More and more Christians around the world believe that material prosperity is a right of all Christians, they believe that God expects them to ask for it and anticipate it as a sure fulfillment of their promise. There is no doubt that the Old and New Testaments teach that the believer will be blessed by God.
But will this blessing always necessarily include material prosperity?Can all Christians expect to get rich? When we look at the Bible, this expectation dissipates.
- First.
- Paul has often shown that his suffering does not negatively affect his fullness of life.
- In his epistles.
- He presents his own suffering as part of proof that he was blessed and called of God (p.
- E.
- G.
- 2Co 4.
- 8-18; 6.
- 3-10 ; 11.
- 13-33; 12.
- 1-10; Galatians 6.
- 17).
- On one occasion he described himself as poor.
- But very enriching; Don’t you have anything but to own everything?(2Co 6.
- 10).
- In Ephesians.
- Writing from prison.
- Does Paul mention wealth five times.
- Referring to the gospel and all its treasures.
- He himself was a poor prisoner deprived of many basic human needs.
- But considered himself rich.
In Philippians, also writing from prison, Paul said of his financial needs:
I say that, not out of poverty, because I have learned to live with satisfaction in all situations. I know how to be humiliated and honest; of everything and in all circumstances, I already have the experience, both of abundance and of hunger; abundance and scarcity (Philippians 4:11-12).
He deduces that wealth is not necessarily a sign of God’s blessing, but contentment is. In fact, in this letter, the words joy, joy, joy, and happiness appear 16 times. He says that we must always rejoice in the Lord (Fil. 4. 4). It is also the epistle that speaks of God’s peace that surpasses all understanding (4. 7). Joy, peace and joy characterize a truly rich Christian.
A few years ago I did a study of all the points in the New Testament where Jesus is presented as a role model. Of the 29 texts that I have studied in greater depth, four were general statements calling on readers to follow Christ; two referred to forgiveness as Jesus forgave (Ephesians 4. 32; Col. 3. 13) and two referred to meekness and goodness (2Co 10. 1; 11. 17). The other 21 referred to the example of slavery and the suffering of Jesus. Later, when encouraging generosity, Paul gives the example of Jesus and says: “Because you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, who being rich became poor for you, so that through your poverty you can become rich?” 8. 9). Jesus himself said: “Is not a man’s life in the abundance of the goods he has? (Lc 12. 15). In the parable of the rich man and the poor beggar Lazarus covered in wounds, it is the beggar who goes to heaven and the rich man who suffers in hell (Lk 16, 19-31) We can safely conclude that the New Testament does not include success material in his basic description of what it means to be a follower of Christ.
Third, the New Testament seems to show wealth more as a danger than a blessing. It puts more emphasis on danger than on the desire for wealth. Jesus set the tone for this emphasis with the phrase: “And Jesus, seeing him so sad, said: How difficult it will be for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God! Why is it easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God? (Lk 18, 24-25). This statement is quoted in all three synoptic gospels. But how many times do we hear preachers say it again today? Jesus highlights his teaching on the dangers of wealth in his parable of the rich farmer who acquired enough wealth to ensure a comfortable retirement. Is called? Crazy? in his death. Jesus explains it by saying: “Is this what he loves for himself and is not rich in God?” (Lk 12, 16-21). In his evangelical call to future disciples to deny themselves, to take up one another’s cross and follow him, Jesus warns: “What good is a man to win the whole world and lose his soul?” (Mk 8. 36). If we neglect this aspect of the call of Christ in our preaching of the gospel, we will be guilty of distorting the gospel just like the liberals of a past generation.
When we look at 1 Timothy 6, we find more warnings about the dangers of wealth. Pablo says that it is fair to want basic necessities like food and clothes: “Do we have food and what to wear, let’s be happy?” (1Tm 6. 8). In addition to this need, wealth is not a problem. Paul says: “The great source of profit is godliness with contentment. Why have we brought nothing into the world and cannot get anything out of it? (6,6-7). It is not essential that we be rich, but it is essential may we be pious and satisfied. Elsewhere, Paul says that he is happy even in the face of suffering: “So I take pleasure in weaknesses, hurts, needs, persecutions, anxieties, for Christ’s sake. Why, when I am weak, am I strong? (2Co 12. 10). The idea of strength in weakness is another biblical doctrine that is neglected today.
Let’s get back to the warnings. In 1 Timothy 6: 9-10, Paul says
But those who want to enrich themselves fall into temptation, fall into a trap and in many foolish and pernicious lusts, which plunge men into ruin and doom. For love of money is the root of all evils; and some, in this greed, have strayed from the faith and tormented the thee with great pain.
Another strong warning is in the parable of the sower, where Jesus speaks of the seed sown among the thorns: “The care of the world, the fascination of wealth and other ambitions, at the same time, suffocate the word, leaving it sterile?”(Mk 4:19). These two strong warnings tell us how the desire for wealth can cause enormous harm by encouraging us to abandon God’s path on the path of supposed prosperity. Unfortunately, today we find many people who have fallen into these traps, ruined their spiritual life, and condemned In light of warnings like these about the dangers of the desire to be rich, along with the fact that many people see their lives ruined in this way, preachers should be careful not to inflame that desire by promising riches. to their listeners.
At the same time, the Bible does not take a completely negative approach to the question of wealth. Jesus said: “Do you collect other treasures in heaven, where moths do not rust and where thieves do not dig or steal? (Mt 6,20). This statement is made in the context of what to do with wealth. Using a Familiar language to businessmen, Jesus counsels us to make the wisest investment in the safest place of all – paradise. Preachers should encourage Christians to seek eternal prosperity.
In 1 Timothy 6, Paul asks that the rich be rich in generosity: “Let them do good, be rich in good works, generous in giving, and willing to share; accumulate treasures for them, a solid foundation for the future, in To take possession of real life?(6,18-19). We invest in Banco do Céu when we give to those in need. We already notice that Paul said in 1 Timothy 6 that wealth is less important than piety and contentment. He says abundant generosity is also important. The Bible’s many teachings on gifts show that for a biblical Christian, this is one of life’s great ambitions. Paul says that the Christians of Macedonia asked us, with many pleas, for the grace to participate. to help the saints? (2Co 8. 4).
When he urges the Christians of Corinth to contribute to the needs of the church in Jerusalem, Paul says, “Our desire is not that others will be relieved while you are overwhelmed, but that there is equality” (2 Cor 8. 13, NVI). world of obvious inequality, we give generously to bring some justice and equality Has this urgent need for justice in the world led many Christians to make the decision to adopt a simple lifestyle?of God and those in need, as someone once said, “we simply live so that others can simply live. “In support of this idea of a simple lifestyle, we mean Jesus’ statement: “Don’t other treasures accumulate on earth?(Mt 6:19).
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1 See Ajith Fernando ,? Jesus: The message and model of mission,?Global misiology for the 21st century, edited by William D. Taylor, (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2000), pp. 209-210. [in English]