I came across a post on Social media; it was a young man attacking what a minister of God said about prosperity. The minister of God said, and I paraphrase, that he can’t find anywhere in the Bible where Christians were told to live in poverty. Rather, they are to be the head and not the tail. The young man went for his jugular – saying what would the Apostles say to that? And then he went on to describe how some of them died…and that Jesus said we should carry our cross and follow him. My Spiritual father, Rev Olusola Areogun, once reminded me that two wrongs don’t make a right, which has helped me. And since I was moved to respond, I wrote the below, keeping within the safety of the Bible. Be blessed as you read it…
Proverbs 26:5 AMP Answer [and correct the erroneous concepts of] a fool according to his folly, Otherwise, he will be wise in his own eyes [if he thinks you agree with him].
Don’t go down that line of joining people that would be judged for speaking against servants of God erroneously. If a minister of God is preaching heresy, then you state the truth of God’s word and turn away from following such, but in this case, he is not preaching out of Biblical context. What he said is in the Scriptures:
Deuteronomy 28:12-13 AMPC 12 The Lord shall open to you His good treasury, the heavens, to give the rain of your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hands; and you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow. 13 And the Lord shall make you the head, and not the tail; and you shall be above only, and you shall not be beneath, if you heed the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you this day and are watchful to do them.
The Apostles preached about prosperity and acknowledged that God could make one prosper. They did not attack the idea of children of God prospering:
Philippians 4:19 AMPC And my God will liberally supply (fill to the full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. God is a faithful provider and a very responsible Father and Shepherd – Read Psalm 23.
Philippians 4:12 AMPC I know how to be abased and live humbly in straitened circumstances, and I know also how to enjoy plenty and live in abundance. I have learned in any and all circumstances the secret of facing every situation, whether well-fed or going hungry, having a sufficiency and enough to spare or going without and being in want.
The Apostles in the Bible were not poor people – the Church took care of their needs whilst they went on to fulfil their calling and ministry. None of them was recorded to have starved to death or to have died in poverty.
1 Timothy 5:17-18 AMPC 17 Let the elders who perform the duties of their office well be considered doubly worthy of honor [and of adequate financial support], especially those who labor faithfully in preaching and teaching. 18 For the Scripture says, You shall not muzzle an ox when it is treading out the grain, and again, The laborer is worthy of his hire.
You quoted Jesus: in Luke 9:23 KJV
And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
…This is true, but He did not say you shouldn’t enjoy prosperity. Taking up your cross daily does not mean suffering poverty. Just as the Apostles lived out their Calling with full commitment to God, we must also do the same. Jesus demonstrated full obedience and full commitment to His divine purpose when he carried the cross and died on the same.
Romans 5:8-9 KJV 8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
2 Corinthians 8:9 KJV For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.
Romans 8:32 AMPC He who did not withhold or spare [even] His own Son but gave Him up for us all, will He not also with Him freely and graciously give us all [other] things?
Jesus did not deny nor try to excuse Himself from the purpose God sent him for. His carrying the cross and dying on the cross served a divine purpose. Salvation, Redemption… with Christ, God gave all things. He became poor so that we might be rich. Jesus was never recorded in the Bible as not prosperous.
The Apostles’ death was also with purpose – the gospel spread more. The kingdom of God expanded and extended.
You and I carrying our cross does not deny us prosperity, but in any state, we are in Phil 4:12, and God takes care of us. Directly or indirectly – He will supply all our needs.
Where prosperity is sin is if it is not from God, if it is just for the love of money, if you are serving money… But if it is to expand or extend the kingdom of God and your and others’ well-being, then prosper even as your soul prospers.
3 John 2 Amplified Bible Beloved, I pray that in every way you may succeed and prosper and be in good health [physically], just as [I know] your soul prospers [spiritually].
Finally, read…
2 Corinthians 9:9-11 AMPC 9 As it is written, He [the benevolent person] scatters abroad; He gives to the poor; His deeds of justice and goodness and kindness and benevolence will go on and endure forever! 10 And [God] Who provides seed for the sower and bread for eating will also provide and multiply your [resources for] sowing and increase the fruits of your righteousness [which manifests itself in active goodness, kindness, and charity]. 11 Thus you will be enriched in all things and in every way, so that you can be generous, and [your generosity as it is] administered by us will bring forth thanksgiving to God.
The Message Bearer
Cornelius Bella
corneliusbella 