PROSPERITY pRAISE


A week ago someone told me, 'God always wants us to prosper!'. 'Prosper', meaning. to be rich......and always. I said nothing in response, knowing this person would not receive what I thought about that statement, so why bother.

But, as this person stated how God wants people to always 'be blest....rich', I thought, what exactly does that mean, living here in America, the most prosperous and rich country the world has ever known? Listening to this message, it seemed like the ultimate purpose for God was me and my getting prospered/rich. So, I googled 'Does God Want People Rich' and got an excellent article by Time magazine and a commentary by Mike Cope who is actually from Abilene.

I agree with Cope:
'The basic movement of the gospel is clear (Phil. 2:5ff): self-denial and self-sacrifice rather than self-fulfillment. We follow one who had no place to lay his head, who warned us that life does not consist in the abundance of things, who told a wealthy man to sell all and give to the poor, who insisted that we cannot have two masters (God and $$). Followers of Christ in other cultures have often lost all as a result of their faithfulness to him.'

What makes this viewpoint so tricky and deceptive is that it turns Gods gifts into idols that are worshiped instead of worshiping God. It makes me and my well-being the center, my new house(s), my rolex, my new BMW my, my, my......replaces Christ. My kingdom come, replaces Your kingdom come. Christ Life for me, replaces my life for yours. Instead of Christ being the treasure, the idol(s) become the treasure. Also, when talking to a' prosperity follower' notice how often Jesus and His work is mentioned. Then, compare how often 'being blest' or 'God wanting you to be blest ' is mentioned. The gospel is turned on its head. Instead of Christ getting praise.........I get a raise. Sounds like idolatry dressed in cute christian language.

The old gospel the problem was sin. The new/false gospel, the problem is being poor.
'If there is a hell, the prosperity followers message won’t stop you or the people you love from going there, because the savior in his messages is YOU and the salvation he offers is a NEW ATTITUDE, and some resulting real estate.'

I've led worship/singing over 12 years now and I love it. One reason is I sense 'a washing' of my heart from selfish and bitter idol-worshiping desires. The reason I've posted about this is because I believe worship to be a response to what Jesus Christ has done, is doing and will do in saving my heart for eternal life forever. He saved and is saving me......from my idol-worshiping tendencies. To make the gospel about getting 17inch rims on my new Escalade feeds my already idol-worshiping heart. Then, Jesus is not the center of worship......I am, and what I can get. And I'm pretty tired of me. Praise Him.