Where do 'Wealth' and 'Prosperity' fit into Gospel? Read more...

• Why do wicked [unsaved] prosper? - The unsaved do not struggle with their flesh, because their flesh and spirit have made an agreement with sin (and hell). The unsaved do not struggle with the course of this world; but they follow along its evil pathways. The unsaved do not strive with Satan; but do his bidding. The unsaved are not bothered by an apostate church; but fit right in on Sunday. The unsaved are not chastened by God, in fact, it appears that they are not in trouble like other men at all. They are not burdened with the information that the Bible reveals, which is that we are sinners and under the wrath of God and subject to death. Yes, we could envy them, their houses, their jobs, their friends, their status, etc. To the child of God troubled on every side; fighting within and without: the ease and seemingly carefree life of the unsaved can appear very appealing. And when the goods and material comforts are added to the apparent spiritual ease of the wicked — surely a believer might be tempted to envy unsaved. But for the most part the child of God is not bothered too much by these things. He knows that the riches of this world are a snare that tie one down to this World and the lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh and pride of the life will draw one away from Faith. Once we get our eyes on the fact that an eternal destruction awaits mankind, then all envy of the wicked ought to quickly cease. The Prosperity Gospel tends to mask the greatest need that any individual has, and that’s to be reconciled to God through Faith of Christ.

Psa 73:3, 5-7, 13-14, 17-18, 24 “For I was envious at the foolish [unsaved], when I saw the prosperity of the wicked [unsaved]. 5They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men. 6Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment. 7Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish. 13Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency. 14For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning. 17Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end. 18Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction. 24Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.”

1 Tim 6:8-10 “And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 9But 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. 10For 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.”

Matt 19:21-24 “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. 22But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. 23Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. 24And 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.”

• Didn’t God bless Abraham with Riches of the World? - Gen 13:2 states, “And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold”. Yes, but where is Abraham’s Heart? where is Moses’ Heart? where is Solomon’s Heart? Their heart is set on things above, on the Kingdom of God. 2 Cor 4:18 mentions the difference between “things not seen” and the “things which are seen”: “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”. The “things on the earth” are the things which can be seen – or temporal things. The Greek word for “temporal” (proskairos:G4340) in 2 Cor 4:18 is translated as “season” in Heb 11:25-26 talking about Moses, who, “Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; ... ”, because he knew that there was a “recompense of the reward”: “Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward”. Moses knew that there was going to be a time when God would fulfill all promises — the promises to Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and to you and me, all who are true believers — which is “eternal inheritance in Christ” will come to pass. Compare this with the measly riches that the world offers.

Heb 11:9-10 “By faith he [Abraham] sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: 10For he [Abraham] looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God [Heaven].”

Heb 11:24-26 “By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; 25Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; 26Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.”

2 Chr 1:11-12, 22 “And God said to Solomon, Because this was in thine heart, and thou hast not asked riches, wealth, or honour, nor the life of thine enemies, neither yet hast asked long life; but hast asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that thou mayest judge my people, over whom I have made thee king: 12Wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee; and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and honour, such as none of the kings have had that have been before thee, neither shall there any after thee have the like. 22And king Solomon passed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom.”

Heb 11:13-16 “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. 15And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. 16But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city [heaven].”

• Ye cannot serve God and mammon - Luke 16:13 states, “No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon”. Notice the opposites – love and hate in Luke 16:13. There is no middle ground! The kingdom that a person’s heart is in actually dominates, or drives, his life with unyielding force. It is rooted in his soul and influences his every thought, word, and action. Jam 4:4 fearfully warns: “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity [or hatred] with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God”. The “world” is well-defined in 1 John 2:15-17: “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. 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. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever”.

Luke 16:13-15, 19-25 “No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. 14And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him. 15And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God. 19There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: 20And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, 21And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s [typifying God] bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 23And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. 25But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.”

Matt 6:24-33 “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. 25Therefore 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? 26Behold 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? 27Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 28And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30Wherefore, 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? 31Therefore 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. 33But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

• O man of God, flee these things - Whatever is of utmost value to a person will receive the greatest amount of attention in terms of time, labor and money. It is that which consumes our thoughts, is the object of our words, embodies our hopes, shapes our goals, molds our future, and ultimately gives meaning and purpose to life. In essence, one will either be serving Christ in the Kingdom of God or Satan and his kingdom. If we are a true Christian, things that are eternal in character should grip our minds and hearts and motivate us to greater obedience, as Col 3:1-2 asserts: “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth”. If we are blessed with wealth, we should use it as much as we can for the furthering of the Gospel. Our focus should be on our own Salvation and the Salvation of the others. As believers we should use our time and money as much as we can for the spreading of the Gospel.

Matt 6:19-21 “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

Rom 8:5 “For they that are after the flesh [unsaved] do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit [born of the Spirit] the things of the Spirit [or fruit of the Spirit].”

1 Tim 6:8-12 “Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. 6But godliness with contentment is great gain.7For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 9But 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. 10For 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. 11But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness [fruit of the Spirit]. 12Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.”

Luke 16:9-11 “And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness [make believers by using worldly riches to send forth Gospel]; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations. 10He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. 11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon [worldly], who will commit to your trust the true riches [heavenly]?”

John 10:9-10 “I [Jesus Christ is our only door and only way into heaven] am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. 10The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly [Eternal Life in Heaven].”