Today we hear from the airwaves, or watch on television, or read in books, or even hear it from the pulpit that God wants you to be rich; have the best of everything. While this may sound good, even great to some, the promise of greater things than you currently have, the sad part is that it doesn't line up with Scripture. Yes you heard that correctly, it doesn't line up with Scripture. It's merely another itching ear doctrine.
We are called to be content and not to desire more.
Heb 13:5
5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. (KJV)
We are to be content where we are. If we have need, our heavenly Father will take care of us. We are not to worry about our lack, for God will provide us with the necessities needed for life.
Matt 6:25-34
25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. (KJV)
We are to stay away from cravings to satisfy our physical desires, of possessions or even status, because these things are not of God.
I Jn 2:15-17
15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. (KJV)
As we have seen, we are to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and then we will supply us with our need, not our want. If we stay away from worldly desires of riches we do well.
1 Tim 6:6-11
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.
7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. (KJV)
We are not to desire to have riches, or possessions, for they are a snare to our soul.
Matt 19:21-24
21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.
23 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.
24 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. (KJV)
Being rich is not all that it's cracked up to be. Take heed, and beware that you are not snared with the desire of more earthly possessions.
Luke 12:15
15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. (KJV)
We are not to lay up treasure here on the earth, but up in heaven. Do you really want what the world has to offer? Don't be fooled. Jesus wasn't fooled by Satan in the wilderness, and I hope that you won't be fooled either.
Matt 6:19-21
19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. (KJV)
After reading this, I hope that you see how futile the prosperity gospel is. It takes your focus off of what is really important, and has you chasing after the wind.
Prov 23:5
5 Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven. (KJV)
Does the prosperity gospel really teach you how to be a follower of Christ? No.
Luke 9:23-25
23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.
25 For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away? (KJV)
Does the prosperity gospel teach you to deny yourself? No. What advantage is it to you to be blessed with earthly stuff? This is not eternal advantage, only temporal.
2 Cor 4:18
18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. (KJV)
The prosperity gospel will lead you down the wrong path. Do you love the things of the world or God? The things of this world are temporal, they'll pass away. Is that what you want or do you desire to follow after Christ, by denying yourself? If you truly want God's best, you won't find it in the prosperity gospel. Take heed and beware.
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