One of my great complaints about the “American Christian Religion” in my early years in faith was so much focus on getting “God’s blessing”. It seems most Christian TV and radio programs, even today, are about directing people to seek God and faith in order to reap money and earthly security. This is called the “prosperity gospel”, and in my mind, it has no connection to the real “gospel” of Christ. This worldly gospel preys upon the masses of poor and ignorant people who are desperate for simple survival financially and otherwise. Along comes the “word of faith” charlatans who gain a huge following (and riches) by promising people that if they put their faith in God through “this person” and give to them financially…all their money problems will disappear “according to their faith”. I’ve never been able to understand this against the word of God…
Matthew 19:24: Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”
Matthew 6:19-21: Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Matthew 6:24: No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
Luke 12:48: From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.
1 Timothy 6:6-10: But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
During Jesus’ earthly ministry he was always confronting the rich. He turned over the money-changers’ tables in the synagogue and challenged the rich young ruler who wanted to follow him to give everything he had to the poor in order to follow him. The young ruler went away very sad because he could not give up his possessions.
I was “lucky” to grow up in an abundant America in a lower-middle-class family. God blessed our family with a diligent work ethic and conservative Christian values when it came to money. I never “worried” about money until I left the faith. I always had faith God was and would provide for me. Even in my decades of unbelief, I still knew and believed in the Biblical principles about money even though I was not living BY them. I look back now and just shake my head in disgust at how I squandered so much on riotous living.
It was clear to me before, and much clearer now, that the pursuits of “things” in this world…our consumerist spirit…has been the main pitfall for why most people do not live “by faith”. Most trust money more than God. Most take more pride in “what they have” than in “who they are” or “what they do”.
A majority of the world, including me, are heavily in debt…either to banks, their employers or to other people. The “bankers” rule the world based on this. Even politicos and governments are controlled by bankers and their money. Humanity is not free because we are slaves to “the man” and the ways of this world.
An unfortunate Biblical truth is that slavery has always been a reality in the human race. The fundamentals of slavery are disobedience to God’s ways. The poor have always worked for the rich, and yet Christ called the poor AND the rich to repentance. Biblical principles can change that dynamic over time, but the answer is not Marxist socialism which even some Christians are buying into today (a subject for another time).
It is now clear to me that the Bible calls us to free ourselves from the bondage of this world. It is scriptural to live debt-free and to count all we have as coming from God. We are just stewards, not owners, of what we have. I have a lot of work and trusting to do in this area of my life after decades of doing it all wrong. By faith I WILL free myself from human debt and obligation, knowing that when this is accomplished I can be God’s ambassador in finances along with every other area of my life.
I now hear that old Christian chorus in my head:
His grace has no measure
His power has no boundaries known unto men
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus
He gives, and He gives and gives again
Abundance starts with commitment and sacrifice, not ownership. Not relying on “things” truly sets us free from slavery to money or consumerism. Abundance is living in peace and contentment such as Paul declared to the Philippians…
Philippians 4:11-13: I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
May we all find “abundance” as it was meant to be experienced…trusting in God to take care of our daily needs.
1 Comment
sonia bibiana
November 30, 2020Estoy totalmente de acuerdo, el punto es que mucha gente exitosa esta esclava de sus riquezas, algunos dicen que son los regalos de Dios, tal vez si, en otros casos solo piensan que es por sus talentos y buena suerte. Mi pregunta es cuando se pierde la visión de la verdadera bendición de Dios y cuando es por sus talentos? En mi opinion personal es la combinación de las dos cosas, Dios y talento, el nos enseno a pescar, el no nos dio todo gratis, tenemos que trabajar en su nombre.