Worship God and Prosper?

Psalms 119: 75 “I have seen, O Lord, that your decisions are right, and that in unchanging faith you have sent trouble on me...”

Is it right to promote Christianity as a method of prosperity? Do pastors who promote only prosperity to their congregations mislead them to the reality of the gospel? 

I am someone who does like to have things. I have an iPad, a computer, and many other electronics. I have a new car, and and old car. I have books, and I have clothing. I truly lack for nothing when I really consider it. 

But, is it God’s will that I lack for nothing? Are my decisions to have ‘things’ allowed even if not specifically supported by God? 

For example, In 1 Samuel 8:5, the people request a king be given to rule over them. God specifically says this is a bad idea, but does allow it. While it seems a good idea at the time, it ultimately leads to much trouble (though in the end is used for Good). 

A friend once said that God will allow you to make decisions that are not necessarily good for you, and that He clearly does not support. When seeking guidance from God, we sometimes let our inner mind become God speaking to us, and make decisions accordingly.

Now, without seeming hypocritical, I have admitted that we do have property, including a new car. I planned for a month or more, saved a down payment, figured out how it would fit in our budget, prayed constantly about it, and finally felt it was the right move. 

Now to a prosperity gospel preacher, God was showing me favor by allowing me to have that car....and make no mistake...it is always God ‘allowing’ us to do anything. The car is a blessing, we used it to bless another, and I have no doubt it was a good decision.

But what if God had said no? What if beyond a shadow of a doubt, we prayed and discovered God didn’t want us to have a new car? Would we have lived with that decision? Or would we have justified it and got it anyway? 

My point is that while God can show us favor, it is still his prerogative, and certainly not something we deserve.

Paul tells us that there are none righteous. If then none are righteous, how do we deserve anything but contempt from God? Is his allowing us to wake up and breathe not a blessing enough? God’s common grace extends to all people, saved and lost. The rain falls on the just and the unjust, and even lost people can have prosperity. 

Why then the current trend of prosperity preaching? I have some thoughts.

1.In a world that has turned further from Christianity, preachers are desperate to get their numbers up, and will preach about whatever the majority would find popular--to draw in the crowds.

2.Preachers truly believe Christianity is a prosperity religion---that God “wants” us to only prosper....the Gospel of DO these 3 things for a better job, marriage, life, etc... 

3.Preachers sincerely believe God’s word, but understand that God will still bless those who are in his Will, doing what is right, repentant, and truly desiring his guidance. Thus they preach prosperity as possibility, but focus more on Biblical standards and teaching.

Number 3 is the one we want. It is right to point out that Christians COULD prosper. The most obvious example of this comes from a verse I hear every Sunday. Deuteronomy 8:18, “Thou shalt remember the Lord thy God for it is Him that thee Power to Get well.”

I do believe that if Christians are consistently giving back (tithe, volunteering, etc...), AND truly repentant of Sin, AND seeking to live a life of proper Christian morals (not tolerating obvious sins of other Christians, but being willing to rebuke as Paul said to do) then God can bless us. 

Juliet and I have experienced great blessing since we began tithing this year. There is something fulfilling too knowing that you are remembering God first in finances. Had we done this a few years ago, we probably wouldn’t be in the situation we are now regarding debts. As it is though, God has always provided...even in times we weren’t sure we would have groceries for the week. A random check, or gesture from a friend, would come through. God will take care of his sheep. 

But, what about conviction. Paul and the Apostles spoke more about conviction of sin, and turning from that life, than they did of each member of the early church having a new camel (car for our day). Paul and the early Apostles experienced more hardship than benefit, yet they counted even hardship for blessing.

This is where today’s Christians have it backwards. We are told by our prosperity preachers that if we turn to Christ, God will bless us. We will get that promotion, that new car, that new whatever. While it is true that God can bless us, he certainly is not obligated to, and our Christianity should not be based on Jesus being our personal vending machine. Put in a prayer and receive a prize. 

Our Christianity needs to get back to the Bible. We need to keep our brothers and sisters in Christ accountable. Are two Christians living together and not married? Why is no one rebuking them? Are Christian pastors practicing homosexual lifestyles? Why is no one rebuking them?

Paul says to let God handle the sins of the unbeliever, but we should be examining our own flock. If half the sheep are not following the shepherd’s command, shouldn’t we help bring them back? 

Now I am far from perfect. I have my own sins like everyone. But I have a sincere desire to turn from them. I know what is right and wrong, and I’m not going to try to justify something that is sin, in the interest of keeping PEOPLE happy. We are not people pleasers, we are God pleasers. 

The sooner we attempt to help our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ come to true repentance, the sooner God will pour his mercies and blessings on us. We shouldn’t come to Christ for prosperity, but we should graciously accept any prosperity that comes from Christ.

We should also accept the pain, trial, and heartache that is sometimes present as well. Mature Christians understand that those are part of the experience. No one should become a Christian to have an easy life. Rather, they should become one knowing the road could be tough. Will there be blessed times? Yes, if God wills it. More often than not though, we face the harsh realities of life. It’s in those times, that through Christ, we have a partner to help us through. Christ will not leave or forsake us. He is there in the good times and bad. 

So telling a Christian they will have a new promotion and blessings by putting faith in Christ, can seriously cause problems when that same Christian gets cancer a month later. They will question their faith. “The preacher said I was gonna get a promotion, but I got cancer. That’s not what I thought God was like!”

Yes, because we are still subject to a dying world. A world that groans in birth pains. A world of pain. But the light of the world, Jesus Christ, offers his hand to guide us through this one and into the next.

Christians should look to Christ in their times of suffering, and thank Christ in times of great blessing. Really in times of trial we should thank Him too, because most likely there is a lesson at the end, that will mature us spiritually.

Our desire as Christians is not to have the newest and best toys, but to serve Christ willingly, in blessing and in suffering. I thank God for what we have, but I know I am only watching over it temporarily.

Everything belongs to God for he created everything. We are holding it temporarily for him, and to those who more is given, more is expected. 

Not everyone who becomes a Christian will have an easy life. Preachers can preach prosperity, but it needs to be with an additional element of conviction. We are to be constantly convicted of our sin, so that we repent. Christ’s gift of salvation is free. Forgiveness to those who believe is free, but we must ask, and genuinely desire to live a Godly life. 

If our lives are right with God, it is then not unreasonable to see aspects of prosperity. But, we are to always accept what is given with thanks and praise to Him who gives everything in this life, and the life to come, Christ Jesus.

“This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. For I Know the plans I have for you.” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:10-13

God will prosper, but there may also be a trial before the blessing. Seventy years in Babylon is a long time to wait for a blessing, but those waiting patiently will be taken care of by God.