According to some preachers you would think that only the rich can reach the rich. You know, ’cause, why would they listen to a poor person? After all, what could a poor person have that a rich person would want?
You know what? The Pharisees were kind of like that; wanting a rich, powerful messiah figure to launch into action and show-up the Romans. Jesus was just a carpenter from Podunk Nazareth. Although Jesus wasn’t necessarily poor, he didn’t carry on and on about how He came in order that His followers could gain material abundance so they could go out and reach the lost.
I know, I know. I’ve heard all the messages of how Jesus wasn’t poor, had a house of His own, and wore the most fashionable clothes of His day. On top of that, His ministry supported twelve guys, gave to the poor regularly, and had so much money that He needed a personal accountant on staff to keep the books . . . aaaahh . . . yawn. All of this eloquent verbosity, for what? To bolster the idea that God wants you “blessed” so you can be a blessing? Nothing wrong with being blessed, is there? No. God actually does want you blessed. But most times it comes across as, “God wants you rich,” just ’cause He wants you rich. Sometimes it’s preached so hard you’d think cash was king; if so, where does that leave Jesus?
A careless, overreaching message cheer-leading believers into seeking after material abundance is not the gospel. Have you ever heard, along side a “God wants you rich” message, Paul’s warnings?
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. (1 Tim. 6.9)
Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you. Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days . . . You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. (James 5.1-3,5 NIV)
Or, have you heard the admonition of Paul, preached in stride with prosperity, that once you get the “abundant life” you’re believing for, it may be increasingly difficult to keep your trust in the Lord?
Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy. (1Tim. 6:17)
Besides that, the constant barrage of messages bent on trying to get believers to reach for more and more when it comes to material things goes cross-grain with Paul’s attitude when he said,
Let your manner of life be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have. (Heb. 13.5 Webster)
And having food and raiment, with these let us be content. (1 Tim. 6.8 Webster)
I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. (Phil. 4.19 NIV)
When a few Roman soldiers approached John the Baptist at one of his revival meetings down by the Jordan he told them, “ . . . be content with your wages.” (Luke 3.14) That kind of preaching today would be considered both unscriptural and unamerican. The true gospel will never foster discontentment.
Becoming overly concerned with believing for money is one of the main reasons there are so few true moves of the Spirit now-a-days. I may get some flak in my circles over posting an article like this since I’m a Word guy myself, but it’s time we get back to believing in the power of the Spirit instead of the power of money when it comes to reaching the lost.
Jesus said, “according as the Father hath sent me, I also send you.” (John 20.21 YNG) Jesus’s personal and ministerial needs were met. So are yours, according to Christ’s finished work. And in this, we should trust and be content.
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2 Responses to Desiring Money Power Over Spirit Power!
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First I want to say how much I have enjoyed all your post.
In the kingdom of God the holy spirit is the ultimate form of power but in the earthly realm money is the highest form of power. God knows this, that’s why the saints of the past were the richest men in all the land. To illustrate, next time you have bill to pay tell them you are filled with the spirit instead of writing them a check, see what they say. Or when the church recieves tithe just tell them you got the spirit instead of cutting a check, I’m sure they will pass that info down to the utility company when they want there money. Money is a neutral tool capable of kingdom use or fleshly selfish use.
why did say there wasgoing to be a transfere of wealth in the last days? Why would he that if it was going to hurt us. God give wealth to only the ones that qualify to handle it and use it for Kingdom purposes. If you aren’t a good steward of money you god isn’t going to give it to you anyway becuase it would be no point in getting it into the hands of someone that isn’t going to use it for the kindom. Souls cost money to reach. Allways has and allways will as long as we live in a currency world. That’s why the transfere of wealth is coming to reach maximum souls before we check out of here. But your are correct, we have to watch out for Cadillac messages with out being in the context of kingdom motivation. But we can’t go as far as scare people of money to the point the beleive in the power of money more than the spirit ability to teach use to handle it. When your wealth pursuit is all about advancing the kingdom God doesn’t care if you have two and three houses and five cars. Intact when you invest in the kigdom of God you won’t be able to escape thar material good life. You represent God and he is a lavish God so we can be scares of wealth. We just have to spend time in the word and practice of stewardship to become a master of money.
I think that wealth is not only the results of their labor. wealth is the good fortune