Why is being prosperous and healthy considered wrong?

[JimfromOhio]

We are living in the age of the Laodiceans. So called evangelicals are showing signs that they are becoming too rich and too prominent for their own good. They are disregarding the lessons of history by being busy fighting for recognition by the world. Numbers, size and amount seem to be very important. The primary teachings of prospering by looking at "external" or "appearance" and deny the value of Christ. The situation is very confusing to the "normal" Christians because they mixing the old and new creations when accounting eternal with temporal together. For normal TV viewers and/or church goers, they hardly notice the deep and dangerous error unless they are taught to "discern" the spiritual teachings. Today's teachings are primary "human exteriors" which are physical (healing) and economic (prosper/wealth) and they are very deceptive. God looks in the heart and it is the heart that counts. Whether or not Christ is enthroned in the heart determines the spiritual value of a person.

 

[edie19]

It it isn't that being healthy or prosperous is wrong - it's just that we shouldn't expect it (in fact I think we should expect just the opposite). More importantly, we certainly don't deserve it. I admit to being a bit astounded that so many think it is God's desire. Sorry - but how vain.

Look at the rich young ruler - his possessions were his god. He believed that he kept the commandments from his youth - but Jesus made it clear that he was not only covetous, but that he was replacing his love for God with love for "things."

Can't speak for folks elsewhere - but in the US we are so used to a life of comfort and ease (and even the poor here have a life of ease compared to folks in 3rd world countries). We have churches that market God, pastors who tell us what we want to hear rather than what we should hear, have a "feel-good" theology. I wonder how many of us would hold up under the reality of living as a Christian in China, Indonesia, the Sudan? And what would the Christians currently living in those countries think of our multi-million dollar church buildings, our church leaders living in mansions and being driven about in limosines, the designer clothes. I can't say for certain, but I'm pretty sure they'd think we're Babylon.

 

[Jacqueline1019]

I think people have trouble believing in God's promises so they water down the Word of God and say that God doesn't want us to prosper because they don't have enough faith and haven't been able to see in the spirit that god wants to bless them.

 

[Jacqueline1019]

We should too expect it! God promises it! Its ours! We own it.

It it isn't that being healthy or prosperous is wrong - it's just that we shouldn't expect it (in fact I think we should expect just the opposite). More importantly, we certainly don't deserve it. I admit to being a bit astounded that so many think it is God's desire. Sorry - but how vain.

Look at the rich young ruler - his possessions were his god. He believed that he kept the commandments from his youth - but Jesus made it clear that he was not only covetous, but that he was replacing his love for God with love for "things."

Can't speak for folks elsewhere - but in the US we are so used to a life of comfort and ease (and even the poor here have a life of ease compared to folks in 3rd world countries). We have churches that market God, pastors who tell us what we want to hear rather than what we should hear, have a "feel-good" theology. I wonder how many of us would hold up under the reality of living as a Christian in China, Indonesia, the Sudan? And what would the Christians currently living in those countries think of our multi-million dollar church buildings, our church leaders living in mansions and being driven about in limosines, the designer clothes. I can't say for certain, but I'm pretty sure they'd think we're Babylon.

 

[A Brother In Christ]

We should too expect it! God promises it! Its ours! We own it.

we are called to be pilgrams and stanger to this earth in 1 peter 2:11
since we are not to set roots in the corrupt system that God is going to destroy in 2 peter 3:10-13

yet one but not many call proper in this world system of satan kingdoms

 

[Seaioth]

a Valid Verse please on why you believe it is wrong?

 

[Seaioth]

Its not "wrong" in the context of being wealthy and healthy for God's glory and giving all credit to Him... where in Scripture did you misinterprete and get that idea? Or are you responding to all those Prayer of Jabez followers?

The love of money is the root to all kinds of evil.

Exalting self and wealth leads to man-ceneted, self-glorification

Self-abasement, that is asceticism and is a sin as well...



God saved us not for our Happiness, but for our Holiness...

 

[die2live]

What about Luke 12:33, where Jesus says to sell all of your possessions and give to the poor (not: he is not talking to the rich young ruler. He is talking to his disciples, among others. Not exactly people who were ruled by their wealth, considering they didn't have any and what they did have they had already given up for Jesus' sake)? What about the examples in Acts of the early believers selling all they had and giving it to the church who gave to everyone who as they had need? What about in I John 3:17, where he asks the very valid question, if anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need and has no compassion (which in Bible times was an action not an observation) on him, how can the love of God be in him (and due to incredible reaches in technology we can see our "brothers" in need from thousands of miles away)?
Want more valid verses? The Bible is full of them.

 

[A Brother In Christ]

God saved us not for our Happiness, but for our Holiness...

ha ha ha ha

God saved us Because He choose to ......2 tim 1 :9

are holiness .....the only reason we are holy is because the Father counts us holy because We are considered IN CHRIST... because of Christ work

all humankind whether believer or unbeliever are sinners

 

[A Brother In Christ]

What about Luke 12:33, where Jesus says to sell all of your possessions and give to the poor (not: he is not talking to the rich young ruler. He is talking to his disciples, among others. Not exactly people who were ruled by their wealth, considering they didn't have any and what they did have they had already given up for Jesus' sake)? What about the examples in Acts of the early believers selling all they had and giving it to the church who gave to everyone who as they had need? What about in I John 3:17, where he asks the very valid question, if anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need and has no compassion (which in Bible times was an action not an observation) on him, how can the love of God be in him (and due to incredible reaches in technology we can see our "brothers" in need from thousands of miles away)?
Want more valid verses? The Bible is full of them.

the big question here

Is all men a brother... Gal 6:10

 

[die2live]

If you mean to say that only other Christians are brothers, perhaps, but that doesn't mean that our compassion should be limited to them. No where in the Bible does it say that only believers are entitled to our acts of mercy. But even if you are right, there are plenty of Christians out there in need. Many of them have become Christians through the works of believers who have followed their calling fully.

 

[A Brother In Christ]

how is one become a brother?

what gospel must one believe?

 

[die2live]

Huh?
I'm not exactly sure what you're asking and I really don't see how it pertains to this discussion. I believe in the gospel found in the Bible, which clearly states that we are to have compassion for the poor, whether brothers in Christ or not.

 

[californiadreamin]

The instances where Scripture discusses wealth being wrong is in the context of seeking wealth over the desire to seek God. We are not to love anything, including our own families, more than God. Wealth is not a problem unless the person with it cherishes it too much.

I agree totally, If people would not harden their hearts to the truth of God's word, they would see this. First they only limit prosperity to money. What about prospering in your health, in your marriage, in your parential relationships, in your walk with God, in your soul, in your mind. God told Joshua to meditate on His word day and night, so he can make his way prosperous. True prosperity is knowing what purpose God has for your life and walking in that purpose, knowing God's promises and what our convenant is with God and what we have a rigth to. I can not see God wanting a broken church. In Proverbs it talks about receiving prosperity when obtaining Godly Wisdom. Godly Wisdom is Jesus. There are a list of things you will prosper in and one of them is wealth, but not limited to only wealth.

If you don't believe in prosperity and wholeness in every area of your life you will never receive it. Jesus came to give us abundant life. Look up abundance in a dictionary and then in the hebrew and greek interpretation of the bible. It means to the full until it overflows. If you are content in life either you reached God full purpose for your life or your doing your own will and not God's. Every time I became comfortable with life, God took me out my comfort zone and put me in a situation or circumstance that build me up spiritually. God is continually molding us. There is not one person in the bible that God has left them in their comfort zone, we all have a individual divine purpose in this life. We are to strive to reach it and let God continually mold us to be christlike. Content in the bible does not mean be completely satisfied with what you have and not desiring more. It means maintaining the lot you have in life at that time and not complaining about it. If you and your family live in an apartment, you can desire a house. But you must be thankful for the apartment and not murmur and complain. You are to maintain it by paying the bills and rent, keeping the apartment clean and putting God as the center of your home. When You are faithful with littlt God will give you more.

 

[A Brother In Christ]

Huh?
I'm not exactly sure what you're asking and I really don't see how it pertains to this discussion. I believe in the gospel found in the Bible, which clearly states that we are to have compassion for the poor, whether brothers in Christ or not.

who are the poor and sick?

answer : the spiritually dead ones

how do they get better? food? compassion?

answer : the Gospel so that they become alive in Christ

what Gospel out of the bible gets one saved?

answer: 1 cor 15:3-4 and nothing else

 

[die2live]

Okay. So we are to continue to let two billion people live in poverty day after day because they don't need food they just need to be saved.
In the long run, yes that is correct. THey do just need to be saved. But if they hear of a bunch of first world Christians praying for their spiritual well being while letting their children die from preventable causes, they're not going to get it. I don't get it, and I've been surrounded by Christian doctrine for my entire life.
Plus their is the fact that our Christian faith should give us compassion for these people. But we apparently don't have that.

 

[A Brother In Christ]

Okay. So we are to continue to let two billion people live in poverty day after day because they don't need food they just need to be saved.
In the long run, yes that is correct. THey do just need to be saved. But if they hear of a bunch of first world Christians praying for their spiritual well being while letting their children die from preventable causes, they're not going to get it. I don't get it, and I've been surrounded by Christian doctrine for my entire life.
Plus their is the fact that our Christian faith should give us compassion for these people. But we apparently don't have that.

if this is God's will for you ...go head and do so...

this is apart of being good to others...

However it may not be the will of God for me...
1 cor 12:4 diversities of gifts, but the same spirit

sometimes people are getting what they deserve like 90% of Africa having aids.... sleeping around continuelly

 

[die2live]

DIversities of gifts . . . not commands.

Some people are getting what they deserve. Others are not, like the forty million orphaned children in Africa.

 

[A Brother In Christ]

DIversities of gifts . . . not commands.

Some people are getting what they deserve. Others are not, like the forty million orphaned children in Africa.

Not commands ? yes ...

but if not holding on to the unity of Christ are you in God will?

did the children of Sodom and Gormorah get mercy do to age?

We have a good God always !
are minds are way smaller than our God!

who are we to question God...job 38

yet a person of mercy with the spirits leading may be moved to go there..
yet if helping brethren one is defintely doing God's will ....

Gal 6:10 ...especailly unto to them of the household of faith

 

[die2live]

Yet I am not the one questioning God's commands.