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FAQ # 56
QUESTION 56
: Is financial and earthly abundance in the lives of those who profess
faith in Christ an indication of faith and righteousness?
Because of widespread teaching and belief among God's people that the
answer to this question is yes, I deem it necessary to address the issue
in short order. First of all, in very short order, the answer is absolutely
and unequivocally, NO! To attempt to assess the spiritual state of anyone
by any earthly means is totally unwise and nonsensical in the sight of
God. The only way the spiritual condition of anyone is truly evaluated
(by God) is by the spiritual … life...
Actually, there is more evidence in the Scriptures to suggest that the
presence of worldly abundance in one's life is evidence of unrighteousness,
and not righteousness (Ps.73: 3,11,12; Job 21:7-15; Jer.5: 28; Jer.12:
1,2; Ps.49: 16-20; Jas.5: 1-5; Ezek.16: 49, just to name a few). In reality,
riches do not denote faith and righteousness, any more than poverty signifies
unrighteousness. And for that matter, poverty does not indicate righteousness,
nor does plentiful ness of means necessarily reveal unrighteousness in
someone's life. It would be wise to note however, the words of Jesus,
Who said, "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also"
(Lk.12:34).
The popular "prosperity" doctrine that we see today is no new
trick of the Devil. The book of Job is thought to be the oldest book in
the Bible, and it shows very clearly that Job's erroneous persecutors
were heavily steeped in this school of thought (Job 8:6,7; ch.15:29; ch.22:23-25;
etc.). They believed wrongly, like so many are being told to believe today,
that good things happen to the righteous, and bad things happen to the
unrighteous. These would be wise to heed the Wisdom of Solomon, who said
that sometimes things go exactly opposite of that (Eccl.8:14). Two outstanding
examples of this reality are Lazarus, from the parable of Lazarus and
the rich man, told by Jesus in Luke 16; where the man with nothing on
earth was saved after death, and the man of means on the earth was lost
after death; both being of the household of God. And the other being the
leader of the church in Smyrna to whom Jesus sent His message by the hand
of John, saying to this man "I know thy works, and tribulation, and
poverty, (but thou art rich...)" (Rev.2:9). And shortly thereafter
Jesus sent to the Pastor at Laodicea, informing him that he was "wretched,
and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:" though his earthly
state was "rich, and increased with goods, and [in] need of nothing"
(Rev.3:17).
But even more specifically to the point, the Apostle Paul addressed this
very issue, and erroneous school of thought, in one of the most powerful
(but vastly overlooked) passages of scripture in the Bible; in 1 Tim.6,
where he informed us that those who teach that "gain is godliness"
are perverse, corrupt, and destitute of the truth. And again it would
be very wise to note that he admonished us to withdraw from such. He also
went on to give us the true definition of divine prosperity, saying that
"godliness with contentment is great gain." “Contentment with
what?” you might ask. "And having food and raiment let us be therewith
content" (1 Tim.6:5-8). And to these words agreed Jesus in Mat.6:25-33
where He commanded us to put priority on the things which pertain to the
kingdom of God (Rom.14:17), and all that we need on earth will be added
unto us. And it is very interesting how that He mentioned only food and
raiment as being "all these things."
The so-called ministers of the Gospel who teach this indulgent prosperity
doctrine have perverted the words of the living God. Philippians 4:19
tells us that "my God shall supply all your NEED according to his
riches in glory by Christ Jesus." Through subtlety and cunning craftiness
they have caused God's people to believe that the scripture actually states
that "my God shall supply all your WANTONESS according to YOUR riches
and glory in Christ Jesus." What they should be teaching is the admonition
of Hebrews 13:5, which states thusly: "Let your conversation (lifestyle)
be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye
have." Beloved, it's high time for us to "Prove all things;
[and] hold fast that which is good" (1 Thess.5:21).
{Source: Daniel, BroLary@ByOneSpirit.com}
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