? Without Jesus, their only riches are financial! Also notice that the above passage points to the ministers of God - who told you that God's ministers and pastors are supposed to be poor, and it's a sin for them to be financially blessed?
If we begin to dig into the OT, we find that when God delivered His children out of Egypt, He made to it that they were given much wealth, and not a single person left with a sickness or disease... God healed them all!
He brought them forth also with silver and gold: and there was not one feeble person among their tribes. Egypt was glad when they departed: for the fear of them fell upon them.
Psalms 105:37-38
In another passage, we find the Israelites taking over the lands of the heathen, and inheriting their wealth!
And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.
Exodus 3:8
In the below passage, we find that God is telling His people that He desires to see them suck the milk of the sinners and of kings. Now don't even think of telling me that this is referring to literal milk from the breasts of kings... :)
Thou shalt also suck the milk of the Gentiles, and shalt suck the breast of kings: and thou shalt know that I the LORD am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob.
Isaiah 60:16
It's an honor to be rich!
So many run around today preaching against prosperity gospel, claiming that God wants us poor 'n humble, but God's Word tells us that riches are stored up for the righteous and those who fear the Lord. It is an honor to be wealthy as a result of God's blessings! Consider some of these passages, concerning God's desire to bless them who walk in His ways:
I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me. Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable [valuable] riches and righteousness.... That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.
Proverbs 8:17-18,21
Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
Psalms 37:3-4
I love this following verse; it really hits the nail squarely on the head!
Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments. His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed. Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness endureth for ever.
Psalms 112:1-3
And another passage that tells us about the fear of the Lord, and it's connection with riches:
By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.
Proverbs 22:4
Did you know that God not only wants His children to be blessed, but He takes pleasure when He sees it come to past? God loves to see His children prosperous!
Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified,which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.
Psalms 35:27
Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
3 John 1:2
This is another one of my favorite passages, where God tells us that no good thing will be withheld from them who walk uprightly!
For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.
Psalms 84:11
Then in another passage, we're told that God gives us all things to enjoy!
Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God,who giveth us richly all things to enjoy.
1 Timothy 6:17
This goes along with another passage that is similar, and shows us God's heart in not wanting to withhold any good thing from us:
He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
Romans 8:32
A lot of people claim that the righteous "shall not want" anything, as in we shouldn't desire anything. While we aren't to covet the riches of this world, I believe that Psalms tells us that because of God's provision for the Godly, there won't be anything lacking to those who walk uprightly.
The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.
Psalms 34:10
In other words, they have everything they want because they are abundantly provided for, and because their heart is with the Lord, they are thankful for what they have (which is abundance!).
Then we find another side of the story, where God would have eagerly blessed the sinners, but because they had no fear of God and failed to walk uprightly, He couldn't. God cannot bless sin.
The haters of the LORD should have submitted themselves unto him: but their time should have endured for ever. He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat: and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee.
Psalms 81:15-16
God's desire is to prosper His people and make them an example before the world of His goodness and provision.
And it shall be to me a name of joy, a praise and an honour before all the nations of the earth, which shall hear all the good that I do unto them: and they shall fear and tremble for all the goodness and for all the prosperity that I procure unto it.
Jeremiah 33:9
The blessing of Abraham is ours through Christ!
I said earlier that it is the Blessing of the Lord that makes us rich. Did you know that the blessing of Abraham is available to all those who are in Christ? That's right!
That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Galatians 3:14
Do you also know that one of the obvious ways that Abraham was blessed, was in financial abundance?
And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.... AndAbram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold.
Genesis 12:3,13:2
One day I was thinking about this passage, when I felt the Holy Spirit say to me, "Abraham is my model man, representing the blessings that I have for my children." Does not God's Word tell us that no good thing will be withheld from them who walk uprightly, and that the blessing of the Lord makes us rich? God wants to abundantly provide and bless those who fear His name, and are willing and obedient to walk in His ways.