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Articles
The Blab It Grab It, Name It Claim Its "Got It"
Religious believers may think it's all about the money, but faith believers learn about God's
sure Word and the importance of their spoken word lining up with the Creator's.
Nevertheless, God is not against prosperity.
For a while now, some religious Christians have stood against others on the issue of
prosperity. For centuries churches have gotten wealthy while parishioners were praised for
being as poor as the proverbial church mouse. Many glorious attributes were assigned to
those taking a vow of poverty. But the Word of God stands contrary to that assertion. Then
others have misquoted scripture saying money was the root of all evil. The Bible actually
says that the love of money is the root of all evil (1 Tim. 6:10). Poverty is part of the curse
that Jesus bore on our behalf. (2 Cor. 8:9) By reading and learning the scripture one learns
that prosperity is not just money. Remember that the truths Christians believe must be based
upon the Word of God and in harmony with the whole Word of God which is The Bible.
Remember also not to judge. People have been upset to see the wealth of some churches but
they forget that the church paid for much of the early exploration of the world. Many in
churches have also served the people of the world where others would or could not go. They
were often directed and organized by wealthy church institutions. No one should or indeed
could judge what's been done in the area of financial stewardship (or any other area for that
matter). There is only One Judge who sees and knows all. God judges His servants. They are
His business, not ours. Read scriptures on judging and the folly of being anything but a "fruit
inspector" becomes apparent. (Matt. 7: 1-5, 15-23) What is the result, outcome or "fruit" of
their work? Do they demonstrate the love of God? Are they doing the will of God? (Verse 21)
God made a way to bless us.
Looking again at wealth and prosperity, from Genesis 1, verses 26-30, we read God blessed man
giving him everything. He gave him dominion over all the earth including all there is in it (like gold,
silver etc.). Well Adam surrendered that authority to the serpent. But again God made a way to bless
us. Genesis 22 tells the story of Abraham trusting God. Verse 14 is the first instance the name
Jehovah Jireh was used. He is the God who sees the need and provides for it, God is our Provider.
Abraham knew God could restore his son Isaac. He trusted God and thereby received great blessing
pronounced upon him. Indeed, all the nations of the earth would be blessed through Abraham's
seed. Trusting and obeying God as Abraham did is one of the keys to knowing God's blessings.
Exodus, the second book of the Bible, gives the early history of Abraham and his descendants Isaac
and Jacob who also knew the blessings of God and abundant wealth.
Jacob, who was renamed Israel was the father of the twelve tribes of Israel. Although they knew
early prosperity in Egypt because Joseph was wealthy and powerful in the land, jealousy by the
Egyptians reduced Israel to captivity after Joseph died and was no longer remembered as having
saved them from the great famine. (Exodus 1:7-22) Even so God provided. We read in Exodus how
Moses, born into captivity, was groomed in the Pharaoh's palace and later led Israel to freedom and travel to the Promised Land.
The Creator knows how to provide prosperity in every way
God's plan was to bring the nation of Israel to a good land flowing with milk and honey; again
prosperity. (Exodus 3:8) The people were also instructed to ask for goods from the Egyptians before
they left. They found favour and were given much wealth from their former taskmasters.
(Exod.12:35 & 36) Note however, the heart of those who received that wealth. They were later
willing to give it in abundance in order to build the Tabernacle in the wilderness. (Exodus 25:1 through to Chap. 31:11 and Chap. 35: 4 - 29).
The builders had more than enough to work with from the donations people willingly gave. Utensils in the Tabernacle were overlaid with gold: again
prosperity! God continually orchestrated ways to prosper His people. In Leviticus we learn of laws given to Moses in the Wilderness during the exodus for the distribution or redistribution of wealth.
In Deuteronomy 7 verse 8 God tells of His love and blessing for those who obey Him. Note verses 13
& 14. Again in Deut. 28:1-14 trusting and obeying God brings prosperity. This was not a reward but an outcome for following the manufacturer's manual. The Creator knows how to provide prosperity in every way.
Solomon's wealth surpassed all the kings of the earth.
King David knew that prosperity. Psalm 23 tells of overflowing provision even in the face of the enemy, for those who follow the Shepherd's lead. Note in this well known Psalm prosperity is also for the soul. David showed a trusting heart and was made king of Israel. His son Solomon was so
wealthy and wise the Queen of Sheba was impressed. That story is in 2 Chronicles 9:12 -24. Verse 22 says Solomon's wealth surpassed all the kings of the earth. One should note that Solomon's prayer at the dedication of the temple in Jerusalem revealed a heart that revered God (2 Chron. 6). God's blessings are synonymous with prosperity and He consistently reveals lack or poverty as a result of not walking according to His Word.
"shall men give into your bosom."
Does that mean the wealthy all walk with and revere God? Well the Egyptians didn't but they gave to God's people. The Queen of Sheba also gave to King Solomon. Pertinent to this discussion are two verses from Luke 6 where Jesus says in verses 37 & 38:
(37) l Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive and ye shall be forgiven:
(38) Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and
running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete (measure)
withal it shall be measured to you again.
God has provided a way for His children to be blessed. It may be, like the Egyptians, "shall men give
into your bosom."
"that we may walk in the blessings of Abraham"
These blessings have also come upon Christians. Jesus took upon himself the curse of poverty, along with every other curse, in order that we may walk in the blessings of Abraham whom God blessed in
all things. (Galatians 3:13 & 14) It would suit Satan if Christians remained poor in order to hinder the
spreading of the gospel. The Body of Christ is the new temple, and Jesus is the chief cornerstone.
(Ephesians 2:20-22, 2 Cor. 6:16, Hebrews 3:6) Wealth used to build the temple of God, honours God. Christians, who trust and obey the commandment to spread the gospel, building that temple, in fact
obey the first commandment to love. (Matt.22:37 - 40, Luke 10:27) We are to love the Lord our God
The Creator knows how to provide prosperity in every way
God's plan was to bring the nation of Israel to a good land flowing with milk and honey; again prosperity. (Exodus 3:8) The people were also instructed to ask for goods from the Egyptians before they left. They found favour and were given much wealth from their former taskmasters.
(Exod.12:35 & 36) Note however, the heart of those who received that wealth. They were later willing to give it in abundance in order to build the Tabernacle in the wilderness. (Exodus 25:1
through to Chap. 31:11 and Chap. 35: 4 - 29) The builders had more than enough to work with from the donations people willingly gave. Utensils in the Tabernacle were overlaid with gold: again prosperity! God continually orchestrated ways to prosper His people. In Leviticus we learn of laws given to Moses in the Wilderness during the exodus for the distribution or redistribution of wealth.
In Deuteronomy 7 verse 8 God tells of His love and blessing for those who obey Him. Note verses 13
& 14. Again in Deut. 28:1-14 trusting and obeying God brings prosperity. This was not a reward but an outcome for following the manufacturer's manual. The Creator knows how to provide prosperity in every way.
Solomon's wealth surpassed all the kings of the earth. King David knew that prosperity. Psalm 23 tells of overflowing provision even in the face of the enemy, for those who follow the Shepherd's lead. Note in this well known Psalm prosperity is also for the soul. David showed a trusting heart and was made king of Israel. His son Solomon was so wealthy and wise the Queen of Sheba was impressed. That story is in 2 Chronicles 9:12 -24. Verse 22 says Solomon's wealth surpassed all the kings of the earth. One should note that Solomon's prayer at the dedication of the temple in Jerusalem revealed a heart that revered God (2 Chron. 6). God's blessings are synonymous with prosperity and He consistently reveals lack or poverty as a result of not walking according to His Word.
"shall men give into your bosom."
Does that mean the wealthy all walk with and revere God? Well the Egyptians didn't but they gave to God's people. The Queen of Sheba also gave to King Solomon. Pertinent to this discussion are two verses from Luke 6 where Jesus says in verses 37 & 38: (37) l Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive
and ye shall be forgiven:
(38) Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and
running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete (measure)
withal it shall be measured to you again.
God has provided a way for His children to be blessed. It may be, like the Egyptians, "shall men give
into your bosom."
"that we may walk in the blessings of Abraham"
These blessings have also come upon Christians. Jesus took upon himself the curse of poverty, along
with every other curse, in order that we may walk in the blessings of Abraham whom God blessed in
all things. (Galatians 3:13 & 14) It would suit Satan if Christians remained poor in order to hinder the
spreading of the gospel. The Body of Christ is the new temple, and Jesus is the chief cornerstone.
(Ephesians 2:20-22, 2 Cor. 6:16, Hebrews 3:6) Wealth used to build the temple of God, honours God.
Christians, who trust and obey the commandment to spread the gospel, building that temple, in fact
obey the first commandment to love. (Matt.22:37 - 40, Luke 10:27) We are to love the Lord our God
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