BigNorsk said:
prosperity preachers substitute their plan and ideas of what is best for themselves for God's plan
3 John 1:2
Beloved, I wish (pray) above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health,
even as thy soul prospereth.
BigNorsk said:
note that scripture tells us that it is very rare for a wealthy man to enter the kingdom of heaven
Matthew 19:23
23 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, that a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.
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.
25 When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, who then can be saved?
26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, with men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.
First off, notice the word
HARDLY in verse 23, which is the key to the understanding of that verse...this word is doos-kol'-oce in the Greek (Strongs #1423) which means impracticably. Jesus is saying that it is impractical for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of Heaven, and then goes on to say that with God ALL things are possible. (so, He DID NOT say that rich people aren't going to Heaven!)
Also notice that when His disciples heard this, they were "exceedingly amazed", saying "Who then can be saved?"...this shows that they were all RICH men because of the way they reacted. If they were poor, why didn't they say "you tell 'em Jesus...we're poor but proud!".
The reason it is impractical for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of Heaven is because most rich men have learned to trust in their own ways of doing things by operating according to the wisdom of this world and they would find it very hard (impractical) to change and go with God's ways of doing things since they have already obtained what they (and the world) consider to be success, which is getting financial wealth. This is why the Bible issues warnings to Christians to be aware that there is a temptation and a deception that comes with money to trust in money as your source of supply.
No where does it say we aren't supposed to have money. It simply says throughout the Bible to keep God first place in your life and always keep money down the list so it does not become your God.
Proverbs 1:32 says that prosperity will destroy a fool...so if you learn how to keep God first, pay attention to His Word and the leading of the Holy Spirit, then you won't have any problems with having prosperity in your life.
In
Philippians 4:15-19 the Apostle Paul speaks of receiving "stuff" that made him full (now come on, this included money because money is a need when you're out traveling...keep it real and not religious). And because of their giving, Paul desired fruit to abound to their account (there's that pesky seedtime harvest thing again!) and he went on to declare (words of faith that God honored since Paul was in the will of God by working his ministry) that His God would meet their need according to God's riches in Glory...while they are here (because there are NO needs in Heaven...they're all met up there)
Now in
Mark 11:27 ("And they come again to Jerusalem: and as he was walking in the temple") through
Mark 13:1, Jesus was in the temple preaching and teaching (
Mark 12:35 says "while Jesus taught in the temple"). Now
Mark 12:41 shows Jesus sitting over by the treasury where the people were coming to give offerings after Jesus had preached. This was the custom then (and still is today) when the man of God is finished ministering, the people give offerings unto the Lord to support the ministry that God has provided. This is done primarily for respect to God and to bless His servants.
Checkout the things Paul says here:
1 Corinthians 9:7
Who goeth a warfare any time at his own expense? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? (Paul advocates taking supplies from the flock!)
1 Corinthians 9:11
If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things? (this is what Paul was talking about when he said those folks in Philippians 4:15-19 had "communicated" with him...they gave their goods, which includes money!)
In these examples, Paul and Jesus are accepting offerings...and in the temple where Jesus taught,
Mark 12:41 says "many that were rich cast in much". This shows Jesus getting a big time payday for teaching in the temple! And, yes He was impressed by the widow who gave all she had...but He never said any bad things about the rich people who gave much. No, He accepted their cash is what He did because a workman is worthy of His hire and He's not going to deny them the opportunity to give into His ministry because He desires fruit to abound to their account. God is going to multiply their seed sown (increase their cash sown)
Now, here's the purpose for expecting a harvest when you give:
2 Corinthians 9:7
7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
9 (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.
10 Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness)
11 Being enriched in every thing (*everything means everything, including MONEY!) to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God:
12 For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God;
13 Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men
The harvest is because we need to produce more so we can give more! If sowing a seed to get a harvest were evil were evil, then God is evil because He planted Jesus (see
John 3:16, and
Luke 6:38) as a seed so He could reap a family to spend eternity with Him in His glorious presence!
And, according to
1 Corinthians 9:7 we should not go without personally while we are giving to support the Gospel because we should also be eating out of our own vineyard.