Verses Used To Support The Prosperity Gospel
The prosperity gospel is a doctrine that teaches God wants us to be prosperous and healthy in life, with wealth being used as the measure for your level of favor with God. As Jesus repeatedly teaches, having prosperity in this life does not equate to God’s favor. In the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, the poor man Lazarus is the one who goes to heaven, while the rich man goes to hell.
Furthermore, Jesus says, “Beware! Keep yourselves from covetousness, for a man’s life doesn’t consist of the abundance of the things which he possesses.”
The following is a list of verses used to support the prosperity gospel, as well as an explanation of each verse, revealing why these verses actually don’t support the prosperity teaching at all.
Proverbs 2: 29 Hard Work Makes You Stand Before Kings
Do you see someone skilled in their work? They will serve before kings they will not serve before officials of low rank. Proverbs 22:29
Hard work pays! A well-skilled and hardworking will always be elevated to stand and sit before kings. He will be promoted above average and inferior men to associate with wealthy and influencer men.
There is no question whether hard work will make you successful or not. Gods word is settled already, that any man well skilled and diligent in his work cannot be small.
Hard work will always place you above all your contemporaries.
Yet You Don’t Have Because You Don’t Ask
This verse is used to support the “Name it, Claim it”teaching, which is technically witchcraft . Let’s keep reading to see what James is really saying, “Yet you don’t have, because you don’t ask. You ask, and don’t receive, because you ask amiss, so that you may spend it for your pleasures. You adulterers and adulteresses, don’t you know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”
So as we can see, James is actually speaking against lusts and greed, saying that they are making themselves enemies of God by loving the material things more than God.
Again, saying, “God has no choice but to make our prayers come true” or “Name it, Claim it” is the literal definition of witchcraft and sorcery the real kind of witchcraft, not the pretend magic kind of potions andspells, but the legitimate sinful witchcraft of attempting to manipulate spirits.
What does Jesus say when praying to the Heavenly Father? “Nevertheless, not what I want, but what you want.”
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Theres a branch of Christianity that promises a direct path to the good life. It is called by many names, but most often it is nicknamed the prosperity gospel for its bold central claim that God will give you your hearts desires: money in the bank, a healthy body, a thriving family, and boundless happiness.
This was not the faith I grew up with on the prairies of Manitoba, Canada, surrounded by communities of Mennonites. I learned at my Anabaptist Bible camp about a poor carpenter from Galilee who taught that a good life was a simple one.
But when I was 18 or so, I started hearing stories about a different kind of faith with a formula for success. At first, I followed my interest in the prosperity gospel like a storm chaser, finding any megachurch within driving distance of a family vacation. I started at Yale Divinity School for my masters ready to devote myself to analyzing this unusual theology.
During my years of research, I talked to televangelists who offered spiritual guarantees that viewers would receive money from Gods own hands, I held hands with people in wheelchairs praying at the altar to be cured. They, too, thought faith contained an implicit promise of earthly reward.
Worship With Your Money
If youâre not careful, it can be easy to place your hope in money. Money is something we can hold in our hands or look at in our bank account. We feel the weight of its absence or possess a sense of self-sufficiency when we have it in abundance. In Bible verses about putting your hope in money, youâre going to come across a ton of warnings:
- âBe careful!â
- âGuard your heart!â
- âDonât be a fool with your money!â
When it comes to money, wealthy people are not the only ones who will be tempted to sin. Regardless of how much money you have, youâll be tempted to sin in different ways.
Instead of placing your hope in money or whatever generates income, place your hope in God. He owns everything, and he will provide you with what you need to live your life for him.
Check out these Bible verses about putting your hope in money:
1 Samuel 2:7: “The LORD makes poor and makes rich he brings low and he exalts.â
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Things Bible Verses Say About Money
In the words of Jesus, âFor where your treasure is, there your heart will be alsoâ . After reviewing Bible verses about money, there are a nine big principles that come to the surface, including:
What the Bible has to say about money isnât limited to these nine principles.
Remember, there are roughly 2,000 Bible verses about money and possessions, which means there are way more nuances talked about in the Bible than these nine.
All Iâm saying is that these nine principles appear to be the most prominent. Because, you know, “the love of money is the… “
Here Is A List Of Bible Verses About Contentment To Help You Fight For Contentment:
- âJob 36:11:“If they listen and serve him, they complete their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasantness.ââ
- Proverbs 19:23:“The fear of the LORD leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied he will not be visited by harm.ââ
- Psalm 37:16-17:“Better is the little that the righteous has than the abundance of many wicked. For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous.ââ
- 2 Corinthians 12:9-10:“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.ââ
- Philippians 4:11-13:“Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.ââ
- Philippians 4:19:“And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.â
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Prosperity Theology: Definition Viewpoints What The Bible Says
The first time I heard about prosperity theology was about two years ago at my church during a conversation with my church family. After hearing about it I began to wonder, Is this something we should allow into our lives as Christians? and What does the Bible say about this?
What is Prosperity Theology? Prosperity Theology refers to two possible beliefs. The more extreme one believes pursuing a relationship with Christ will lead you to be blessed financially and happy. The second possible belief of prosperity theology is that if we follow Christ we will no longer struggle with pain or sin, and that he desires for us to live a better life than He did when He resided on Earth.
After reading that you might be thinking, Wow that sounds great. But neither of those are beliefs that we should have as Christians. Read this article to find out why.
What Is The Correct Biblical View Of Money Does God Want Us To Be Rich
The above verses are clear. A believer is not to set his mind on wealth. Being wealthy actually opens the doors to many temptations. Prosperity gospel preachers do believe that godliness is a means to financial gain. But it is not.
When Pilate asked Jesus if He was a king, Jesus replied, my kingdom is not of this world. Money is a currency of this world. There isnt any money in heaven. Jesus was not preoccupied with it. He had nowhere to lay His head.
We are to be content with our daily needs. Giving to God is an act of appreciation, investing in Gods kingdom, not a method to try to get more financial blessings from God in return.
This does not mean that God necessarily wants believers to be poor either. God takes care of His children. He loves to give us good gifts . But that gift is only sometimes material blessings. Other times that gift is the gift of trials.
God wants us to work hard. He wants us to be successful. But this success is defined by Him and not by the worlds standards.
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Does God Want You To Be Wealthy
But where does the truth lie when youre talking about prosperity and wealth in the Bible? How does it relate to your spiritual walk and your relationship with God?
Does God even want us to be wealthy and prosperous, or are we better off spiritually if we stay away from it?
As it turns out, the Bible has a lot to say about wealth and prosperity. It actually puts forth several key things you can do to achieve the righteous wealth and prosperity that God actually does want us to have.
In fact, if we follow the prescription we find in the scriptures for biblical wealth, He has no choice but to give us a level of prosperity that fulfills our every need, plus guarantees an excess that we can use to bless others with.
Money Is About Discipleship
Money is a tool God uses to help us live and love like Jesus. Regardless of how muchâor how littleâmoney you have, God is at work in your life through your circumstances. He is leading you to a deeper trust in him. This is exactly what we see in Philippians 4:11-12:
“Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.”
Are you struggling financially? Or are you swimming in a financial abundance? Do you have a love of money that isn’t healthy?
Regardless of your situation, instead of asking âwhyâ or just saying âthanks,â be sure to ask God what you can learn since there is a connection between your faith and money.
- âMatthew 6:24: âNo one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.ââ
- Luke 12:34:“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.ââ
- Luke 16:11-12:“If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in that which is anotherâs, who will give you that which is your own?”
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What Does God Really Say About Wealth
Jesus says, “Sell that which you have, and give gifts to the needy. Make for yourselves purses which don’t grow old, a treasure in the heavens that doesn’t fail,where no thief approaches, neither moth destroys.”
Jesus also says, “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”
Paul says, “For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant…lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.”
Error #: Jesus Atonement Extends To The Sin Of Material Poverty
Prosperity gospel advocates also misunderstand what happened on the cross. Theologian Ken Sarles wrote that the prosperity gospel claims that both physical healing and financial prosperity have been provided for in the Atonement. This seems to be an accurate observation in light of teacher Kenneth Copelands comment that the basic principle of the Christian life is to know that God put our sin, sickness, disease, sorrow, grief, and poverty on Jesus at Calvary. This misunderstanding of the scope of the Atonement stems from two errors that proponents of the prosperity gospel make.
First, many who hold to prosperity theology fundamentally misunderstand the life of Christ. For example, teacher John Avanzini proclaimed, Jesus had a nice house, a big house,Jesus was handling big money and He even wore designer clothes. It is easy to see how such a warped view of the life of Christ could lead to an equally warped misconception of the death of Christ.
Second, many prosperity gospel teachers misinterpret 2 Corinthians 8:9, which reads,
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.
If the prosperity gospel is correct, grace becomes obsolete, God becomes irrelevant and man is the measure of all things.
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Error : Taken Out Of Context
One of the first slogans you learn in seminary is Context is king. It is impossible to grasp the true meaning of a statement without knowing the context. Without the literary context, there is no meaning at all all we have are possible meanings. This is fertile soil for false teachers because it allows them to put forth whatever message they think their audience wants to hear. The worst enemy to false interpretation is context. Andy Naselli rightly asserts about context, Keeping the multiple layers of the literary context in mind will help you interpret responsibly. Otherwise, you could be guilty of laughable eisegesis.10 Eisegesis, reading into the text, is the corrupting gift all prosperity preachers share. Here are a few common examples.
You do not have because you do not ask . Prosperity preachers use this verse to teach their followers to name it and claim it. When you read this verse properly in context, you realize that James is not primarily instructing us how to pray but condemning our covetousness .
Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap . Prosperity preachers use this verse to promise their followers greater rewards if they give greater amounts of money to the preacher. The next verses in context explain that the sowing is doing good and what we reap for doing good is eternal life . The verse has nothing to do with money.
Reviews And Fact About Bible Verses On Wealth And Prosperity
1Timothy 6:10 says: For 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.
Dan Lok, popularly known as the Asian Dragon once said Money is like a tool, which can be used for good and evil.
When you begin to seek after money to the extent that it began to take your mind away from God whereby you go to any length not minding whether its evil just to make money.
Proverbs 10:22 It is the blessing of the LORD that makes rich, And adds no sorrow to it.
The foundation for wealth and prosperity is Gods blessings thats why in Abraham was very rich in livestock and silver because Gods blessing was upon him and he excels in all he does.
You might say but, unbelievers are also rich, there is always an inner peace that accompanies financial blessings that comes from God.
If you check men that excel in wealth and prosperity all through scriptures they all worked in the blessings, examples are Solomon, Job, David, Jacob, Joseph the list can go on.
In essence, money is not evil but the love of it, and also its Gods blessings that guarantee long-lasting wealth and prosperity.
Before I wrap every up, It important you know what Private Banking And Wealth Management is All About.
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What Is Prosperity Theology
Prosperity theology is the belief that if you follow Jesus your life will be the opposite of his. Meaning that once you believe in him, you will never experience bad health, pain, sin, or poverty.
Prosperity theology first began to rise in the 1950s in the U.S and has since grown in popularity. Prosperity theology draws people in by telling them that if they follow Jesus they will be blessed beyond their imaginations and that nothing bad should ever come to them.
It is very likely that prosperity got its origins of beliefs from a movement that began in the 1830s called new thought. Though new thought movement did not originally derive from Christian beliefs, as it grew in popularity it became a belief practiced by Christians. The core idea behind this movement is that if you retrained your brain to focus on the positive that all of your desires would be fulfilled and granted by God.
One of the most famous prosperity teachers stated this regarding his belief of what God wants for us.
Its Gods will for you to live in prosperity instead of poverty. Its Gods will for you to pay your bills and not be in debt.
Joel Osteen
Another belief of prosperity theology is that if you are in poverty and struggling financially then you are disobeying Gods will for you and that you must fix your financial situation to get back in his good graces.