Health, Wealth and Prosperity

Few things get me more riled than to come across prosperity preachers on television. I want to reach through the television and punch them in the face! They are liars! liars! liars! They misrepresent God and His wonderful Gospel. They make promises to naive and desperate people that either never came from God's lips, or are grossly taken out of context.

Most of the verses they quote are from the Old Testament. In context, they are promises of blessing to Israel in return for OBEDIENCE. Deuteronomy 28 is the foundational chapter that outlines God's blessings for obedience, and His cursings for disobedience.

The prophets, used by God when Israel was in a period of severe disobedience (I say severe because they were pretty much always disobedient, but some periods were worse than others!), often used symbolism, word pictures and embellished imagery to describe God's abundant blessings awaiting Israel if she would just repent and trust Him ALONE, instead of the foreign gods she so often prostituted herself with.

The prosperity preachers take hold of these Old Testament promises to make it sound like God wants Believers to be prosperous, healthy and wealthy IN THIS LIFE. Unfortunately, the New Testament does not support their claims. In fact, no rational person could read the New Testament and take from it that the Believers life would be marked by health, wealth and prosperity. On the contrary, Jesus continually warned His disciples of all the suffering and persecution they would encounter on account of His name. Read John 14-17. "They hated me, they will hate you." "They persecuted me, they will persecute you." "Rejoice when men insult you and persecute you because of me." "If anyone would be my disciple, he must take up his cross and follow me."

That's just Jesus. Read Paul's letters. His whole life was one of suffering for the gospel. In Philippians 1.29 he says, "For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him," Paul never served Christ for a reward in this life, rather he always looked AHEAD to his eternal reward, and he always encouraged all Believers to do the same.

Speaking of the Pharisees who tithed and gave for earthly rewards and men's applause, Jesus said, "surely, they have received their reward." meaning no reward awaited them in Heaven. Prosperity preachers and those who hold to that doctrine "have received their reward," and, sadly, they have sold out for so much less than they would have received. I passionately and strongly believe those who use God's name for deception and gain will have their place in the Lake of Fire.

If you are reading this and you are not convinced that the prosperity gospel is from Satan, consider this:

In the desert, Satan offered Christ health, wealth and prosperity in this life.

First temptation: "tell these stones to become bread." Speak the words of faith, what you speak becomes reality. If Jesus were able to "speak stones into bread", wouldn't he have prospered greatly? What else could He "speak" into existence?

Second Temptation: "throw yourself down, for it is written He will give his angels charge over you so that you will not dash your foot upon the rock." Satan promises God will grant Him health, if He will just "have faith."

Third temptation: Satan showed Jesus all the kingdoms of the world and said, "I will give all of this to you, if you will serve me." Satan is the one who offered earthly wealth, not God!

Satan offered glory in this life and avoidance of the cross. His Father offered eternal glory, but only through the suffering of the Cross.

You see, friends? Earthly glory is not from God, and it will cost you eternal glory. Don't sell out!

Jesus said, "take up your cross and follow me, not take up your mercedes."