“Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, ‘Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.’ ” Mark 12:4-44 NIV
“Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, ‘How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!’ The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, ‘Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.’ ” Mark 10:23-25 NIV
We’ve heard prosperity preachers all of our lives. They continue to flourish today in espousing false theology. I won’t name names–everyone knows who they are. Do the Scriptures promise prosperity to believers? Absolutely, but in Heaven and not necessarily on earth.
Somehow it’s thought that financial prosperity is a direct result of obedience. Such thinking is phony baloney! My one caveat is that God answers some prayers requesting a financial blessing for a rightful reason, but it certainly doesn’t happen to many as some preachers would like you to believe.
Here’s the cold, hard truth. Some of the richest men and women who’ve ever lived were/are atheists, agnostics or simply horrible people. Some of the poorest men and women who’ve ever lived were/are the most obedient believers. My Dad did not possess monetary wealth, but he was the richest man spiritually I’ve ever known.
If you have the mistaken notion that your lack of financial resources reflects something is lacking in your faith, get such thoughts out of your mind. I’ll leave you with this famous Billy Sunday quotation over 100 years ago: “The fellow that has no money is poor. The fellow that has nothing but money is poorer still.”
Prayer: Thank you, God, for your promise of all that heaven holds. Amen.