‘God wants you rich!’ Some of today’s money preachers have grown rich on donations and sales of their books and they deceive their followers into thinking that they too will get rich. Now the economy is crashing, how many will remain faithful? If everything we have is removed, will we be as true to God as Job? What does the Bible say about money?
* It is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. Luke 18:25 * The love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 1 Timothy 6:10 * Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days. James 5:1-3
* My kingdom is not of this world. John 18:36 * Having food and raiment (clothing), let us be therewith content. 1Timothy 6:8 * Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth…for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Matthew 6:19,21 * How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! Luke 18:24 * Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. Colossians 3:2 * This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous… 2 Timothy 3:1-2 * Labour not to be rich… Proverbs 23:4
* Blessed be ye poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Luke 6:20 There are lots more scriptures we could include, but you’ve probably got the idea. God does not want you hankering after riches; He wants you contented, working and doing your best, but trusting Him to provide for all your needs. Why are you listening to religious charlatans telling you ‘God wants you rich’ when what they really want is for you to make them rich! There were material rewards for Israel under the Old Covenant, but we have a new and better covenant in Christ’s blood that entitles us to spiritual, not material, benefits. The Lord tells us to first seek His kingdom and He will provide all we need.
This does not mean you can sit back and do nothing while expecting the money to come rolling in. ‘For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.’ 2 Thessalonians 3:10 We are to work to provide for ourselves and our families if we possibly can, but we are not to lust after riches. Read also 1 Thessalonians 4:11, which tells us to lead a quiet life, mind our own business and work with our hands so that outsiders will respect us and we will not be dependent on anybody. If your needs are not being met, maybe there is a problem. Could it be that you are anti-Semitic? God would have a hard time blessing you if that is the case.
He loves His Jewish people and He is watching to see how each one of us treats them. You could start with Psalm 122:6: “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem; they shall prosper that love thee.” Start blessing the Jews by praying for their salvation and for peace in their land, which also means praying for the Prince of Peace to come back, because only then will there be lasting peace in the Middle East. He promised to Abraham and, by extension, all Jews: “I will bless them that bless thee” (Genesis 12:3). Do you know any Jews you could bless? Another reason you might be missing God’s blessings is if you are reluctant to give. God is a giver; He gave the best He had for us.
The Lord Jesus left the delights of heaven to suffer horribly for us. Are you a giver too? Look at 2 Corinthians 9:6-7: ‘But this I say, he which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.’ This means, work out in advance what you can afford to give, without robbing your family of what they need, and then be cheerful about it. But don’t spoil it by telling everyone how generous you are, because we are not supposed to let our left hands know what our right hands are doing when we give. And please, please, don’t be manipulated into giving to the money preachers. Find out who the good guys are and give to them. Some of them will be featured in articles on this website, including Jacob Prasch (Moriel Ministries), Arnold Fruchtenbaum (Ariel), Tony Pearce, Dave Hunt (The Berean Call), Vic Jackopson (Hope Now), Dr Dave Reagan (Lamb Lion Ministries) and Southwest Radio Church, Oklahoma City.
