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4 Introduction Is it the plan of God to make us materially rich and wealthy? Does the Bible give us a get-rich formula for prosperity? One of the most dangerous teachings of the 21 st Century is the doctrine known as the prosperity gospel. This false gospel has destroyed people s lives whilst enriching its preachers. Therefore the followers of prosperity preachers have become poorer and more covetous whilst the preachers become richer and greedy for more money. The prosperity gospel has deceived many people and has created a counterfeit Christianity that is self-centered and focused on obtaining material wealth rather than on the authentic gospel of Jesus Christ. 2 Timothy 4:3-4 speaks of people who will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions. We live in a greedy and materialistic generation. We live in a generation that wants everything at the press of a button. The prosperity gospel is a doctrine of prosperity preachers that twists the Scriptures to make its followers believe that material blessings and monetary prosperity are available as long as its followers adhere to their specific teachings and get rich formulas that are based on their incorrect interpretation of the Scriptures. Therefore followers who seek material wealth and prosperity are inclined to have itching ears and seek prosperity preachers who will tell them what they want to hear, even if what the prosperity preachers teach is unbiblical. The sad thing is that many people s lives have been destroyed by this false gospel. Many marriages and relationships have also been torn apart in the pursuit of material wealth because of the prosperity gospel. Many people have also lost their money unnecessarily due to the false teachings of this gospel. It is my desire as you read this ebook that your eyes would be open to the deception of the prosperity gospel and that you would be able to help those who are caught up in the snare of this false teaching. 4 P a g e w w w. i n s p i r e d w a l k. c o m

5 What does the prosperity gospel teach? This popular but false doctrine survives & grows by taking advantage of the financially desperate, the self-ambitious, the greedy, and the spiritually deceived with the promise that those who obey its subtle but twisted doctrines will one day amass material riches, material wealth and self-fulfillment in life. However, even the scripture is clear that money does not satisfy and fulfillment cannot be found by the pursuit of money or wealth. (Ecclesiastes 5:10 ESV He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity) Another important note is that: just because the prosperity doctrine has been made popular by charismatic and influential prosperity preachers it does not mean that this doctrine is true and sound. The Bible is clear that many people will be deceived by many false prophets and that many people will not endure sound teaching. (Matthew 24:11 NKJV Then MANY false prophets will rise up and deceive MANY.) Matthew 6:24 No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. Since the prosperity preachers encourage that the pursuit of worldly wealth and riches on this earth is a good thing for every Christian to do then why did the devil use the prospect of acquiring the same wealth & the same riches to tempt the Lord Jesus to worship him? The reason is even the devil knows that a man cannot serve both God and money and even the devil knows that the pursuit of money leads to all kinds of evil. 5 P a g e w w w. i n s p i r e d w a l k. c o m

6 In 1 Timothy 6:5,9-11 Paul warned Timothy about such men like prosperity gospel preachers. Paul said that these men who were of corrupt mind supposed godliness was a means of (material) gain and their desire for riches was a trap that brought them into ruin and destruction (vs 9). 2 Timothy 4:3 ESV For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, The problem with the prosperity gospel is not only that it is heretic but that this false gospel is so dangerous to the point that it can send deceived people straight to the fires of hell. What s worse also is that prosperity preachers have twisted scriptures in the Bible to justify covetousness, greed, self-ambition and the desire to pursue worldly riches instead of pursuing eternal blessings and eternal rewards. Jesus said the following: Then Jesus said to His disciples, Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. Matthew 19:23-24 NKJV The most important issues to learn about the prosperity gospel are the following: a) What is the prosperity gospel and what does the prosperity gospel really teach? b) Does the fact that the prosperity gospel is popular among millions of people and is preached by well-known charismatic & articulate preachers mean that the prosperity gospel is true? c) What are the dangers of believing and following the prosperity gospel? d) Who benefits from the prosperity gospel? Are you aware, that whenever Jesus brought up the issue of earthly money & riches, Jesus always spoke AGAINST the idea of people pursuing material wealth & earthly riches? He was against it so much that He warned His followers by saying it is HARD for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 19:23,24) So does God want you to be rich? Does God desire that you seek after money & things? As you live on this earth, is God s desire for you to seek after the expensive cars; to wear the best looking clothes and to live in an expensive posh house? Does having such 6 P a g e w w w. i n s p i r e d w a l k. c o m

7 type of material possessions and wealth reflect that God s blessings are truly on you and that you have a RIGHT relationship with God? The answer to the above questions is found in 1 Timothy 6:6-10 and in Philippians 4: Philippians 4:11-12 ESV Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 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. If God doesn t want you to be rich, then does He want you to be poor? The truth is God wants you to be CONTENT in whatever situation you are in. 1 Timothy 6:6 says godliness with CONTENTMENT is GREAT gain. Therefore life is not about whether you are rich or whether you re poor; or whether you have or whether you don t have life does not consist in the abundance of things (Luke 12:15) What does God say about people who want to be rich? Here are a few out of MANY Bible verses where God speaks against people having a desire to pursue material riches. Luke 12:15 NKJV And He (Jesus) said to them, Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses. Matthew 6:19-21 ESV Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 1 Timothy 6:6-10 NKJV Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. Ecclesiastes 5:10 ESV He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity. From the scriptures above (and there are many other similar scriptures), it is clear that God does not promote the pursuit of material wealth or riches. God desires CONTENTMENT in whatever situation. Most of all, God desires that you seek His 7 P a g e w w w. i n s p i r e d w a l k. c o m

8 kingdom & His righteousness FIRST (Matthew 6:33). God knows the temptations and distractions that come with pursuing after material riches. He therefore discourages it because the pursuit of riches actually prevents us from pursuing God, and the more riches we have, the greedy we become because money does not satisfy. The popular term that prosperity preachers use whenever they want people s money is the word seed or seeding / sowing. Therefore when a prosperity preacher asks you to seed or sow, he is really asking you to give either him or to give his church some money with a promise that the seed money will harvest a double blessing or a reward from God. Matthew 7:7-11 Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! Imagine you have a son. And your son told you that he was going to seed $10 to you as his father, because he wants you to one day buy him a car. Or imagine you have a daughter, and your daughter told you that she is seeding $20 to you because she will be expecting you to buy her a house. What kind of child-father relationship would this be? Is it not somehow a manipulative and strange relationship? Would you really want your own child to seed money to you so that you can do good things for your child? Would such a relationship be a GENUINE relationship? Jesus did not teach any formulas for getting God to do something for us. Jesus did not teach that there is a get-rich formula for life. Jesus taught that if you wanted something from God, you should simply ASK pray, believe and let God do the rest. Matthew 7:11 says how much more will your Father in Heaven give good things to those who ASK Him. The problem is not with the concept of giving, but the problem is that we think God should respond because we seeded money. The prosperity gospel has indoctrinated its followers that God responds to our giving of money to the church or to the preacher. For example, one might expect that if he seeds $100, he must expect God to give him a double portion of $200 or a possession 8 P a g e w w w. i n s p i r e d w a l k. c o m

9 he desires. Therefore should the concept of giving become a tool to force God to grant somebody personal prosperity? Would such motives be pure and good? 2 Corinthians 9:7-8 ESV Each one must give as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. Whenever you read the gospels and study the ministry of Jesus & His apostles you will discover something very interesting about Jesus ministry and the ministry of His apostles that is very different from what you see from the prosperity churches and the prosperity preachers. Jesus did not ever ask for so-called seed money from any person who needed His help. Unlike the false prosperity preachers, Jesus did not teach that God will materialistically reward those who seed money into the church or into the pockets of preachers. Jesus did not ever teach that seeding money is a pre-requisite for experiencing God s answer to prayer or God s deliverance. Jesus even told His disciples when He sent them to minister into various towns to not request payment from those they had helped. Therefore the idea that seed money must be paid or given to get God to respond was never anything that Jesus taught. Matthew 10:8,9 ESV (Jesus speaking) Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay. 9 Acquire no gold nor silver nor copper for your belts, Acts 3:6-7 ESV But Peter said, I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk! 7 And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. Jesus did not also teach that if anyone has a physical or spiritual need, then one must give seed money in order to activate God s hand. God is not activated by money. God acts and responds out of His own sovereign will and NOT out of the will of man (Luke 22:42 and Matthew 6:10). Often during Jesus ministry and even His apostles, the people who had need of God s help were often poor, broke, desperate, sick, helpless and hopeless. Yet Jesus never requested for their money as a seed that He might deliver them. Neither did Jesus ever teach his disciples that God would respond to people s seed money for them to receive their breakthrough or their deliverance or more wealth. In the Bible such as the Parable of the Sower (Luke 8:4-15), the seed used in this parable is actually the word of God and NOT money (Luke 8:11). 9 P a g e w w w. i n s p i r e d w a l k. c o m

10 However prosperity gospel preachers has used this parable by twisting the scriptures and to coerce people into seeding money to their ministries with the false premise that the money they seed to them or their ministry will harvest or multiply. In the Bible the word seed is only used in 3 contexts which is seed as in actual physical seed; seed as in humans and seed as in the word of God. The word seed is never used in the context of money because money is ultimately perishable, corruptible and is a product of the systems of the world. The prosperity gospel also teaches that Jesus was rich. However, was Jesus really rich? Did He look rich and wear expensive clothes? The prosperity preachers would falsely like to have people believe that Jesus was wealthy whilst on earth. However, the truth is Jesus was not rich and wealthy during His earthly ministry as the prosperity preachers teach. It was one of the reasons why such skeptics as the Pharisees were not convinced that Jesus was the Messiah. The reason is because even to the Pharisees, Jesus didn t dress like a King; or move around with servants and an army like a king. Jesus was not the kind of King or Messiah that the materialistic Pharisees expected. On the outside, Jesus looked like any ordinary person. Jesus told an interested follower that Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head (Luke 9:58). Jesus and His disciples often relied on the hospitality of others during their ministry. Jesus in humility took the form and life of a servant and not of a rich man when He came to earth (Philippians 2:6-8 ESV Who, though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but made Himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross). Mark 10:45 ESV For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. Jesus also encouraged His disciples to become like servants (Mark 10:43-44 ESV But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all.) 10 P a g e w w w. i n s p i r e d w a l k. c o m

11 The life of a servant or slave of God is NOT to pursue after riches. The life of a servant of God is to serve and obey his Master. Jesus did not go around the earth preaching a prosperity gospel or giving His disciples a get-rich formula for life. Jesus preached repentance and the need for man to have a right relationship with God (Matthew 4:17). Jesus came as a living example of how we should serve God and live a life that is pleasing to Him. Jesus also came that we may pursue the prize of eternal life through Him and not the temporary monetary riches of this earth. Does the Bible speak more about money than any other topic? Several prosperity teachers have heretically claimed that God or Jesus or the Bible speaks more about money than any other topic. This claim is untrue and totally deceptive. The main message of God s word is not about the accumulation of wealth and possessions. Material prosperity has never been at the heart of God s concern in relation to man s relationship with Him. Therefore if material wealth & health is not at the top of God s heart, then what has been God s great desire concerning His creation? 2 Peter 3:9-10 ESV The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. Matthew 4:17 ESV From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. John 5:39 ESV (Jesus speaking) You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about Me, John 3:16 ESV For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. Matthew 28:19-20 ESV Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. Contrary to the false teachings of prosperity teachers, the Bible was not inspired by God in order to supply man with a get-rich formula for life. God s word exists because the 11 P a g e w w w. i n s p i r e d w a l k. c o m

12 entire Bible speaks & witnesses about Jesus (both in the Old & New Testament John 5:39). The Bible also exists because it is necessary for every person to repent from sin and realize that salvation can only be found through faith in Jesus Christ whom God sent out of His love for the world. In the next chapters, I will endeavor to explain the true meaning of prosperity according to the Bible. Biblical prosperity is very different from the prosperity gospel that is preached by various false teachers around the world. While it is not a sin to have material wealth, the Bible discourages us from the love of money and the pursuit of riches. Instead God s word shows us that as long as we are on this earth, we can always trust in Him to provide all our needs according to His riches (Philippians 4:19) and that we are not to worry about the issues of life or the treasures of this earth, but instead lay up for ourselves treasures in heaven (Matthew 6:19-21). 12 P a g e w w w. i n s p i r e d w a l k. c o m

13 How do you measure success? Does God view prosperity in the same way in which the world defines prosperity? Should the church or Christians define prosperity in the same way that non-christians define prosperity? Should prosperity or success be defined according to the assets you have, your social status, the size of your bank account or even the power you have? For example, can a person who owns a vehicle and a house be defined as being more prosperous than a person who doesn t own these things? Even within the church setting can a person who owns more possessions and has more money be defined as being more spiritual and more Christ-like than a person who owns less possessions and money? Genesis 39:2-3 KJV And the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. And his master saw that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hand. The New King James Version translates the word prosperous as successful. When we look at part of the life of Joseph, we get a picture of what Biblical prosperity is like because the word of God identifies Joseph as being a prosperous man and that all that he did prospered. Yet from a natural or worldly view point Joseph could hardly have been classified as being successful, but yet God s word clearly says that he was a prosperous man. 13 P a g e w w w. i n s p i r e d w a l k. c o m

14 (A). A slave of a powerful, influential and wealthy man by the name of Potiphar. Therefore if Joseph being the slave and Potiphar being Joseph s wealthy master how could Joseph the slave be the prosperous man and not Potiphar? Why isn t Potiphar, being the one with all the assets and wealth classified by the word of God as being prosperous? (B). As a slave, Joseph did not own any assets or material possessions. He owned nothing to his name. As a slave, not only did Joseph not own assets, but it is most certain that he was not entitled to any sort of pay or remuneration for any work that he did. However, it is interesting that at this particular time in his life, God called Joseph a successful or prosperous man. Why? (C). Joseph was purchased by Potiphar as if he were an animal or an object. Therefore in the eyes of society and the world, Joseph was insignificant and had no social status because he was a slave. Society obviously had no regard for his human dignity or human rights yet even with such a low social status, God STILL called Joseph a prosperous man or successful man. (D). Joseph s own brothers had attempted to kill him but then later decided to sell him to the Ishmaelites (Genesis 37:12-36). Therefore most of his immediate family members did not like him and did not want anything to do with him. Yet after going through such a traumatic experience, and being sold into slavery by his brothers, at some point in his life Joseph was seen as being a successful or prosperous man. The answer to why Joseph was successful and prosperous is found in the first 5 words of Genesis 39:2 And the Lord was with Joseph (Luke 12:15 And Jesus said to them, Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses. 14 P a g e w w w. i n s p i r e d w a l k. c o m

15 In our natural or worldly thinking we equate being prosperous with the measure of assets that we own, eg. Cars, houses, furniture, clothes, land and the like. Therefore worldly philosophy & thinking teaches us that our possessions define us and who we are. However, Christ-like / Biblical thinking shows that our possessions should not define us nor should our possessions define the quality of our life. Joseph didn t own assets, but the reason God s word says that he was prosperous or successful, is because God was with him, and God guided his every direction even as a slave. Therefore God Himself defined Joseph s prosperity and not the ownership of assets. Joseph clearly lived an obedient life towards God and he enjoyed a close fellowship with the Lord. Joseph did not allow his slavery to define him, but rather it was his close relationship and obedience to the Lord that defined him. Joseph also did not allow the fact that he did not own any assets to define him, but rather it was his close relationship with God that defined him. In Luke 12:15, Jesus advises us that the quality of our life does not consist in the abundance of our possessions. The thing about possessions, is that they come-and-go. Possessions are temporary. When we die, we will leave our cars, our houses, our clothes and the like. But the things of God are everlasting. And God s judgment will not be based upon what we owned on earth, but His judgment will be based on whether we were obedient and faithful to Him and His word. (Matthew 6:19-21 Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.) (Genesis 39:5 So it was, from the time that he (Potiphar) had made him (Joseph) overseer of his house and all that he had, that the Lord blessed the Egyptian s house for Joseph s sake; and the blessing of the Lord was on all that he had in the house and in the field.) Joseph may have been the slave that owned nothing but God blessed Potiphar s house because of Joseph s presence in that house. Joseph above all, was a faithful servant of the God Most High and whatever Joseph did, it pleased God. Therefore Joseph s social status as a slave did not bring influence & blessing in Potiphar s house but it was Joseph s close relationship with God that brought influence and prosperity to Potiphar s house. So without Joseph, God would not have blessed Potiphar s house. In contrast, Potiphar could not draw to his home the blessing of God even though he was a powerful and influential person. Potiphar obviously did not have a relationship with God but God was not attracted to Potiphar s social position so that He might bless him. Potiphar may have had assets; he may have had the adoration of society and he may have had influence and be revered by men however, he did not have the 15 P a g e w w w. i n s p i r e d w a l k. c o m

16 blessings of God on him. (Mark 8:36-37 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?) (Matthew 19:21-22 Jesus said to him, If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions). The Bible says that the young rich man had great possessions. So from a worldly viewpoint this rich man was successful or prosperous; From a worldly viewpoint this rich man was invested for life because it is most likely that his great possessions would take care of him so that he probably wouldn t have to work another day in his life; From a worldly viewpoint the rich man s great possessions gave him security. The rich young man was also a religious person who knew and claimed to follow various scriptures (Matthew 29:20). However, when it came to choosing between following Jesus and remaining with his great possessions, the young rich man preferred to remain with his possessions than to be with the Lord. Without his great possessions, the rich man felt insecure and probably thought that he would have more to lose if he sold his possessions and followed Jesus than if he kept his great possessions. The problem with the rich man was not that he had great possessions but the problem with the rich man was that his great possessions were a hindrance from him having close fellowship with the Lord. He was unwilling to give up his possessions because he thought his possessions to be of more value than for him to follow and have fellowship with God. His possessions owned him. In contrast Joseph did not own any possessions as a slave, but yet Joseph was an obedient servant of God who was viewed by God as being both successful and prosperous (Genesis 39:2-3 KJV). Therefore we see that having riches and great possessions are not always a sign of Biblical prosperity because Biblical prosperity is not defined by material wealth alone, but it is mainly defined by whether or not a person has a genuine & obedient relationship with the Lord. Our security in life is not determined by the material possessions that we accumulate but our security in life is determined by our relationship with God and who we are in Christ Jesus. Even though the rich man was told by Jesus to sell his material possessions, Jesus assured him that he would not be left with nothing. Jesus assured the rich man that by following Him, he would have treasure in Heaven (Matthew 29:22) 16 P a g e w w w. i n s p i r e d w a l k. c o m

17 (Genesis 39:3-4 And his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord made all he did to prosper in his hand. So Joseph found favor in his sight, and served him. Then he made him overseer of his house, and all that he had he put under his authority). Like Joseph, it is possible to be prosperous and successful simply because God s favour is upon you in everything that you do. It is not always about what material and monetary possessions you acquire. It is the Lord who makes people to prosper and it is the Lord who makes the little and the big deeds that we do to prosper. If the Lord is a participant in whatever we do and if we yield to God s direction, then prosperity and success is certain. Joseph s work and service did not acquire him material possessions and wealth, but rather whatever Joseph did, it acquired the favour of God and whatever Joseph did and experienced, it was all being orchestrated by the hand of God. Joseph s work and service even made a heathen like Potiphar to notice something very special about Joseph. Potiphar noticed that God was with Joseph and Joseph even found favour in the eyes of Potiphar. Therefore according to Genesis 39:3, God made ALL that Joseph did to prosper in his hand. Therefore, Joseph may have owned nothing, but it did not stop him from prospering even though he did not own any material possessions. Joseph s prosperity and success was driven by God s favour. Jesus Himself was not concerned with acquiring material wealth and possessions whilst on earth, because His prosperity and success was not defined according to worldly standards, but according to the work and favour of God (Luke 2:52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men). (Philippians 3:20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ) The reason why Jesus tells us to store our treasures in Heaven where moth and rust do not destroy (Matthew 6:19-21) is because as children of God, we are ultimately citizens of Heaven. Therefore, while we are on earth, it makes more sense to do deeds that will store for us treasure in Heaven rather than earth. We are on the earth temporarily, and as Christians we are not of this world even though we (temporarily) live in it. It therefore does not make sense for us to simply focus most of our earthly lives trying to accumulate temporary possessions when we should be focusing on accumulating treasure in Heaven where we will be for eternal life. It is therefore really important that we understand who we are in Christ and what it means. 17 P a g e w w w. i n s p i r e d w a l k. c o m

18 (1 Timothy 6:6-10 Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows). Should we then say that people should not desire to look for better work salaries; or desire to live in a better house; or desire to buy a beautiful car? Of course not. There is nothing wrong with wanting to have a better life. However, what we should ensure is that the desire for riches and possessions do not hinder our relationship with God because the moment we desire riches and possessions more than God, we end up becoming like the rich young ruler who chose his great possessions over following Jesus. Our role as Christians is not about living so that we can accumulate possessions, but our role as Christians is to make disciples of all nations and to give glory to God. God s plans for our lives are never of poverty but he has great plans for us that are meant to glorify Him. 18 P a g e w w w. i n s p i r e d w a l k. c o m

19 Our culture and society has trained us to want more, to strive for more and to have more. To the world, your success and prosperity is measured by the quantity of what you have. Therefore worldly thinking measures you and your prosperity by the quantity of your possessions, the quantity of your salary and perks, the quantity of your clothes, the quantity of your degrees and the like. In our culture and society the more you have, the more respect you will get, the more you move up the ladder in terms of your social status, the more influence or power you have and the more you can supposedly accomplish in life. Therefore a person has got to work to have more money; have more cars; have more houses; have more clothes and the like. At times people will try to achieve more of these things at the cost of disadvantaging others in the process. However, can having money, riches, possessions and power be enough to satisfy a person? Does material wealth and financial riches bring personal satisfaction and do they give a person a true feeling of accomplishment or do they continue to motivate a person to have an insatiable desire for more and more of these things. Luke 12:15-21 NKJV And He said to them, Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses. Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops? So he said, I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry. But God said to him, Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided? So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God. 19 P a g e w w w. i n s p i r e d w a l k. c o m

20 The Rich Fool who built a bigger barn in Jesus parable made a lot of mistakes. The Rich Fools mistakes are very common and very relevant in today s culture and society where the desire for more riches, more power, more possessions lead people to sin against the Lord because of greed. The Rich Fool was blinded not only by his riches, but he was also blinded by his greed or his desire to have more. (1) He measured his success by the abundance of his possessions. (Luke 12:15 And He said to them, Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses. ) (2) He was overtaken by greed. He already had plentiful but he wanted more. (Luke 12:16-18 Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully ) (3) He was not content with what he had. He had more than enough and yet he wanted even more, therefore he built a bigger barn (Luke 12:17-18 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops? So he said, I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods.) (4) He was boastful in himself, in his achievements and about what he owned. He trusted that his possessions would give him security for the rest of his life.( Luke 12:19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry. ) (5) He wanted to satisfy his flesh. The fact that he was so rich and had built a bigger barn, he thought that this gave him the opportunity to no longer work but instead spend the rest of his life on indulging his fleshly pleasures. (Luke 12:19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry. ) (6) He did not realize that all the possessions he owned were just temporary assets. He forgot that he could die at any time and not have a chance to enjoy his possessions and wealth. (Luke 12:20 But God said to him, Fool! This night your soul will be required of 20 P a g e w w w. i n s p i r e d w a l k. c o m

21 you; then whose will those things be which you have provided? ) (7) He was self-serving and self-centred. He was not rich towards God and he did not focus on doing deeds that would earn him heavenly rewards. (Luke 12:21 So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God. ) Ecclesiastes 5:10 ESV He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity. (According to Greed is an overwhelming urge to have more of something, usually more than you really need. Greed is an excessive desire to acquire or possess more (especially more material wealth) than one needs or deserves. Greed is often connected with money, a desire to acquire as much of it as possible, but it can refer to that kind of urge toward anything, like food or material possessions. When you see greed, it s an ugly thing, whether you re observing a greedy person or the greed of a huge company that treats its workers badly in order to make more money. Greed comes from the Old English grædig, or voracious, which means always hungry for more. The truth is money, riches, possessions do not satisfy. Only God is able to satisfy. The Rich Fool was motivated by greed or a lust for more. In today s society we want more than enough. The world is not content with having enough. 1 Timothy 6:6-10 NKJV Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. Whenever we are tempted with greed, let us remember that the very possessions we work so hard to achieve can disappear within seconds. We can leave this earth at any time and leave the very possessions that we coveted. It is better for us to put more effort in doing the will of the Lord and focusing on being rich towards God through obeying Him and serving Him. When we do this, we will acquire treasures in Heaven. 21 P a g e w w w. i n s p i r e d w a l k. c o m

22 It s interesting to note, that when you study the life and teachings of Jesus, whenever the issue of money or possessions came up as a subject during His ministry Jesus NEVER ENCOURAGED or MOTIVATED his followers to seek after MATERIAL or WORLDLY or TEMPORARY wealth and riches. In fact, Jesus ALWAYS encouraged His followers to seek after heavenly things and godliness rather than to seek after material or temporary wealth. There are MANY scriptures in the Bible and in Jesus teachings where Jesus told His followers that the pursuit and the love of money and material wealth posed a great danger to their relationship with God and to their faith. The kind of preaching about acquiring wealth or riches that is preached today or the prosperity gospel as it is sometimes called where the pursuit of material wealth is emphasized over the pursuit of true godliness is very flawed and at most unbiblical whenever the prosperity gospel teachings are put under the correct scrutiny of God s word and teachings. 1 Timothy 6:6-10 Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. The word of God warns us that the desire to be rich or the love and pursuit of material wealth can lead to many snares and temptations which may end up leading people astray and away from true faith in God. It is important to understand that money in itself is not evil, but the love of money and the love of material possessions can lead to all kinds of evil. 22 P a g e w w w. i n s p i r e d w a l k. c o m

23 Below are various Biblical reasons as to what the dangers and snares are, when a person pursues after riches: (1 Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil ) The love of money can be so powerful that people will practice witchcraft & voodoo in order to obtain wealth; some will kill for money; some will marry for money; some will sell their bodies sexually for money; some will sell their souls for money; some will exploit the weak and the desperate for money; some will even deny Christ and speak heresy for money; Judas betrayed Jesus and was rewarded for his betrayal with money. According to scripture, there are no limits to the kind of evil that people can do if the love of money is present because the love of money a root of ALL kinds of evil. Therefore money is not something that a person should love or lust for. The reason is that when we love money, we open ourselves to ALL kinds of temptations and wickedness. (1 Timothy 6:6-10 Now godliness with contentment is great gain For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness ) Problems can always arise when we do not live in contentment. When we are not content with what God has given us at a particular time, we then become governed by our flesh. And when we are governed by the flesh and not by God, we then succumb to fleshly characteristics such as greed, where we want more than we actually need. Greediness becomes the motivating factor by which we pursue after material wealth and riches and greed is an ungodly and forbidden characteristic. (Matthew 19:21-24 Jesus said to him, If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. Then Jesus said to His disciples, Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. ) Do you own your possessions? Or do your possessions own you? Would you put God FIRST in all areas of your life and follow Christ as your NUMBER ONE priority instead of pursuing after material wealth and riches? In Matthew 6:33 Jesus is very clear about 23 P a g e w w w. i n s p i r e d w a l k. c o m

24 what we should seek FIRST in our lives (Matthew 6:33 But seek FIRST the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you). Therefore above every personal desire and need, God wants us to FIRST seek His kingdom AND His RIGHTEOUSNESS. The problem with the rich young ruler in Matthew 19:16-23 is that this rich man valued his personal wealth and possessions as being of more importance than following Jesus. The rich man may have initially claimed to have followed God s commandments and he may have had knowledge of the scriptures, but the TRUE nature of his heart was revealed when Jesus told him to sell his possessions and follow Him. The rich man s heart was with his possessions and not with God. He loved his possessions and wealth more than he loved God. As a result his riches prevented him from GENUINELY following the Lord. (Matthew 6:24 No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.) Mammon is personified as a false god of riches & money. Mammon as a false god attempts to substitute God s role of provision in a person s life. Therefore instead of man looking to God for his provisions, man looks to mammon for provisions. This is why Jesus clearly has a problem with people s love for money. If our love and loyalty is to the pursuit of money, then it means that our relationship with God is automatically compromised. However, if our loyalty and love is with God then the issue of money no longer becomes important in our lives. According to Jesus, we CANNOT serve BOTH money and God at the same time. God equates the love of money and our loyalty to money to be equal to loving and serving a false god. (Matthew 6:19-21 Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also ). Jesus emphasizes that the pursuit of heavenly treasures is more important than the pursuit of temporary wealth and riches. In 1 Timothy 6:7 we are reminded that when we were born we brought nothing into this world. Therefore when we die we will not take any material possession or money with us. The love of money can deceive us into believing that we will keep our material possessions and money forever. However the true treasure and rewards we must seek after are the treasures in heaven. These treasures that Jesus mentions await us when we have a genuine personal relationship with God and when we live a life of genuine service and obedience to God and His word. 24 P a g e w w w. i n s p i r e d w a l k. c o m

25 (Luke 12:15 And He said to them, Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses. ) Another danger concerning the love of money is that it can deceive people into believing that their success in life is measured by how much money they make. However Jesus teaches that our success or life is not measured by the abundance of our money or possessions. Even our spiritual maturity or relationship with God can never be measured by the size of our bank accounts or by the amount of possessions that we own. For example, in the Bible, Joseph was a slave of his Egyptian master, but even though Joseph was a slave, the word of God referred to Joseph as being a successful or prosperous man (Genesis 39:2,3 And the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. And his master saw that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hand). Philippians 4:19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Money is a mere tool. God wants us to pursue Him above ALL things including money. God wants us to put Him FIRST and He wants us to rely on Him to provide for our EVERY need. Money does not satisfy (Ecclesiastes 5:10). However God only can satisfy us. Therefore, whatever provisions we need, we must rely on the Lord to supply according to HIS riches and not according to yours. 25 P a g e w w w. i n s p i r e d w a l k. c o m

26 We all have needs and physical desires. We all need to pay the bills. The reality is that we need money in order to transact in this world. What do you need in your life? Is it a job? Is it a house? Is it a relationship? Is it purpose and direction? How do you intend to get those things that you desire in life? Philippians 4:19 NKJV And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Whatever it is you need in your life, you must remember that God ONLY can supply your needs. God can supply both your physical and your spiritual needs through Christ Jesus. Sometimes we are tempted to think of doing things by our own effort and by our own logic and reasoning. However it is important in whatever you desire to achieve, that you make God the Source of your need by: 1. Praying to God for your need (Matthew 7:7,8) 2. Thanking God in advance for your need (1 Thessalonians 5:8) 3. Trusting and believing in God that He will supply your need (Mark 11:24) 4. Listening to God s answer and response in relation to your need (Jeremiah 33:3) It s also important to remember that we should not confuse our NEEDS with our WANTS. God knows what s good for us. If He does not give us what we want, it s always because He has our best interests at heart and it might be that what we want or desire is not best for us or for His plan for our lives. 26 P a g e w w w. i n s p i r e d w a l k. c o m

27 Ephesians 3:20 NKJV Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us God also knows what we need even before we ask Him (Matthew 6:8) and when you ask Him, God is able to give you MORE than what you have asked. So for example, may be you are praying for a job that pays you $ per month. After praying, God instead gives you a business idea of your own. So you start up your business and you end up making $ per month through your business. You not only make more money, but you also learn how to run your own business and therefore grow & develop as a person. Jeremiah 29:11-12 NKJV For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. Before you were even born, God had plans to give you a future and a hope. God would not put you in this world if He did not have the means to supply you with what you need. The important question is: Are you making God the source of all your needs or are you trying to accomplish your desires without God? Psalm 24:1 NKJV The earth is the Lord s, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein. If you want something you ask the Owner. God is the Owner of ALL things on the earth. That s why it s important to make Him your Source. There s no reason to achieve your needs and goals without God. Don t make yourself the source of your own needs. God is able to supply ALL your needs. God is rich beyond our understanding. Will God supply your needs? Trust Him to supply your needs. We live in a very materialistic world where fashion, money, cars, gadgets and all types of possessions have taken priority over such things as relationships, love, good character and God. The power of the media, the movies, the music and advertising has made us believe that we NEED MATERIAL THINGS above those things that are Godly, which we can t touch and see with our natural eyes. 27 P a g e w w w. i n s p i r e d w a l k. c o m

28 Matthew 6:31-33 NKJV Therefore do not worry, saying, What shall we eat? or What shall we drink? or What shall we wear? For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Jesus said that we should seek FIRST the kingdom of God and HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS. Are you seeking FIRST God s kingdom? Are you seeking FIRST God s righteousness? What are your priorities in life Is it God or is it material things? Matthew 6:19-21 NKJV Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. The treasure that we accumulate on earth is TEMPORARY, but the treasure we accumulate in Heaven is forever. When we die, we cannot take with us the material possessions we have accumulated on earth; we can t take that money we have in the bank account; we can t take our clothes; we can t take our favorite car with us. Does it mean then that we shouldn t desire to have a car or clothes or a nice house? Of course not. God knows that we want these things. However, God wants to know where your heart and where your priority are between Him and the material things that you desire. For example, what extents would you take in order to get your possessions? Would you lie, cheat, gossip, falsely accuse in order to get what you want? Would having possessions cause you to stop following God? Jesus was saying that people follow what their heart desires. If you desire material things, your heart will follow those things above God. However if you desire the things of God, your heart will follow God and His righteousness. Matthew 6:28-30 So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 28 P a g e w w w. i n s p i r e d w a l k. c o m

29 Are you your own source or is God your source? Is somebody else your source or is God your source? When you live, believe and understand that GOD IS YOUR SOURCE for EVERYTHING then you will discover that you don t need to worry about material things. God is the ONE who will supply all your needs according to HIS riches. Your focus instead should be on advancing the kingdom of God and on pleasing God. Then as you please God you will be adding to your bank account in Heaven where moth and rust do not destroy and where thieves cannot come and steal. Who are you seeking FIRST today? 29 P a g e w w w. i n s p i r e d w a l k. c o m

30 The true gospel is not about how God can make you rich. The true gospel is not about seeking a get-rich formula in the Bible. The true gospel is about Jesus Christ and the fact that He died for sinners on the Cross and resurrected on the third day. The gospel of Jesus Christ reminds us that we are sinners who are in need of salvation through Christ alone. The true gospel is about the grace of God and His love such that He sent His only Son to die for us so that we may not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16). The true gospel remind us that we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ and not by our own works and effort (Ephesians 2:8-9). The false prosperity gospel points people to the self instead of Christ. The prosperity gospel appeals to the desires of the flesh instead of the desires of God. The prosperity gospel distorts the true character of God and presumes that God is a type of santa claus. In fact, the true god of the prosperity gospel is mammon / money. When we understand the true gospel and value what Jesus Christ did on the Cross for our sins then we will realize that the prosperity gospel is simply a doctrine of demons that is promoted by deceived preachers who seek to enrich themselves at the expense of their followers. The true gospel is simply about the fact that Jesus Christ died on the Cross so that we may have a relationship with Him. God desires a genuine relationship with us. This relationship is possible by believing in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour and allowing Him to be Lord of your life. 30 P a g e w w w. i n s p i r e d w a l k. c o m

31 1. ACKNOWLEDGE: "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). This means that we have all broken God s laws and God s 10 Commandments like those mentioned in Exodus 20:1-17. For example, if you have told a lie; if you have stolen something; if you have lusted after somebody or if you have coveted. This means you are guilty of breaking at least one or more of God s 10 Commandments. Breaking God s commandments makes us sinners. The fact that we are sinners who have broken God s law means that we are accountable to God who is the Lawgiver. Romans 6:23 says that the wages of sin is death BUT the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord You must acknowledge that you are a sinner who has broken God s commandments and that you therefore need Jesus in your life. 2. REPENT: "Unless you repent you will all likewise perish" (Luke 13:3), "Repent therefore and be converted that your sins may be blotted out" (Acts 3:19) Repenting means: to change your mind; a sincere turning away, in heart, mind and action; Therefore God wants you to repent of sinful values and of sinful living. God wants you to decide to follow Him and to make Jesus the Lord of your life. 3. CONFESSION: "If we confess our sins. He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). "That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved" (Romans 10:9) God is a forgiving God. God will forgive any sin that you have done because Jesus died for ALL your sins and to set you free from the bondage of all types of sin in your life. 4. BELIEVE: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). You must believe that ONLY Jesus can save you and restore your relationship with God. You must believe that Jesus is the ONLY way by which you can have everlasting life and escape from eternal separation from God. You must believe that Jesus died on the cross for you and resurrected from the grave. 31 P a g e w w w. i n s p i r e d w a l k. c o m

32 "He came to His own, and His own did not receive him, But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name" (John 1:11-12) By faith, You must receive Jesus as Your Lord & Savior and therefore; you become a child of God; you become born again; you become a Christian; you restore your broken relationship with God Why Not Make Your Eternal Decision NOW? We become born again Christians by GRACE through FAITH or TOTAL TRUST in Jesus Christ as our Lord & Savior (Galatians 3:26) & (Ephesians 2:8,9). Salvation is a FREE gift received through FAITH in Christ. PLEASE NOTE: You can choose to pray in your own words. This prayer is a sample prayer and it is only an EXPRESSION of your faith, belief & trust in Jesus. Salvation is by GRACE through FAITH or BELIEVING in Christ Jesus as your Lord & Saviour. Lord Jesus, I thank You for Your love. I thank You that You died on the cross for me and resurrected so that I may have life through You. I confess Lord that I have sinned against You and today I ask You to forgive me of all of my sins, past present and future. Today I repent and have decided to follow you. Thank you for forgiving all my sins. From this moment, come into my life Lord Jesus & take full control of my life. I want to follow You Jesus and I want to follow Your ways. Save me and from today, make me the person You want me to be. I receive You Lord Jesus right now by faith. I trust You as my Lord and Savior - Amen 32 P a g e w w w. i n s p i r e d w a l k. c o m

33 AMAZON.COM 33 P a g e w w w. i n s p i r e d w a l k. c o m

34 InspiredWalk.com is an evangelical online Christian ministry founded by Stewart Kabatebate with the purpose of teaching, equipping & inspiring you to be more like Jesus Christ. By using the internet and other forms of electronic & social media platforms, our mission as Inspired Walk is to provide biblical teachings, devotionals and unique gospel tracts for biblical evangelism purposes. Inspired Walk continues to grow each day and we give glory to God for any lives that are affected or influenced positively as a result of connecting with this ministry. Inspired Walk so far has published over 320 online answers and teachings. We offer devotionals, teachings and videos on various Christian topics and issues from Salvation, Atheism, Cults and Religions, Relationship with God and many other topics. For more information visit 34 P a g e w w w. i n s p i r e d w a l k. c o m