Does God want you to be rich?
For several decades, a philosophy has been percolating in the 10 million-strong Pentecostal wing of Christianity that seems to turn the Gospels’ passage on its head. Certainly, it allows, Christians should keep one eye on heaven. But the new good news is that God doesn’t want us to wait.
Known (or vilified) under a variety of names — Word of Faith, Health and Wealth, Name It and Claim It, Prosperity Theology — its emphasis is on God’s promised generosity in this life. In a nutshell, it suggests that a God who loves you does not want you to be broke.
Its signature verse could be John 10:10: “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” In a Time poll, 17 percent of Christians surveyed said they considered themselves part of such a movement, while a full 61 percent believed that God wants people to be prosperous. Read about it here.
Rick Warren, whose book The Purpose Driven Life has outsold Osteen’s by a ratio of 7 to 1, finds the very basis of Prosperity laughable. “This idea that God wants everybody to be wealthy?” he snorts. “There is a word for that: baloney. It’s creating a false idol. You don’t measure your self-worth by your net worth. I can show you millions of faithful followers of Christ who live in poverty. Why isn’t everyone in the church a millionaire?“
Interesting article. How do these “name it claim it” people explain all of the starving people around the world. The disciples weren’t rich either. If I’m suppose to be rich, I missed the boat somewhere!
Firstly, how does anyone define the word “rich”? It’s a subjective word. I consider myself to be rich in happiness and financial security. I’m neither a billionaire nor a pauper, and my happiness is not predicated on how many dollars I possess. I count richness in friends, relationships, life experiences. Many life experiences, such as world travel, do require money to fulfil them, and for my husband’s sound financial management, I daily give thanks.
I was raised in utter destitution, and believe me, it’s no blessing being poor.
Is there any reason why a god would not want his creatures to be blessed with financial security? Is there any intrinsic virtue in poverty? From my reading of the OT, it would seem that “God “wished to lavish the good things of life onto an obedient people, promising them overflowing barns, and a land of milk and honey, etc.
From my observations of this planet, it strikes me that there is plenty for all, but that a minority have cornered most of it for themselves. In other words, there is no need for any to be poor and hungry- the earth can feed us all if she is cared for, and if people are willing to share. I have no problem with either of these requirements.
Hello Kevin and all,
I mostly agree with your conclusions. Here’s another take on the matter that focuses more on money and materialism and why they represent intrinsic harm.
RE: “Does God want you to be rich?”
How about, does the Creator want some people to suffer and starve while some wallow in luxury and ignore the plight of others? What about “serving mammon” (money and materialism) instead of truth, justice, and your fellow souls? How about the rich man and the eye of a needle? Talking about the blind leading the blind…
To take this a step further, what would the Creator say about forming organizations (corporations, religions, governments, political parties, etc.) that accumulate vast wealth and resources while living people and other lifeforms suffer as the direct result? What does this say about the complete hypocrisy of all religions?
Here’s some pivotal knowledge (wisdom) so people can stop focusing on symptoms and obfuscatory details and home in like a laser on the root causes of and solutions to humanity’s seemingly never-ending struggles.
Money is the lifeblood of the powerful and the chains and key to human enslavement
There is a radical and highly effective solution to all of our economic problems that will dramatically simplify, streamline, and revitalize human civilization. It will eliminate all poverty, debt, and the vast majority of crime, material inequality, deception, and injustice. It will also eliminate the underlying causes of most conflicts, while preventing evil scoundrels and their cabals from deceiving, deluding, and bedeviling humanity, ever again. It will likewise eliminate the primary barriers to solving global warming, pollution, and the many evils that result from corporate greed and their control of natural and societal resources. That solution is to simply eliminate money from the human equation, thereby replacing the current system of greed, exploitation, and institutionalized coercion with freewill cooperation, just laws based on verifiable wisdom, and societal goals targeted at benefiting all, not just a self-chosen and abominably greedy few.
We can now thank millennia of political, monetary, and religious leaders for proving, beyond any shadow of a doubt, that top-down, hierarchical governance is absolute folly and foolishness. Even representative democracy, that great promise of the past, was easily and readily subverted to enslave us all, thanks to money and those that secretly control and deceptively manipulate all currencies and economies. Is there any doubt anymore that entrusting politics and money to solve humanity’s problems is delusion of the highest order? Is there any doubt that permitting political and corporate leaders to control the lives of billions has resulted in great evil?
Here’s a real hot potato! Eat it up, digest it, and then feed it’s bones to the hungry…
Most people have no idea that the common-denominator math of all the world’s currencies forms an endless loop that generates debt faster than we can ever generate the value to pay for it. This obscured and purposeful math-logic trap at the center of all banking, currencies, and economies is the root cause of poverty. Those who rule this world through fear and deception strive constantly to hide this fact, while pretending to seek solutions to poverty and human struggle. Any who would scoff at this analysis have simply failed to do the math, even though it is based on a simple common-denominator ratio.
Here is Wisdom
Doctrine of Two Spirits…
Peace…
The “name it and claim it” folks (note to Kev … it’s also called “blab it and grab it”
have no trouble defining rich. See Rev. Ike for details.
We even hint at it with our acronym for GRACE .. God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. I wanted my class to faced the issue head-on so I asked them some months ago (and previously too) a question.
Scene 1: When God promises you abundant life, that means wealth here on earth.
Scene 2: When God promises you abundant life, that means poverty here, certainly not being wealthy, but joy and Spiritual fulfillment beyond compare.
The question is .. do you want it, whatever it means? Without exception, they said they would.
I did follow them up by saying that , if they didn’t have much money, it wasn’t because God didn’t like them. It would be because He loved them, assuming they were obeying Him as best they knew how.
Bob -
Is your comment in reference to Ike Reighard? If so, please explain the “See Rev. Ike for details.” comment.
Before I respond to what I perceive as an unfounded cheap shot, I am seeking clarification of what you meant.
Kevin,
This is truly one of the biggest issues of our time. There are many out there preaching this philosophy. I heard one Pentecostal preacher refer to these as “prosperity pimps” (I’m sorry I don’t remember his name) and accused them of “prostituting the word of God” for financial gain. I won’t level such charges myself, but I think it’s fair to say that there’s way more to the Christian life than money. Why else would seminary students like me be so poor?
Rob Bell has a neat illustration of this truth out in his Nooma series. It’s called “Rich” and he details how God has blessed america with the world’s resources so that in fact we can share with others. It’s convicting. While I don’t believe we can solve the problems of world poverty (as Jesus said himself), it is important to recognize that God blesses us so that we can bless others.
Jeremy:
He made claims I found unreasonable
Check http://www.revike.org/
Pay particular attention to “About Rev Ike” , sub item “Rev Ike Speaks about”
Thank you for the clarification.
I remember on Marty’s site Kevin mentioned he thought Ike Reighard would be a good idea for NAMB President, and Marty said we couldn’t afford him. Thankfully this has nothing to do with Kevin’s post.
God has no regard for riches, power or status. He looks at the heart of every human - NOT our bank account.
Clearly this matter has been spoken by the Hebrew prophets, and is very well enunciated by Our Lady in the Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55). She under inspiration of the Holy Spirit describes God’s actions thus:
“He casts the mighty from their thrones, raises up the lowly fills the starving with good things and sends the rich away empty.”
I am not so sure how the “prosperity Gospel” can be reconciled with the Beatitudes, either. These words falling from the very lips of the Incarnate God. How much more specific do we need?
Luke 6: 20-23
20 And raising his eyes toward his disciples he said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for the kingdom of God is yours.
21 Blessed are you who are now hungry, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who are now weeping, for you will laugh.
22 Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude and insult you, and denounce your name as evil on account of the Son of Man.
23 Rejoice and leap for joy on that day! Behold, your reward will be great in heaven. For their ancestors treated the prophets in the same way.
24 But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation.
25 But woe to you who are filled now, for you will be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will grieve and weep.
26 Woe to you when all speak well of you, for their ancestors treated the false prophets in this way.
Does that mean God’s going to write off my student loans?
I have to say that I agree whole-heartedly that the so-called prosperity gospel is nonesense. It doesn’t seem to line up very well with a Christ that told a rich man to sell all he has and give it to the poor.
Re: If I’m suppose to be rich, I missed the boat somewhere!
The more radical proponents of this teaching would say you either don’t have enough faith or you have sin in your life. Or, since sin impacts one’s progeny ‘Unto the fourth generation’, it may be that you have generational bonds that must be broken.
In your case, I think it’s the ADHD: God’s been trying to show you the money, but you’ve been distracted.
Bowden,
I wrote a real long comment last night but never posted it. In essence - read John 10:10 intact. What everyone always quotes, as is the case here, is John 10:10b. Soap Box item for me. Check out the Four Spiritual Laws tract – it has John 10:10 referenced but only quotes the second half. The verse begins with a warning. We prefer going straight to the abundance.
Sean,
Sorry it didn’t post Good point.
Wow - I’ve never heard of Rev. Ike! Thinkonomics…very interesting. What I find interesting about the propserity crowd is that most of the money the preachers get is from poor, elderly people. My grandma (my family is mildly into prosperity) will pledge beyond what she can give & she is by no means rich!
Kevin hit the nail on the head - abundant life isn’t about money. Remember Job 1:21, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, & naked I will depart. The LORD gave & the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised.”
If I listen to their theology, I am not living right! However, I never remember Jesus being rich. I never have read that the disciples lived in great wealth…hmm, I guess they never got to hear Kenneth Copeland…
For clarification…I NOT into prosperity even though my fam is… I was delivered
as a teenager!
Kevin,
Frank Page is obviously reading your blog. He preached John 10:10 today at SWBTS chapel and used it in its entirety. Great message for this chapel at this seminary. I am excited about Dr. Page’s leadership. Amen!
From today’s Morning Office. Clearly Job is linking wealth with idolatry in this passage, and I think rightly so.
Job 31:24-28
“If I have made gold my trust, or called fine gold my confidence; if I have rejoiced because my wealth was great, or because my hand had gotten much; if I have looked at the sun when it shone, or the moon moving in splendor, and my heart has been secretly enticed, and my mouth has kissed my hand; this also would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges, for I should have been false to God above.
Jesus said;
“The 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.” John 10:10
Yes we can “name it and claim it”; but claim only what is written; The Truth, Good, and Holy. These are the promises of God.
The Abundant Life is the absolute confidence that all your needs will be met; that No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and we can join Christ Jesus in the celebratory Victory cry, ” Hallellujah! He reigns!” He overcame this world!
Many “prosperity preachers” ( you can find them promoting their RELIGION all over the TV and Internet) teach their believers that “life abundantly” is about things of this world ( ie: money, power, influence, cars, boats, planes, a huge nest egg, fancy clothes). These preachers instill their followers with their ideas and formulas to amass great wealth. It’s all about self, my needs, my wants, my feelings, my comforts.
I have had occasion to witness preachers, some very much in the “limelight” encouarge their followrs to pray their words for abundance and follow it with “Give to get more” or “Give and get 100x back in return” Well don’t be fooled.
I have seen the world’s riches and the emptiness that is left as a result of it’ pursuit. I firmly believe a man is not rich by that which he possesses but by what he disposses in unencumbrance and sacrifice to be totally a disciple and bondservant to Jesus Christ.
I pray three axioms:
1. “You can take everything I have and I’ll still have every thing I need!” WHY? I have Jesus.
2. I am have not two dollars to rub together and I am richer tha I have ever been.” WHY? Jesus
3. If The Lord never did another thing for me the rest of my life; I would still owe HIM the rest of my life.” WHY? JESUS .
I was bought at a price. My Life is not my own. It belongs to the KING of KINGS,LORD of LORDS. It costed me nothing and cost HIM everything. I say plainly it costs me nothing because before HE found me that’s exactly what my life was worth.Thank You JESUS for giving me worth. Thank you Jesus for The Holy Spirit. Thank you Jesus for The Abundant Life. Thank you Jesus for your indescribable Love.Thank You Jesus!
God Bless you all! With all due respect ladies and gentlemen, does God want us healthy (a) and blessed (b) is the question right?
Bible Answer: (a) - Is. 53:5, Matthew 8:16-17, Acts 10:38, & I Peter 2:24. (b) - Deuteronomy 8:18, Joshua 1:8, & III John 2. Also, see blood covenant, atonement, and Melchizedek for further study. NO OPINIONS JUST SCRIPTURE!
When you finish reading, please decide for yourself which scriptures you are going to throw out the window because you don’t believe or obey the Word of God!!! IT IS VERY CLEAR: BY FAITH AND OBEDIENCE IN SERVICE TO GOD WE OBTAIN THE PROMISES OF GOD! If you tithe to the local Church God promises to open the windows of heaven. WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE? HONOR GOD AND OBEY HIS WORD & GOD MAKES YOU MISERABLE AND UNABLE TO HELP OTHERS?! That is foolish.
As a Missionary in Colombia, South America (yes risking my life to preach in Communist Guerrilla zones without body guards) I teach the Bible and conduct Salvation Crusades. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God! I challenge anyone, please come visit us here in Cali and go tell the 1000 Missionary students we have trained that God does not heal the sick (the blind, deaf, lame, demons cast out, cancers disappearing, etc.) and God doesn’t prosper the faithful obedience of his people. Please come here and tell them face to face. Go tell the woman who was bound up by demon spirits as a witch and had cancer that Jesus doesn’t deliver her, set her free, fill her with the Holy Ghost, and completely heal her of cancer!!! JESUS DID! Folks wake up, no preacher or man can do these wonderful things, ONLY JESUS!!! THOSE WHO OBEY HIM AND TEACH OTHERS TO DO THE SAME GOD WILL STAND BEHIND! John 14:12! The Word of God is powerful, satan is defeated, and we have a mission to complete!!! IF WE OBEY, GOD BLESSES SO WE CAN HELP OTHERS!!! All our Crusades and Bible Schools are completely free of charge, God provides all our needs as we focus on the mission. Matthew 6:33 seek first the Kingdom and His Righteousness…everything else gets added. Our ministry completely depends on God! My wife and I have a combined salary of 9 thousand dollars a year and we pour six digits YEARLY into our Crusades to evangelize Colombia, everything regestered by law in the States and here in Colombia. IT TAKES MONEY TO WIN THE LOST!!! CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS AND SALVATION IS FREE BUT GOD PROSPERS PEOPLE TO SEND MISSIONARIES AND BIBLES TO THE NATIONS! God heals the sick just like he did with Jesus, why? HE LOVES US but we have to believe. Did not Jesus get frustrated with his own disciples? Answer: Yes! Mark 9:15-25 READ THE BIBLE FOLKS!
THE BIBLE WORKS NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE IN THE WORLD! We have never taken anything from the people here, they gladly give to God in their local churches and we see them prospering in the local churches they attend. Folks please don’t condemn people for teaching God’s principles. What are we supposed to preach? Sickness, Poverty, Ruin, Wait til you die…What?! GOD WANTS TO HELP PEOPLE RIGHT NOW! Most of you have never been to the mission field have you? A dangerous third world country perhaps? BETTER YET: WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO WIN LOST SOULS IN THE GREAT COMMISSION OF CHRIST?! ARE YOU SUPPORTING MISSIONARIES OR SENDING BIBLES TO FOREIGN LANDS?! Holy Spirit I pray you convict people’s hearts with this email.
Stop criticizing what you do not know. Come down here to Cali. Attend a Crusade we sponsor. Get your life threatened for Christ, then you can talk. Our address is Av. 4B Norte #58-60, Torre E Apt. 503 Cali, Valle, COLOMBIA, S.A. Come visit us with your heart. Serve Jesus in a country where life and death are everyday, spend a week with us here as our guest and you talk to the people directly…SEE WHAT JESUS IS DOING IN COLOMBIA…any takers?
I write with all sincerity of heart and just a little bit angry at the responses I have read to this point. Where is the Love of God folks!?The World is dying fast and we are fighting over minor doctrines…forgive me Lord if I have offended anyone, that is not my intention. Challenge people Holy Spirit! Amen!
Bill your servant