Prosperity, How much is to much

[iwant2serve]

I often hear people talk against prosperity and read things about the false teachers of prosperity. I myself believe in complete prosperity (spiritually, mentally, physically and financially). There are so many people that had plenty and still served God faithfully. The scriptures that I find that speak against prosperity speak of those who put their trust in material things or base their status in society on how much they have. There are many scriptures in the Bible that teaches us how to handle our finances, how to give our possessions and how to be a blessing to others in love for God.

There are some who teach prosperity and make it all about money and gaining it. I believe that will be their reward because they do not look to God as the one who supplies for them but their money is their god. There are also others who teach a biblical concept of prosperity. Just as there are people who use scriptures to prove prosperity is not of God. Either way if there is no balance using scripture then both sides are wrong pointing at each other. One side says we should all have in abundance, the other side says Jesus did not have a home but live in one themselves. Is there a in between?

I believe that God is the one who knows our hearts and he knows who will be drawn away by having more and who will continue to love him with more or less. So let us stop making judgment calls on both sides rather one has more or one has less it is seeking after the kingdom of God that means something.

 

[Grace777x70]

I personally believe that God wants to meet all of our needs and to prosper us so that we can be a blessing to others. God od a God of abundance. Some people will not be able to handle prosperity as it would destroy them with their carnal thinking and some have their minds made up in the other direction so everything in the kingdom comes by faith in what God has said.

Sometimes in areas like this I like to use this scripture below and then let God judge the hearts of people in both categories. Some people judge the motives of others in this area and that is wrong. Man loos at the outward appearance - God looks at the heart.

Romans 14:22 (NASB)
[SUP]22 [/SUP] The faith which you have, have as your own conviction before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves.

 

[Joidevivre]

But how you define prosperity differs with each person.
To one person, prosperity is being able to just make their house payment. To another it is about owning a yacht.

Prosperity to me at my age is not at all about money. It is about the riches of health, friends, and being able to enjoy the simple gifts that God gives me. It is the ability to play. It is the ability to see and enjoy the shadings of a leaf, and the beauty of a flower's petal. To taste and savor a bite of food.

I am rich! The things that prosper me are things money can't buy.

 

[RobbyEarl]

The widow gave more than all, we are not all rich and those whom God chooses to be should thank Him for it and be more willing to give. I was raised in a small church and none of the people were rich, they had good jobs, one was a postal worker. But when we had an evangelist or guest speaker come to our little church, they would say, your church has blessed me more than churches three times this size. They would send request to come back and hold revival and some we said okay and some we didn't. Being blessed is not about money, although that is a part of it, but living by faith is opening the cabinet and pray that some green beans is in there.

 

[crossnote]

I'll go with Paul on this one...

Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.
(Php 4:11-12)

 

[jaybird88]

IMO the reason why you have Jesus teaching against wealth/possessions/prosperity, is because of the fruits it produces. how many have went into the service to preach and when they get prosperous its not long before they fall. the gifts our Lord provides are far greater than any possessions of this world.

 

[RobbyEarl]

Money gets to our heads and is the reason why most don't have it. Look at Miley from Disney to a naked concert.

 

[Grace777x70]

God is not opposed to His children having "things". He is opposed to "things" having His children. God is opposed to His children being covetous. There are greater riches then just money. Jesus said money is the least of things and He said if you can't handle that - how can you handle the true riches in the kingdom? Money itself is neutral, it's the love of money which is the root of all evil.

We are blessed to be a blessing as everything we have is to be a servant of the Lord. In order to be a blessing the Lord has to be able to trust us with these least of riches.

As the OP says there are extremes on both sides of the coin. One side says Jesus wants us poor and they use scripture like the widow's mite and the rich young ruler. The other side says we are His children and we can have whatever we want ( to spend on our own selfish desires - is what they are really saying in some cases ) and they use scripture as well to show this. The truth IMO is that both the poor and the very rich can be covetous.

Jesus did have rich disciples like Joseph which bought the tomb for Jesus' body. Nicodemus came with his riches to bring 100 lbs of spices for Jesus' body. Spices were expensive back then.

Matthew 27:57-58 (KJV)
[SUP]57 [/SUP] When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple:

[SUP]58 [/SUP] He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered.

John 19:39 (KJV)
[SUP]39 [/SUP] And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight.

 

[Persuaded]

What some think is prosperity is an illusion.
They have a lot of stuff that they owe a lot of money on.
In reality, their prosperity is debt.
I have never understand why Christians have so much debt.

 

[FreeNChrist]

"If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content." 1 Timothy 6:8

 

[p_rehbein]

Just a quick look at the Word of God..........


Deuteronomy 8:18 - But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for [it is] he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as [it is] this day.

Jeremiah 29:11 - For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

Philippians 4:19 - But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Malachi 3:10 - Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that [there shall] not [be room] enough [to receive it].

3 John 1:2 - Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

Psalms 127:2 - [It is] vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: [for] so he giveth his beloved sleep.

Joshua 1:8 - This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

2 Corinthians 9:8 - And God [is] able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all [things], may abound to every good work:

Joshua 1:9 - Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God [is] with thee whithersoever thou goest.

Psalms 1:3 - And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

2 Corinthians 8:9 - For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

Job 22:23-27 - If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up, thou shalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacles. (Read More...)

Proverbs 28:25 - He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in the LORD shall be made fat.

Zechariah 9:12 - Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope: even to day do I declare [that] I will render double unto thee;

Nehemiah 2:20 - Then answered I them, and said unto them, The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build: but ye have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem.

Jeremiah 29:11-14 - For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. (Read More...)

Psalms 1:1-6 - Blessed [is] the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. (Read More...)

Jeremiah 17:10 - I the LORD search the heart, try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, [and] according to the fruit of his doings.

Deuteronomy 28:1-14 - And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe [and] to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: (Read More...)

Luke 6:38 - Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

 

[InSpiritInTruth]

Jesus called money "unrighteous" because it is often used in unrighteous ways and has led many into corruption. The riches of this world are only temporal, unlike the true riches that are freely given to us by God that last forever.

Matthew 6:19-21 "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:[SUP]20 [/SUP]But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:[SUP]21 [/SUP]For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

Matthew 19:23-24 "Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. [SUP]24 [/SUP]And again I say unto you, 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."

Galatians 6:8
For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

 

[crossnote]

Even the poor's heart can covet riches as well as any.
Rich or poor, our help is from the Lord.

 

[John146]

Prosperity, wealth has lots to do with where you live. It has no indication on one's spiritual condition. There are so many good Christian people living for the Lord in poverty areas and have no idea where their next meal is coming from. We are God's spiritual children and have been blessed with all spiritual blessings. Physical blessings were a part of the promises to God's physical people the nation of Israel. We need to learn to separate the two.

 

[Yet]

Sell out to Christ and your desires should change. All we wanted was to win souls and take care for the poor. Yes we spend on ourselves but we also are careful to hear Him on our purchases. We started 'going to church' after about six months of soul winning only to discover, to our amazement, that the 'pastor', co called, was materialism mad! All about things.

So nothing wrong with prospering. Make sure that your heart is set on heaven. Dont let the things of this world become entrapments.

Jesus said 'my sheep hear My voice and I know them and they follow Me.'

 

[InSpiritInTruth]

Even the poor's heart can covet riches as well as any.

This is true, but the poor are more likely to receive the gospel message than the rich. It is the rich who are running the governments of this wicked world, and it is the rich who make laws that oppress and lay heavy burdens on the poor.

James 2:5-6 "Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? [SUP]6 [/SUP]But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?

 

[crossnote]

This is true, but the poor are more likely to receive the gospel message than the rich. It is the rich who are running the governments of this wicked world, and it is the rich who make laws that oppress and lay heavy burdens on the poor.

James 2:5-6 "Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? [SUP]6 [/SUP]But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?

And if the same poor were in power with riches don't think it would be much different...it takes a renewed heart.

 

[tourist]

I wouldn't know. When I get prosperous I'll let you know how it turned out.

 

[InSpiritInTruth]

And if the same poor were in power with riches don't think it would be much different...it takes a renewed heart.

Better to be a living dog than a dead lion.

 

[FreeNChrist]

The majority of people in the world don't even own one pair of shoes. I really think we in the west have little understanding of true poverty and true riches....