A major problem people (including probably most Christians) is fear. Afraid to fly for fear of dying is an example. Many fear success, so won't pursue that. Many fall into deep fear when suddenly holding wealth, so they hoard it, hide it, even try to forget it's there. Many of those will take on an act of being in poverty. It's shameful. Christians ought not fear being wealthy enough to help whoever the Lord sends us to help, without fearing what they might ask for.
Before being able to even help someone pay their light bill I helped a friend, whose mother died, clean her house out so we could get it ready for sale. He was desperate for money for her unpaid burial and many other bills. He believed she was poor, and from the looks of her environment, was a hoarder and lacked in many ways. We found a trunk full of unopened Morgan Stanley statements. The woman was a multi-millionaire, yet nobody around her knew. She had so suffered from the effects of the Great Depression of the 1930's that the thought of spending a dime was terrifying to her. Her family continued victims of that tragedy well into the 1950's. Her husband owned a hardware store, had been investing and opening bank accounts since about 1960, buying gold, but only his wife knew. She just couldn't deal with the wealth, didn't want to know how much she owned. In her luggage piled in a closet was banded cash covered with mildew.
Now for my sermon. The Kingdom of Heaven is like......
Jesus made his sermon based on a very wealthy man and the men assigned to manage his wealth. If you think Jesus was capable of using a false doctrine or a matter of wickedness to teach righteousness, then you won't like this sermon from our Lord. He chose an analogy that sets the fearful on edge.
Matthew 25:14-30 (KJV)
[SUP]14 [/SUP] For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
Jesus was not speaking of himself, but of a rich man who needed to take a very long trip, having to entrust servants with his estate, like people today use "Trust Officers" to help them manage wealth.
[SUP]15 [/SUP] And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.
An ancient Hebrew talent was a measure of our current 1,200 ounces. Those talents could have been copper, silver, or gold. If gold, then one talent today would be worth $1,440,000. If all of it was gold, the man entrusted $11,520,000 into their keeping. Most scholars think the wealthy preferred gold coins which by weight store more value than silver or copper. A bag with 75 pounds of copper would not be impressive towards investing. Silver was common among the rich for general spending in denominations most people could handle. Gold was mostly for saving up or handling big debt, such as a tax. A man could take a couple of gold coins on a trip without it being seen. A comparable value of silver would be too easily found.
[SUP]16 [/SUP] Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.
[SUP]17 [/SUP] And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.
Wealth was doubled by wise business deals.
[SUP]18 [/SUP] But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.
Like the woman that died.
[SUP]19 [/SUP] After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.
[SUP]20 [/SUP] And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.
[SUP]21 [/SUP] His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
Keep in mind this is told by Jesus to describe the kingdom of heaven. The man made the servant a partner.
[SUP]22 [/SUP] He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.
[SUP]23 [/SUP] His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
Blessings were not according to percent of performance, but being trustworthy, doing the right thing.
[SUP]24 [/SUP] Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:
[SUP]25 [/SUP] And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
How many times did Jesus command "Fear not"?
[SUP]26 [/SUP] His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:
[SUP]27 [/SUP] Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.
He should have at least put the money in a savings account drawing interest. Instead, he operated in fear, judging the rich man.
[SUP]28 [/SUP] Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
The rich man gave the servant with 10 talents that one talent, seeing the man would do the right thing with it.
[SUP]29 [/SUP] For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
[SUP]30 [/SUP] And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
So it is that even though God gives wealth for establishment of his kingdom, many fail to ever taste of that even when wealth goes through their hands, being unable to do significant things for the kingdom, instead cursing those who do receive and have fun spending and giving for the sake of the kingdom of heaven.
Making that parable only having to do with spiritual things is a false doctrine. Jesus didn't tell lies and impossible facts to teach truth.
Those tend to live a life of gnashing of their own teeth in despair, full of covetousness, jealous of the wealth of another. They are blind to how Christians can be and often are no truster in riches, but do in fact distribute wealth, helping ministries start up and grow, keeping church doors open.
The fearful don't have riches because of this: James 4:1-3 (KJV)
[SUP]1 [/SUP] From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?
[SUP]2 [/SUP] Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
[SUP]3 [/SUP] Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
So how does a fearful person deal with ministers who preach Christ, who preach all the New Testament scriptures, who do ask and receive, keep receiving tremendous blessing, resulting in ever more people saved than ever in history, ever more new congregations around the world, taking all sorts of blessings to hurting people in far away lands, if they are spending it on their own lust?
Don't be a Chicken Little. Be an overcomer, a friend of God, someone daring to believe for and ask God for something you haven't been able to imagine yet. Damning ministers who are actually taking Christ around the world will not gain respect from God. That is a form of shooting one's own foot, or cutting off your nose to spite your face.
I suggest you investigate what that jet is actually being used for. Obviously you don't know yet. Creflo is just one of many "Paul Level" ministers globe-trotting for Jesus, needing a bigger and faster plane as the ministries grow. Contributing to pay for a pound of plane a month has not hurt me, while we remain blessed, having all our needs met according to His riches.
Invest in the kingdom, where good seed is planted. I hope this site doesn't become a huge tare plantation. Sow truth.