Does God Want You To Be Rich?
Time Magazine
Sunday, Sept. 10, 2006
David Van Biema, Jeff Chu
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1533448,00.html
“I didn’t go to college to struggle…” shouts out my disgruntled co-worker, referring to her menial pay she felt that she was getting. After reading an article in TIME Magazine, “Does God Want You to Be Rich? I felt like that was an unfair question and the real question hear is, does God want you to be poor? The young lady is a professed Christian, and she abruptly, burst out, “Ok God, how am I supposed to live on these dead end jobs…” I sat there in awe watching her go through her “temper tantrum”, secretly sympathizing with her struggle. I came to some conclusions as I was giving her encouraging words. Money is a real serious issue, so serious that when you don’t have it, it literally can paralyze you with the fear of facing a bill collector, etc. This is definitely no way to live, but in relationship to whether God wants us to be rich there is much debate about this topic as you will see in this article. My thought about it is I really don’t believe God wants us to be poor, but if God does not want us to be rich according the world standards, is there a “moral” amount that God says, “Ok stop making money at this point?” Can anyone tell me what this “moral amount” is? According to the Wall Street Journal, one is rich in America when they have at least $2 million — and most often, $10 million in investible assets. To me this question is very subjective, and it is hard to pinpoint a concrete amount.
SUMMARY
Key players:
Joel Osteen, pastor of Lakewood Church in Houston, TX
T.D. Jakes, pastor of Potter House in Dallas, TX
Creflo Dollar, pastor of WorldChangers in Atlanta, GA
Jim Bakker, pastor of PTL
Rick Warren, author of the book Purpose Driven Life
Robert Wuthnow, sociologist at Princeton University
Key Terms:
Prosperity
Word of Faith
Health and Wealth
Name It and Claim It
Prosperity Theology
Key quotes:
“For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” It is the New Testament’s hardest teachings, yet generations of churchgoers have understood that being Christian, on some level, means being ready to sacrifice—money, autonomy or even their lives.”
“In a TIME poll, 17% of Christians surveyed said they considered themselves part of such a movement, while a full 61% believed that God wants people to be prosperous. And 31%–a far higher percentage than there is Pentecostals in America—agreed that if you give your money to God, God will bless you with more money.”
“This idea that God wants everybody to be wealthy?”, he snorts.There is a word for that: baloney. It’s creating a false idol. You don’t measure your self-worth by your net worth. I can show you millions of faithful followers of Christ who live in poverty. Why isn’t everyone in the church a millionaire?”
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5 responses so far ↓
Jim Murdoch // January 24, 2008 at 10:15 am
Ask another question: How much more good can you do if you were rich? Why would God want anything else for us? Anything less than the maximum capacity for good is too little. It is the love of riches over life that is condemned, not the use of wealth for good. Consider the many rich people that Jesus loved and lived and worked with. He never condemend them and their generousity is evident.
3handsdigital // January 25, 2008 at 7:23 am
Jim i really appreciate the comment. Actually one of my favorite books is SOGR. I read and applied Wallace Wattles, way before “The Secret” hype. Anyway, God Bless
jacqueline tatem // January 28, 2008 at 1:24 am
yes, God wants me to be rich in every area of my life. The fact of the matter is we seek material riches before we seek the one who is the owner of it all.
Yes, yes, yes, God wants me to be rich so that I can richly bless others; to whom much is given, much is required.
diana // February 14, 2008 at 1:37 am
For many years I thought that to be a Christian meant that you had to have little, and we were always struggling financially, and had nothing to bless others with.
I remarried 2 years ago, and God is blessing us more and more, both financially and in other ways, and we are able to give more and more and are going to move from a tiny house to a larger one with another bedroom.
God is extravagent in His giving, but I dont believe he will prosper anyone who holds on to every penny and is miserly. he wants us to be extravagent in our giving also, as He is.
We have to put Him first in everything, and then He can give blessings to us.
I think that if we think He wont bless us, then we wont be blessed, but if we expect great things from our Great God, He wont fail us. He is awesome. He LOVES to bless us and to bless othrs through us.He is our dad and He loves us so much.
mark // March 11, 2008 at 3:53 am
BE VERY CERTAIN THAT THIS IS WHAT THE BIBLE TALKS ABOUT WILL HAPPEN IN THE LAST DAYS. I am not condoning any thing these said ministries do with their money. BUT Why is it that we don’t hear about the millions they spend in helping others all over the world? AND How much do you think 1 only 1 best seller book will net you??? Millions now add a few plus dvds and cds. Some of these are their personal works not the churches. Thats their money. God did say “I give you wisdom to get wealth” Duet 8vs18 &heck out 28 vs 2-14 You obey God and He will prosper you. NO BUTS NO IFS NO “Only a little” PERIOD PROSPER YOU WHO OBEYS THE COVENANT. And Jesus said in John 10vs10 …to have life abundantly… which means excessive,overflowing,etc. Oh and dont forget where GOD Himself said to test Him in tithing and giving and He would open up the windows of Heaven on you and you will not have room enough to contain it…Malachi 3vs3. You have to understand you cant out give God to every one in the Bible who gave from their heart not to receive bigger) but out of the heart of Christ and His Love… God promises you can out give Him. What God says becomes law and must happen. He made a covenant with father Abraham and as long as the offspring of Father Abraham Honor our side of the covenant God will Honor His, His is to bless us abundantly. It is very clear in the word. People have never and will never like any one who is completely happy and prospers (according to society’s prospering) and says its from God. Lack of understanding comes from lack of Knowledge and true knowledge is on sided when you have self and greed in the heart.
NOW WITH ALL THAT said God also promises that any one rob or steel while doing it in HIS NAME WILL pay a very heavy price. I don’t know about you but i read all through out the bible Gods wrath poured on those that defiled Him useing His name….!! I don’t want to be in the same country when He does so on whichever Preacher of the word does this to any one. As for The rich man the CNN lady referred to…If you know anything about Christ when anyone gave up something to follow Him He multiplied and gave it back. Look at Mark 10vs29-30. BUT here again people want to pull things out of the Bible to support their cause. (Christians and NON Christians ) are guilty of this. Thats why God say do not Judge on another His Son will do that.
Worry about your on life and not that of others UNLESS you have reached PERFECTION in yours, then by all means cast that first stone.