Q1. Poverty and Riches

[blezed]

(4:11-12) How can a "prosperity doctrine" threaten Christian ministry? To what prime motivation in us does such a teaching often appeal? In balance, what does the Bible teach about poverty and riches?     

"Prosperity doctrine" can threaten Christian ministry when one feels that poverty is a curse and that a faith-filled Christian's inheritance here on earth is prosperity.  Prime motivation appeals to the needy or greedy.  The bible teaches that whatever your situation is that we should rejoice in the Lord. 

[forgivenforgivenforgiven]

Shalom Saints by Faith in Messiah Yahshua.

Greeetings,

1. It threatens us because it is not reality, gives you a false hope. You would loose your trust in Yah because he wouldn't be following through with having you prosper.

2. You don't have to do anything. It makes one lazy and think life is going to be given to you life on a silver platter.

3. When you abase, not have, be content in what state you are in.

Usually when I lack then can I only see the manifestation the showing up of Yah in performing the miracles in my life.

When you abound, be content, go in thanksgiving in what you have received. If you are not grateful in the little the little things why would He give you greater.

Shalom

Faith

[lighthouse2014]

Q1. (4:11-12) How can a "prosperity doctrine" threaten Christian ministry? To what prime motivation in us does such a teaching often appeal? In balance, what does the Bible teach about poverty and riches?

A prosperity doctrine can threaten a ministry because simply put, prosperity was not taught or encouraged by Christ. This can ruin a ministry because the ministry is deceiving itself and others. The congregation then believes that a wealthy world is for those who follow Jesus. When trails come the members are totally unprepared. In fact Christ taught the opposite of prosperity, as telling the rich man to go and sell all he has and give to the poor.

To us the prime motivation of a prosperous life in Christ appeals to the greed and pride of our worldly fleshly desires.

The bible teaches a balance about poverty and riches. For those that are rich, they should give to the poor especially the widow and orphans. Christ even taught that the rich man should sell all he had and give to the poor. For the poor they should work and not beg for food. The exception being a lame or blind person. We should see to their needs but also encourage self support.     

[van]

The prosperity doctrine threatens Christian ministry because it is saying that if you are poor then that's a curse and you must be doing wrong. Christians will seek riches instead of doing Jesus Christ work from the heart. When you put riches in front of the Lord that's saying the only reason why you are doing Christian ministry is for material gain. The prime motivation in us to appeal to such teaching is the inner desire of not being in need for anything and always have plenty of what the world gives. That is being very selfish and thinking only of what you can gain instead of the importance of leading the lost to Christ. Our reward is not from on this world, but is in heaven. The bible teaches that be content in whatever circumstances you're are in, whether rich or poor.

[Rose22]

A prosperity doctrine is fundamentally the opposite teaching of Jesus...It will mislead the Christian to have the wrong intent in following Christ. Prosperity will be taught as monetary gain ...whereby true prosperity is spiritual...By way of blessings bestowed upon Us by Christ and by inner prosperity ( fruits of the spirit) and the prosperity of the kingdom of God ( within us)

All throughout...the Bible teaches us the importance of renouncing riches in favour of the riches stored up for us above...we must be happy givers....

[ducminh]

All Christians know very well the “Our Father” prayer that Jesus gave as an example to His disciples; in that prayer there is the statement “Give us this day our daily bread” (Mat 6:11; Luk 11:3).  This statement shows that followers of Jesus Christ do not wish to have more then what their basic requirements for living.  Christians must not be hoarders of wealth in this world.  The resources that God provides to earth must be plenty for everyone to live and enjoy life.

 

Jesus has given many parables concerning the danger of the love of vanities or riches:

 

Mat 6:19  Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:

 

Mat 6:24  No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

 

Mat 19:23  Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Mat 19:24  And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

 

Luk 1:53  He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.

 

Luk 12:16  And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:

…

Luk 12:21  So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

 

Luk 6:24  But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation.

Luk 6:25  Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep.

 

Luk 16:19  There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:

…

Luk 16:25  But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.

 

Luk 18:22  Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.

Luk 18:23  And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich.

 

And Paul has again told us:

1Ti 6:17  Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;

1Ti 6:18  That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;

1Ti 6:19  Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

 

2Co 6:10  As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

 

Here is just one verse from the Old Testament

Pro 16:16  How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!

 

Pastors and church elders who taught their followers to dwell in riches and vanities are certainly the false teachers and false prophets.

 

How can Christians sing and praise God in magnificent and sumptuous temples while billion of other people on earth have nowhere to lay their head?

 

How can Christians get together to celebrate Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter with delicious and copious meals while billion of other people are dying of hunger?

 

The resources that God has provided are to be shared by all people on earth.  At no time and for no reason they are for one to be richer than others.  Christians are certainly walking on the large highway of destruction and their wealth will be the witness against their damnation on the judgement day.

 

Mat 7:13  Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

 

Rev 3:17  Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

Rev 18:3  For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.

 

Their sentence has been sighted in the parable of the rich man and the beggar:

Luk 16:25  But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.

 

Because of hoarding and greediness, today the world is in the most wretched state and awaiting for the wrath of God to fall upon it, though Christians have proclaimed the Good News to the four corner of the earth.

[RD35]

Q1. (4:11-12) How can a "prosperity doctrine" threaten Christian ministry? To what prime motivation in us does such a teaching often appeal? In balance, what does the Bible teach about poverty and riches?

 

 Jesus himself has warned us with his words, "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.  Many have misunderstood that prosperity only means increase in wealth and assets, and this threatens Christian ministry. 

 

The prime motivation in us which prosperity doctrine often appeals is greed and to be friends with the world.

 

Psam 1

Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take     or sit in the company of mockers,
but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.
That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—
    whatever they do prospers

 

 

True prosperity begins with a right relationship with God. And it follows onward to a life filled with peace, tranquility of mind, and sweet contentment. 

[Stanley Tavaziva]

Q1. (4:11-12) How can a "prosperity doctrine" threaten Christian ministry? To what prime motivation in us does such a teaching often appeal? In balance, what does the Bible teach about poverty and riches?

 

 

 

This was a lesson on contentment. Paul wrote that he didn’t accept gifts from the Corinthian church because he didn’t want to be accused of preaching only to get money. But Paul maintained that it was a church’s responsibility to support God’s ministers (1 Corinthians 9:14). He accepted the Philippians’ gift because they gave it willingly and because he was in need

 

Paul's heart was made glad. He writes (I rejoice greatly in the Lord) because of the continued interest the Philippians Christians showed in him. They had not forgotten him; through them God had met his needs. Even before they sent Epaphroditus they were concerned but had no opportunity to show it.

 

Paul did not beg God's people to help him in his work. He just placed the need before them and trusted God to meet it. Too, he had learned the lesson of contentment. Changing circumstances did not affect the inner contentment he enjoyed.Paul was divinely bestowed sufficiency in whatever circumstances he faced.

 

At times Paul experienced definite financial and material needs, and at other times he had an abundance (v. 12). He learned how to cope with both need and plenty. Paul used words to suggest a kind of "initiation" by his experiences" into being content when either well fed or hungry, and either in plenty or in want.

 

Paul said he could do everything - including handling poverty and living in abundance - through Him who gave him strength. This was not an expression of pride in his own abilities but a declaration of the strength provided by Christ. 

 

 

[forgivenforgivenforgiven]

Shalom Saints by Faith in Messiah Yahshua.

Greetings,

1. It threatens because it is not reality, it gives you the impression of a false hope. You would lose your trust in Yah because He wouldn't be following through with having you prosper.

2. You don't have to do anything. It makes one lazy and think life is going to be given to you on a silver platter.

3. When you abase-not have, be content in what state you are in:lacking.

When you abound- be content, go in thanksgiving in what you have received, abundance.

Shalom

FAITH

[joey felipe]

Q1. (4:11-12) How can a "prosperity doctrine" threaten Christian ministry?

Answer:It is critical because when Christian believe that they are not to suffer poverty because of their faith, what will happen to the ministry if trials of this kind will befall them. They might turn away from their faith and consider it false teaching.

 

To what prime motivation in us does such a teaching often appeal?

Answer: Being greedy.

 

In balance, what does the Bible teach about poverty and riches?

Answer: It teaches that when a person is blessed with material things (specially a christian one) he must share it to the poor and needy. On the other hand, those who are poor and capable must work to earn for their living.

[Karen11]

On 5/6/2005 at 11:20 PM, Pastor Ralph said:

Q1. (4:11-12) How can a "prosperity doctrine" threaten Christian ministry? To what prime motivation in us does such a teaching often appeal? In balance, what does the Bible teach about poverty and riches?

Never have false exceptions..I believe God blesses us financially,when we give our life to God and have faith to let hm take care of us.Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. –1 Timothy 6:17 - ----Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. –John 15:4-5 - 

God does not not want his children lacking anything,,that is what the Scriptures mean when they say, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him. But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets.” –1 Corinthians 2:9-10 - 

As richly as we receive from God we should give.

[Krissi]

The opposite of poverty is not greed: the opposite of wealth is not sloth.

Are we most uncomfortable with other people's wealth, not our own? Our pendulum may have swung too far toward the anti-wealth pole, just as the prosperity gospel may be the result of swinging too far the opposite direction.

Heaven isn’t exactly a place of want and need. Neither is Eden. Heaven is our goal, our reward, and is described in the Bible in terms of gold and jewels. Eden was a place where God met every want and need. This is His ideal for us.

Jesus and Paul may have been poor, but Solomon, David, Abraham, Job, Joseph were not poor.  

In the bible I have read both suffering-turns-into-wealth stories as well as impoverished end-of-life stories such as that of Paul and Jesus Himself. To some, then, God gives prosperity as a reward for hard work and/or suffering (Lydia or Joseph in the OT); to others, poverty is His gift.