Preachers gone-a-muck.

Can you believe that some people believe that all believers can be financially prosperous if they would but walk in obedience to God's laws. These deluded people view that "poverty is caused by sin and disobeying scripture.

The manipulating deceived deceivers teach that prosperity is achieved through giving of tithes and offerings and taught in the “word of God” as they interpret it. They maintain that if you are faithful in giving to their “ministry” so they can reach the world with their false doctrine that God is in control of your finances...and God cannot be out given therefore when you give be prepared for the 100 fold increase. They teach that there is no such thing as a fixed income for believers because their income is controlled by giving to God “of course that means giving to them”. Givers gain and if you do not give you do not qualify for God's abundance.

However one finds a number of passages in the bible that run contrary to the teaching concerning this view of biblical prosperity. Jesus Himself said, "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God...But woe to you who are rich..." (Luke 6:20, 24). James underscores this point when he asked, “did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?" (James 2:5). James later follows with stern words to the rich (5:1-6; and Mark 10:25).

This is not that wealth is inherently evil. The Bible simply tells us that material wealth is not the measuring stick for righteousness or God's blessing. The proper value of riches lies in the purpose for which it is used.

This is precisely why Paul gave the following exhortation to Timothy: "Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed" (1 Tim. 6:17-19).

The power of wealth, however, is such that it has people into idolatry with wealth as the idol and many who claim to be of God worship the idol. Some, for instance, may become so caught up in matters of finances and wealth that they use trivialize God, dishonour God, devalue God and use God to spiritualize their manipulative persuasion to deceive people.

Are we so deceived that we can't see that the only one getting rich is the manipulating deceiver and his family? Come on...designer clothes...the 10-20 million dollar jets...seaside and mountain top mansions, etc. Where is YOURS? Stop being so dumb and stop making these con artists wealthy. Jesus was not rich, he SERVED the poor, he didn’t tell poor people to give until it hurts and you will get rich! No, he made them rich in SPIRIT!! He healed the sick, but he didn’t say ok, you’re healed...a thousand dollars please.