Pursuing Wealth

[NewCreation435]

The Bible seems to discourage believers from pursuing wealth or prosperity. Here is what it says in James 1:9-11

9 "Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. 10 But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower. 11 For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business."

How does this compare with what those who might follow the "Prosperity gospel" teach?
Do you think wealth is a sign of God's approval or disapproval?

 

[psalms 91]

Like everything else I think wealth can be from God or not, a good thing or not. If you doubt that God prospers look at Abraham, David, and Job

 

[NewCreation435]

Like everything else I think wealth can be from God or not, a good thing or not. If you doubt that God prospers look at Abraham, David, and Job

At the same time, David went through times when he was living in the wilderness and so did Paul and Jesus Himself. I don't see anywhere where it says that wealth is a sign by itself that God is pleased with a person.

 

[NewCreation435]

Like everything else I think wealth can be from God or not, a good thing or not. If you doubt that God prospers look at Abraham, David, and Job

At the same time, David went through times when he was living in the wilderness and so did Paul and Jesus Himself. I don't see anywhere where it says that wealth is a sign by itself that God is pleased with a person.

 

[tango]

Paul wrote that he knew good times and he knew bad times.

I don't see wealth is a bad thing in and of itself (many believe the Bible says that money is the root of all evil when it actually says the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil), but with wealth comes an increasing danger that we will trust in our own wealth to preserve us, and may be reluctant to let go of the wealth if God call on us to use it for something specific. There's also the difference between working hard for money and the kind of underhand dealings some might use to get ahead at any cost.

I think the prosperity gospel and its derivatives that assure followers that God will always do what they want are toxic, simply because God isn't a cosmic vending machine and God doesn't dance to our tune however much certain preachers might like to think otherwise. If people are led to believe that following God is an assurance of health, wealth, and whatever else they want, then sooner or later they are going to be disappointed and conclude that God doesn't keep his promises.

 

[Imalive]

It can be good. Jesus had wealthy women following Him and serving them w their money. But those preachers w swimming pools and 2 houses and private jets, while others are poor, it reminds me of the rich man and Lazarus. It can be a gift though, one English preacher had a millionair in church who used it for the ministry. Giving is also a gift. Oh and before he came ppl from that church sold their huge houses and lived cheaper, to build the house of God.
I was once in a service. We sat in a tiny cheap building, first they rented a bigger place, but he said: it's not fair towards the kids in the orphanages in India that we sponsor if we use this money for renting a big room.

 

[psalms 91]

At the same time, David went through times when he was living in the wilderness and so did Paul and Jesus Himself. I don't see anywhere where it says that wealth is a sign by itself that God is pleased with a person.

No but it does at times show favor as with Job and with Abraham, it says David was a man after Gods own heart, in other words he had his priorities straight. Seek ye first the kingdom of God and all these things shall be added unto you

 

[MoreCoffee]

No but it does at times show favor as with Job and with Abraham, it says David was a man after Gods own heart, in other words he had his priorities straight. Seek ye first the kingdom of God and all these things shall be added unto you

Jesus was not wealthy in this world's goods.

 

[psalms 91]

Jesus was not wealthy in this world's goods.

No He wasnt and there is no gaurantee that we will be either but God can and does bless us in every way including materially if you understand that He will meet our needs and we are to be happy whatever state we are in. God first and everything else second. And in some cases we see in the bible He did bless their socks off.

 

[MoreCoffee]

No He wasnt and there is no gaurantee that we will be either but God can and does bless us in every way including materially if you understand that He will meet our needs and we are to be happy whatever state we are in. God first and everything else second. And in some cases we see in the bible He did bless their socks off.

Yes, in some cases God gave this world's goods to the patriarchs yet to the prophets more often than not he gave penury and to the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ God gave little of this world's goods even though he gave them greatly of wisdom and truth. The reason for the holy scriptures explicitly pointing to our Lord's lack of this world's goods is to help Christians understand that possession of this world's goods is no sure proof of God's blessings nor of the goodness of those who have this world's goods. Like the man born blind - who the disciples thought to be punished either for his own sins or the sins of his forefathers - sometimes it happens that illness, injury, and poverty can come upon a person for purposes unknown to anybody in this world yet at the proper time it may be revealed that these things were present so that God's grace and goodness could be seen in their remedy at the hand of God's ministers. Thus pursuing worldly goods for the temporary wealth that they bring is not encouraged by the gospel truth that our Lord teaches his people. Instead the people of God are to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and then it may be that worldly goods will come to some for the benefit of all. This world's goods are to serve the people of God rather than be hoarded in the hands of a few. Rather than buying a Jet to fly here and there the Christian endowed with this world's goods should give to the poor among the faithful and to the poor who need relief from their poverty. Jets and mansions are not adornments of the gospel to be sought but if they are given or inherited then let them be used for the benefit of the people of God and not gloried in as signs of God's blessing on the one who possesses them.

 

[NewCreation435]

No but it does at times show favor as with Job and with Abraham, it says David was a man after Gods own heart, in other words he had his priorities straight. Seek ye first the kingdom of God and all these things shall be added unto you

When I think of "all these things" that is mentioned in this verse, material goods is the last thing I think about. What I don't think some people understand including some christians is that material goods can be stolen, destroyed, washed away and rusted away. They don't last and the person who has a lot is preoccupied by the things he has. While the more permanent things such as faith, love, hope, love of God and others are eternal and of much more value. We should be pursuing the eternal things first and is money or material possessions we are blessed with then that is great, but I don't think that is promised.

 

[tango]

No but it does at times show favor as with Job and with Abraham, it says David was a man after Gods own heart, in other words he had his priorities straight. Seek ye first the kingdom of God and all these things shall be added unto you

This is where we have to be careful that logic doesn't get twisted around.

Wealth may be a sign of God's favor but that doesn't mean that God favors everyone who is wealthy. If God chooses to bless us with material wealth that's great but he may choose to bless us in other ways, and may call us to follow a path where we barely know how we are going to pay our next bill.

The verse "all these things shall be added unto you" doesn't automatically mean that seeking God's kingdom first will result in material wealth being added unto us. Solomon sought wisdom above all else and God blessed him with wisdom and also with great wealth. But when Jesus said "the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head" it was clear he wasn't here to gain material wealth.

 

[Imalive]

When I think of "all these things" that is mentioned in this verse, material goods is the last thing I think about. What I don't think some people understand including some christians is that material goods can be stolen, destroyed, washed away and rusted away. They don't last and the person who has a lot is preoccupied by the things he has. While the more permanent things such as faith, love, hope, love of God and others are eternal and of much more value. We should be pursuing the eternal things first and is money or material possessions we are blessed with then that is great, but I don't think that is promised.

I think it is about material goods. But it doesn't say: nonsensical luxury shall be added unto you.
Jesus wasn't so poor that He couldn't ever eat. He had quite some expensive clothes. They gave to the poor. He had someone to take care of the money, Judas. It always baffled me btw that He didn't mind His money got stolen by him and didn't fire him and take a new one. I get quite a bit irritated if ppl steal or ruin my stuff on purpose.
Don't be worried about clothes or food, your heavenly Father knows you need these things.

 

[Pedrito]

Maybe to some degree, it’s not so much a matter of what you have, but rather what you still want.