Hmmm...Um, what about Christian martyrs? Or how about the apostle Paul who wrote,
2 Corinthians 11:23-28
23 Are they ministers of Christ?--I speak as a fool--I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often.
24 From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one.
25 Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep;
26 in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
27 in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness--
28 besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches.
Most of the world's Christian believers live in conditions that we would consider to be impoverished (Africa, China, South America). Is the Good Shepherd taking excellent care of them? Yes, of course he is. But this isn't necessarily evident by the affluence of their circumstances. It certainly wasn't for the apostle Paul - or any of the apostles, for that matter.
I agree with you in the first part of what you wrote above, but the last bit gives me serious pause.
Off the top of my head I can't think of a single passage in Scripture that says Jesus gave alms to the poor. Could you give me a reference? Thanks!
But, then again, it might be. No where in Scripture are we told that Jesus was wealthy or even financially comfortable. He certainly didn't suggest to his disciples that they would have an easy go of it being his followers.
John 15:18-20
18 If the world hate you, you know that it hated me before it hated you.
19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own: but because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you...
Luke 22:35-36
35 And He said to them, "When I sent you without money bag, knapsack, and sandals, did you lack anything?" So they said, "Nothing."
36 Then He said to them, "But now, he who has a money bag, let him take it, and likewise a knapsack; and he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one.
Amen!
I think it is His will that we are industrious in our labours; and when we are, He often blesses us with material gain - but not always. Before Joseph was the second-in-command of Egypt he was sold as a slave and then his remarkable industry as a slave and his fidelity toward God landed him in prison! Was Joseph outside of God's will in all that happened to him? Not at all. King David was running for his life in the wilderness for quite a while before he became king. Was he outside of God's will in having to do so? Not according to Scripture. How about Daniel? He was thrown into a den of hungry lions for refusing to dishonor his God. Was this situation outside of God's will? No. In fact, God used Daniel's courage and confidence in Him in this awful circumstance to show His power to the pagan king Daniel served. And we all know what happened to Job. We are told in Scripture that God purposely allowed desolation to fall upon Job; God was as much in Job's destitution and illness as He was in Job's affluence.
Why would material wealth be of any great importance to a believer? Jesus said,
Matthew 6:19-21
19 "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal;
20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.
21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
The apostle Paul wrote,
1 Timothy 6:5-12
5 ...who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself.
6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain.
7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.
9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.
10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
11 But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.
12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
God's multiplication in this passage is obviously figurative. He is not going to literally multiply your mother a hundred-fold, nor your father or siblings. I agree with you that God wants to bless us with an abundant life, He wants to do "abundantly above all that we may ask or think," but this is more often in the spiritual and eternal realm than it is the temporal and material one.
Selah.
