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. (Heb. 13.5) JRD6YPW7ADVJ
Paul’s admonitions over personal behavior seem to be irrelevant to some today. Contentment isn’t considered spiritual anymore, but selfish (can you believe it?) A hearty, “We should want to be super-blessed so we can give more,” is the mantra of many modern prosperity seekers. Or, “It costs money to spread the Gospel, so let’s focus our faith on believing God for MORE money.”
In spite of what some may think, I’m not preaching against the prosperity message. I’m trying to bring balance to it – the same balance offered by Paul and Jesus. There is a true message of God’s abundant provision for believers (Paul wrote about that too,) but the prosperity message has been hijacked and steered way off the scriptural course over the last fifteen to twenty years. Many good people are still unaware that the guys now flying the gospel money jet are taking them to Uncontentmentville, right down the road from Covet Valley.
It’s been portrayed that the level of faith you achieve is measured by how much you’ve believed God for. This has led many believers into confessing away for that newer, more upscale house and the Lexus that they really, really want, but in reality, can’t afford. All the while, a simple little verse in the Bible calls this type of Christian behavior corrupt, perverse, and destitute of truth.
Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. (1Tim. 6.5)
Sure, Paul also said that God can do exceedingly abundantly above all we can ask or think, but it’s verses like these that will put balance in your faith.
But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. (1 Tim. 6.6-8)
Just maybe a little scriptural balance from the pulpit should be in order considering the uncertain times, or dare I say END TIMES, that we are now facing. Instead, the Westernized Gospel has sucked people into thinking that the American Dream is found somewhere in scripture. Frankly, God never promised America would survive. And it sure looks like the good-old land of the free is turning that dream into an eventual nightmare.
Only a foolish and near-sighted preacher would continue promulgating that you’re immune to any effects of a failing U.S. economy because, “you’re on God’s economy,” or that you should actually increase your giving (double tithe as one preacher put it) when really hard times hit. If that were the case, why did Paul bother to take up that offering for the believers in Jerusalem when they were starving? (1 Cor. 16.1-3) He should’ve just held a believers’ convention, preached seed faith and then taken up an offering from them.
My personal feeling is that big ministry operations that preach that stuff will wither up as believers wise up. Then, instead making the trek to that “big convention” lest you miss out on the latest “Word from the Lord,” you’ll go about, living out your testimony of Christ, being content in all things.
