Contentment or faith for Prosperity? – Money Talks or Money Talk?
‘The Devil cannot teach contentment but he certainly can teach prosperity as he tried that during the Temptation of Christ itself in Matthew 4:9 – Can you see it?’ – Anonymous
The Same Error is on Repeat – Such an idea began with the Prosperity Prophets of Israel in the past, to quote:
“There is a conspiracy of her PROPHETS in her midst like a roaring lion tearing the prey. They have devoured lives; they have taken TREASURE and PRECIOUS things;…” (Ezekiel 22:25, NASB)
God isn’t ‘happy’ with Israel’s prophets behaving as such and would not be happy either with Christian prophets behaving similarly as well (implied in Principle).
Truth is, God’s Will is CONTENTMENT and NOT Prosperity.
What is CONTENTMENT? Briefly put it means:
(i) Being SATISFIED with these “minimum requirements ONLY” (Biblical Definition for the New Covenant):
“If we have FOOD and COVERING , with these we shall be CONTENT.” – apostle Paul (1 Timothy 6:8, NASB)
(ii) Being SATISFIED with either being RICH or POOR (‘in need’) if it ‘happens’:
“I know how to get along with HUMBLE MEANS, and I also know how to live in PROSPERITY; in any and EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE I have learned the SECRET of being FILLED and going HUNGRY, both of having ABUNDANCE and SUFFERING NEED.” – apostle Paul (Philippians 4:12, NASB)
(iii) How about the JABEZ Prayer?
“Now Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that You would bless me indeed and enlarge my border, and that Your hand might be with me, and that You would keep me from harm that it may not pain me!” And God granted him what he requested.” (1 Chronicles 4:10, NASB)
We may ‘request it’ but we must honour the FACT that God MAY or MAY NOT grant it to us as Philippians 4:12 in verse above implies —-> where God may grant it happens (referring to the “how to live in prosperity” – case) and God MAY NOT grant it too (referring to the “suffering need” – case).
(iv) Will of God
“Not everyone saying to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the kingdom of the heavens, but the one doing the will of My Father in the heavens.” – Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 7:21, NASB)
How would we have TAUGHT the WILL OF GOD correctly if we NEVER taught these VERSES correctly?
This is evidenced by preachers who ‘speak prosperity ONLY’ and ‘condemn the poor by FALSELY claiming that something must be wrong with you or your faith’ simply because FAITH has NOTHING to do with ‘prosperity or poverty’.
The WILL of GOD is to accept ALL CIRCUMSTANCES (please note this phrase carefully in the two verses quoted below) where it refers to being POOR or in PROSPERITY (and so, our wealth or the amount of money in our pockets does NOT matter as part of our FAITH at all):
“give thanks in ALL CIRCUMSTANCES; for this is the WILL of GOD in Christ Jesus for YOU.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18, ESV)
“I know both how to make do with little, and I know how to make do with a lot. In any and ALL CIRCUMSTANCES I have learned the secret of being content–whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need.” (Philippians 4:12, CSB)
(v) What does FAITH consist of?
How much of FAITH (“as God has allotted to each a measure of faith”, Romans 12:3 – NASB) ONLY depends on HOW MUCH of the WORDS OF CHRIST (Inspired Writings & Its Knowledge and Wisdom too, inclusive) dwells in us as the VERSE below clearly mentions:
“So FAITH comes from hearing, and HEARING by the WORD of CHRIST.” (Romans 10:17, NASB)
Please notice the phrase “WORD of CHRIST” in the Beautiful Verse below too:
“Let the WORD OF CHRIST richly dwell within you, with all WISDOM TEACHING and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” (Colossians 3:6, NASB)
Please note the words WISDOM and TEACHING in verse above with regards to the WORD of CHRIST.
So, are our hearts filled with MONEY or the “WORD of CHRIST”?
Is our FAITH based on the WORD of CHRIST (VERSES) or “Prosperity” as the ‘world teaches likewise too in their errors’?
(vi) How about the Abrahamic Blessing?
Please show me a VERSE which states both the words FAITH and MONEY/PROSPERITY (or EQUIVALENT) in the SAME SENTENCE.
This is the IRREFUTABLE PART of this whole argument against the Prosperity Gospel Theology with a direct VERSE putting to END their FALSE claim that the ABRAHAMIC BLESSING includes MATERIAL BLESSINGS too for the GENTILES:
The BLESSING referred to in VERSE below (Galatians 3:14) ONLY refers to the SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS and NOT the material blessings of Abraham (as it is mentioned in Romans 15:27 too).
“in order that in Christ Jesus the BLESSING of ABRAHAM might come to the GENTILES, so that we would receive the PROMISE OF THE SPIRIT through FAITH.” (Galatians 3:14, NASB)
“For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. Yes, they were pleased to do so, and they are indebted to them. For if the GENTILES have SHARED in their SPIRITUAL THINGS, they are indebted to minister to them also in MATERIAL THINGS.” (Romans 15:26 – 27, NASB)
Please note that the BLESSING of ABRAHAM —> refers to the PROMISE OF THE SPIRIT (in Galatians 3:14, NASB) and NO mention of ‘any promise on the earth or material things or wealth or money or other earthly stuff’ in this verse itself – can you see it?
The phrase MATERIAL THINGS exist in Romans 15:27 and it is NOT linked to being SHARED by the GENTILES with regards to the ABRAHAMIC BLESSING Context by the phrase “saints in Jerusalem” who are JEWS (implied in contrast to the GENTILES mentioned in this same verse too). Thus this ABRAHAMIC BLESSING refers to SPIRITUAL THINGS ONLY (as mentioned clearly in Romans 15:27 too) such as the GIFTS of the HOLY SPIRIT.
(vii) How about the ABUNDANT LIFE?
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have LIFE, and have it ABUNDANTLY.” – Lord Jesus Christ (John 10:10, NASB)
Firstly, when we claim something using Scripture, we MUST PROVE the claim using Scripture too (if not, it remains a non-Scriptural Opinion if NO VERSE says that). For example, some Christians are easily misled when reading the Majestic Verse above when they “think” that Christ is referring to ‘prosperity/money’ too.
To date, NOT one prosperity Gospel theologian-despite all their ‘books & research’ has EVER Proven the words PROSPERITY or MONEY or WEALTH or EQUIVALENT in ‘other verses’ in John 10 itself to substantiate their CLAIM (or ‘opinion’) that the LIFE Christ refers to in this chapter refers to Prosperity. Can you understand it?
But yet, many ‘easily’ believe such NOT WRITTEN claims and if we claim something, they rigorously ask for VERSES stating it – which we Provide. See the PARTIALITY?
In other words, if our Blessed Saviour did NOT Speak about MONEY or PROSPERITY as the TOPIC in John 10 when He mentioned John 10:10 itself, how can you link it to that? Are you NOT afraid of God by doing so?
Please note that Christ came to give LIFE ABUNDANTLY and “not Prosperity/Money abundantly” as ‘your theological champions decipher’ from this verse when taken as it is WRITTEN.
Can’t you see that LIFE is NOT a definition for MONEY in the BIBLE? (if you say so, where is the VERSE that teaches this? I don’t want to hear your ‘worldly’ explanation with NO VERSES)
Christ Declared that I am the LIFE (John 14:6), so according to your ‘broad definition to include worldly stuff’, is Christ saying that He is money too? Such is the logic of your exegesis.
Here’s a VERSE which actually PROVES IRREFUTABLY that the LIFE Christ refers to (His Words explained by His Words ONLY wherever Possible) —> does NOT include any EARTHLY or MATERIAL PROSPERITY/MONEY:
“Then He [Lord Jesus Christ] said to them, “Beware, and be on your guard against EVERY form of GREED; for NOT even when one has an ABUNDANCE does his LIFE consist of his POSSESSIONS.” – (Luke 12:15, NASB)
There are TWO things mentioned in last verse above namely that we should “be on your guard against EVERY form of GREED” —> and “NOT even when one has an ABUNDANCE does his LIFE consist of his POSSESSIONS”. Can you see it too?
That is in the latter part, our Blessed Saviour mentions that LIFE (yes please note BOTH the words LIFE and ABUNDANCE in Luke 12:15 which connects it to the phrase LIFE ABUNDANTLY John 10:10 directly – can you see it?) —> in His OWN WORDS explaining what He NEVER means when He is referring to LIFE in ABUNDANCE, i.e. LIFE ABUNDANTLY —> that is, LIFE ABUNDANTLY never refers to POSSESSIONS which is equivalent to ‘material things’ or things which have a value of money/wealth/prosperity. Simple, isn’t it?
(viii) Are there POOR Saints?
Yes. Please notice carefully the word POOR and SAINTS in the verse quoted prior to ‘realize this BIBLICAL TRUTH’:
“For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make a contribution for the POOR among the SAINTS in Jerusalem” (Romans 15:26, NASB)
So, they are NOT any less a SAINT than the rich ones. Therefore, let’s NOT condemn the POOR believers as some may have more FAITH (i.e. the WORD of CHRIST) than your ‘rich believers’.
(ix) God won’t leave me.
‘God Will always provide ALL my needs and the money that I want’ – [a popular claim]
The Verse used in ‘support of their claim’ is as follows:
“Keep your lives free from the love of money and BE CONTENT with what you have, for God has said: “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5, BSB)
Please notice carefully the phrase BE CONTENT (in Hebrews 13:5) —> with respect to “what you have” —> which means that we must be CONTENT (be accepting, be satisfied) with “what we have” (be it prosperity or poverty, health or pain, opposites implied) —> as the meaning intended —-> where DESPITE the CIRCUMSTANCE (or pain or pleasure), God PROMISES to be WITH US, and NOT FORSAKE US, in verse above —> what is the meaning of this?
This to be Understood to mean that HE WILL STRENGTHEN US TO ENDURE it as this SAME CONCLUSION regarding this SAME TOPIC of CONTENTMENT (Philippians 4:11) on OPPOSITE situations (e.g. being poor vs being rich, or being in pain vs being in health etc. as it is implied in Philippians 4:12) is the TRUE Meaning of ‘I can do all things through CHRIST Who STRENGTHS me’ (Philippians 4:13) as the Context of Consecutive Verses clearly imply; Can you see it? To quote:
“Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be CONTENT in WHATEVER CIRCUMSTANCES I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through HIM who STRENGTHENS me.” – apostle Paul (Philippians 4:11 – 13, NASB)
Example: as Hebrews 13:5 mentions, Christ did NOT leave apostle Paul alone when he suffered (as it is described in verses below but rather, HE suffered with him):
“To this present hour we are both hungry and thirsty, and are poorly clothed, and are roughly treated, and are homeless;” – apostle Paul (1 Corinthians 4:11)
“in beatings, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in hunger,” – apostle Paul (2 Corinthians 6:5, NASB)
“I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.” – apostle Paul (2 Corinthians 11:27, NASB)
“Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” – apostle Paul (Romans 8:35, NASB)
“Are they servants of Christ?– I speak as if insane– I more so; in far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death.” – apostle Paul (2 Corinthians 11:23, NASB)
It’s very easy to inflict pain on others being in a position of power to do so; but real strength is to endure pain of which CHRIST is GOD to endure the PAIN from the WHOLE SIN of the WORLD since the Foundation itself as the LAMB that was SLAIN (Revelation 13:8) to take all SIN of the WORLD AWAY eventually by DOING SO (John 1:29) and that’s why His apostles chose to share in these sufferings in any way they can making sense of the infamous quote below too:
‘I see Jesus in every human being. I say to myself, this is hungry Jesus, I must feed him. This is sick Jesus. This one has leprosy or gangrene; I must wash him and tend to him. I serve because I love Jesus.’ – Blessed Theresa of Calcutta (‘Mother Theresa’)
Can you see how Christ tied HIMSELF up to the SUFFERING of EVERY HUMAN BEING in light of the Quoted Scripture & the quote above in order that HE WILL MAKE ALIVE all who DIE in Adam to SAVE ALL MEN (1 Corinthians 15:22, 1 Timothy 4:10)?
Indeed, we can ONLY Understand Deep Truths with CORRECT DOCTRINE and see the Fact that ALL MEN are dearly LOVED and are IMPORTANT to God and that’s why HE WILL SAVE ALL MEN eventually as it is WRITTEN:
“Who will have ALL MEN to be SAVED, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” – apostle Paul (1 Timothy 2:4, KJV)
“And I, when I am Lifted Up from the earth, will draw ALL MEN to Myself.” – Lord Jesus Christ (John 12:32, BSB)
(x) Why is this Doctrine Important?
“AGAIN I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a RICH MAN to enter the kingdom of God.” – Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 19:24, NASB)
HOPE is not LOST despite afterlife Judgment first (Luke 16:25) though these will NOT repent on earth (Luke 16:30 – 31); (remember the rich man in Hades (Luke 16:23)? because of CHRIST’s INTERVENTION to SAVE them too eventually:
‘“Our Lord descends, and was shut up in the eternal (aionion, more correctly, age-during) bars, in order that He might set free all who had been shut up… The Lord descended to the place of punishment and torment, in which was the RICH MAN, in order to liberate the prisoners.” – St. Jerome of the Vulgate
Can you SEE how AMAZING CHRIST is?
The Great Chasm “that none may cross over from there to us” (Luke 16:26, NASB) was EASILY CROSSED by CHRIST as it is mentioned CLEARLY as “having been made alive in the spirit, in which also having gone, HE preached to the spirits in prison” (1 Peter 3:18 – 19, BLB) since the ‘none in Luke 16:26 as Abraham mentioned = refers to All Created things only excluding Christ the Creator, in principle of this exclusion in 1 Corinthians 15:27’. Also, just like Abraham mentioned in Luke 16 is a real person, this entire passage depicting HADES/SHEOL is literal too as it is WRITTEN.
He revealed the ‘impossibilities’ of being SAVED from HADES/SHEOL/HELL in Luke 16 (from a creation’s ability or point of view as only Abraham said or implied ‘such impossibilities’ and NOT Christ – can you see it?) —> to show that HE is the SAVIOUR Who can OVERCOME all these impossibilities in the Context of SALVATION as 1 Peter 3:18 – 19 mentions the FIRST OCCURRENCE of this SALVATION Post-afterlife Judgment (as HE only Crossed Over after He DIED on His Cross – which made this POSSIBLE) —> and apostle Peter Generalizes this Post-afterlife-Judgment Salvation thereafter for any DEAD in 1 Peter 4:5 – 6 where the ‘spirit will live to God’ in the END —> agreeing to His Beautiful Reply in “With people this is impossible, but with GOD all things are POSSIBLE.” (Matthew 19:26, NASB) to the Question, “Then who can be saved?” (Matthew 19:25, NASB) PROVING CONTEXT irrefutably even in the ‘hard’ situation of “a rich man to enter His Kingdom too’ (Matthew 19:24, NASB). Can wee SEE it as it is WRITTEN Beautifully?
‘The One Who can SAVE from HELL is God Himself for Hell Swallowed whole all who claimed to be god and they remain a prisoner there till Christ Saves them; thus Jesus Christ ALONE is the TRUE GOD’ – Anonymous
Whatever TREASURE Christ referred to in His Teachings refer NOT to ‘money or earthly wealth’ but HEAVENLY WEALTH as it is clearly mentioned in VERSE below too (and this is IMPORTANT since it refers to our HEART, in principle of Matthew 6:24 and 1 John 2:16 as well):
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. “But store up for yourselves TREASURES IN HEAVEN, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there YOUR HEART will be also.” – Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 6:19 – 21, NASB)
Without CONTENTMENT (e.g. having the DESIRE (WANT) to be RICH, please note this phrase carefully in 1 Timothy 6:9) our ‘godliness’ may NOT result in GAIN as it is implied in VERSES below when taken together:
“But GODLINESS actually is a means of great GAIN when accompanied by CONTENTMENT.” (1 Timothy 6:6, NASB)
“But THOSE who WANT to GET RICH fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into RUIN and DESTRUCTION.” (1 Timothy 6:9, NASB)
Please note that the “RUIN and DESTRUCTION” (mentioned in 1 Timothy 6:9) is not experienced by the RICH on earth where they are prosperous here but in the afterlife (How is one not considered wicked when he teaches a false thing even though he may be rich? Psalm 73:3 with Psalm 73:18 and Matthew 7:13).
Can you prove your faith in prosperity to save you AGAINST all these VERSES? I would be very keen to see that ‘on the other side’ (Can anything succeed against Scripture?):
“There is no wisdom and no understanding And no counsel against the LORD.” (Proverbs 21:30, NASB)
Conclusion
If we cannot preach even the Money aspect with regards to the Gospel correctly, how will we be able to correctly teach more difficult doctrines rightly in accordance to what is WRITTEN?
“as also in all his (apostle Paul’s) letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.” – apostle Peter (2 Peter 3:16, NASB)
Please consider His Own Warnings regarding His Word as follows:
- a) When we focus on the RICHES or Prosperity or Wealth, what happens?
“He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of RICHES, CHOKE the WORD, and he becometh UNFRUITFUL” – Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 13:22, KJV)
- b) When we DO NOT Understand His Word, what happens?
“When anyone hears the WORD of the kingdom and does NOT UNDERSTAND it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is the one on whom seed was sown beside the road.” – Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 13:19, NASB)
‘So how does Sola Scriptura work in your exegesis in regards to this topic of prosperity Gospel? Please explain with VERSES, thank you; you may begin’ – Unknown
Claiming ‘Sola Scriptura’ and having NO VERSE actually using the CLAIMED WORDS in it is just as FAKE as our FAKE-CLAIM as when we do so, proving us as FAKE too, right?
In other words, we must PREACH the TRUTH which is that we may make our ‘prayer requests’ but we MUST ACCEPT (and be CONTENT) with ‘either SITUATION of being in PROSPERITY or in NEED’.
We must NOT Preach ‘prosperity ONLY’ or ‘living like a hermit ONLY’ as both cases are ALLOWED and are POSSIBLE to a believer and is NOT a measure of faith as popularly erred according to the prevalent ‘worldly wisdom’ too likewise.
‘Let us believe His Holy Word as it is WRITTEN without SEEING any signs or wonders too (John 4:48)’ – Anonymous
P/S: Can you see it?
“Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.
Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of WISDOM: and the KNOWLEDGE of the Holy is UNDERSTANDING.” (Proverbs 9:8 – 10, NASB)
To Quote, from a Previous Post in regards to the ‘Prosperity Gospel Heresy’, please consider:
Prosperity Gospel
Satan (the Devil) loves to ‘offer prosperity’ to ‘those who would bow & worship him’ (and thus this CANNOT be the PRINCIPLE of the ONE TRUE GOD WHO must be in OPPOSITE to Satan’s ways, can you see?) as verse below describes so clearly:
“Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; and he said to Him, “All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me.” (Matthew 4:8 – 9, NASB)
Prosperity Gospel is basically ‘promising money or wealth or material blessings’ for ‘choosing Christ’. Such a concept is NOT found in Scripture. Where is the verse which says this?
Don’t you know that the ONLY part of the Abrahamic Blessing inherited by Gentile believers as ‘blessing’ (Galatians 3:29) is the ‘promise of spiritual blessings ONLY’ and it is NOT inclusive of ‘any material blessings’ as it is WRITTEN in Verses below (without any adding/removing from His Holy Word):
“For if the inheritance is based on law, it is no longer based on a promise; but God has granted it to Abraham by means of a promise.” (Galatians 3:18, NASB)
“to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel,” (Ephesians 3:6, NASB)
“For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. Yes, they were pleased to do so, and they are indebted to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual things, they are indebted to minister to them also in material things” (Romans 15:26 – 27, NASB)
“But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them.” (Hebrews 11:16, NASB)
“And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised,” (Hebrews 11:39, NASB)
“Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware.
Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit.” (1 Corinthians 12:1, 4, NASB)
Can’t you see it?
Basically, the “Promise” through Abraham (Acts 3:25) is Lord Jesus Christ Who Restores ALL things (i.e. All Creation eventually, Romans 8:20 – 21) as Prophesied in Acts 3:21 itself (Context with Acts 3:25, consecutive verses) —> which includes (but is NOT limited to) the ‘spiritual gifts’ (1 Corinthians 12) —> where believers among Gentiles also obtain it together with believing Jews (Ephesians 3:6) —> and thus Gentile believers are supposed to help in ‘material things’ toward the ‘poor saints in Jerusalem’ (Jewish, implied, Romans 15:26) as Gentiles are indebted to them for inheriting the ‘spiritual blessings’ (ONLY mentioned explicitly in all generality in Romans 15:27).
Furthermore, the Hebrews Chapter of Faith seals this Biblical Truth IRREFUTABLY as follows:
Please notice that ‘rich Abraham’ (Hebrews 11:17) to ‘poor saints living in caves of the ground’ (Hebrews 11:38) —> are approved for their ‘faith’ which has NOTHING to do with MONEY or EARTHLY MATERIAL PROSPERITY (yes, please note the phrase “gained approval through their faith” in Hebrews 11:39, NASB) —> and we know this for sure IRREFUTABLY by the phrase “did not receive what was promised” in this SAME verse too (Hebrews 11:39, NASB).
Did you MISS it just like the ‘prosperity Gospel preachers’?
Please allow me to explain:
The phrase “did NOT receive what was PROMISED” (Hebrews 11:39) —> means that they died ‘believing this in faith’ without receiving this PROMISE (Hebrews 11:13) —-> where this PROMISE is the one mentioned Prophetically in Acts 3:25, Galatians 3:18, Galatians 3:29 etc. (please note the word PROMISE in these Verses too which is inclusive of Acts 3:21 toward ‘ALL things or ALL creation as well’, Colossians 1:16 with Colossians 1:20 & Romans 8:20 – 21) —> and so, it does NOT refer to any of the EARTHLY MATERIAL BLESSINGS which some of them have received whilst on earth such as ‘rich Abraham’.
Why?
I repeat, because if the ‘Abrahamic Blessing’ is ‘inclusive’ of ‘material blessings’ as ‘prosperity Gospel preachers claim’, —-> then they did RECEIVE a part of this PROMISE on EARTH —> which clearly CONTRADICTS the phrase “did NOT receive what was PROMISED” (Hebrews 11:39) —-> and the phrase “All these died in faith, WITHOUT RECEIVING the PROMISES, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance” (Hebrews 11:13, NASB) —–> making the Prosperity Gospel Promise as a False Teaching for sure!
Besides that, let’s not forget the explicit mention of the phrase “spiritual blessings” (in Romans 15:27) which ‘Gentile believers’ are specifically mentioned to inherit from the ‘Jewish Promise of Abraham’ (implied, obviously) —> and that’s why these Gentile believers are mentioned to help the “poor” Jewish saints in Jerusalem with ‘material blessings’ (Romans 15:26).
Can’t you see the fact that the ‘poor Jewish saints’ themselves did NOT inherit the ‘prosperity Gospel promise if it exists’ as it is mentioned in Romans 15:26 so clearly.
Do you dare say that these “poor [Jewish] saints in Jerusalem” did NOT have ‘enough faith for prosperity’ in the same way some of your pastors insult the poor likewise in their congregations and favour their rich believers?
That would be a false claim since Holy Scripture (and NOT the opinion of any man) mentions that these “poor [Jewish believers in Jerusalem]” were NOT ‘normal believers’ but rather are mentioned as “saints”, —-> yes SAINTS, which means that their ‘faith is at a very high level, right?’ (but still “no” material prosperity, can you see? because “no” such material prosperity is promised to ‘a believer’ generally). Yes, please note the words “poor” and “saints” in Romans 15:26 to realize this Truth.
Preaching the Gospel to mean “that godliness is a means of gain” (gain = material blessings, wealth, money) is FALSE as it is implied from 1 Timothy 6:5 as well (agreeing with Luke 12:15) —> and Truth is, we as ‘believers’ can make prayer requests for ‘wealth’ too (Philippians 4:6) but whether we get ‘wealth or poverty’ in return (Philippians 4:12, either way) we are to ‘accept it’ (Philippians 4:13) —> and thank God for it, either way in ‘all things’ (implied, 1 Thessalonians 5:18) as this is the ‘Will of God as mentioned in this Verse, right?’ —> as this is the meaning and secret of ‘contentment’ (Philippians 4:11) as apostle Paul preached elsewhere too as part of the ‘True Gospel’ in this aspect (1 Timothy 6:6, Luke 3:14, 1 Timothy 6:8, Hebrews 13:5, 1 Timothy 6:9 – 10).
In other words, if prosperity comes, so be it and if not, so be it as well as FAITH in GOD has NOTHING to do with MONEY and PROSPERITY.
Also the ‘spiritual blessings’ (gifting, 1 Corinthians 12) or other gifts too say, for example say in Music (Ephesians 4:8) —-> are part of the “powers of the age to come” (Hebrews 6:5), yes even relating to the “ages to come” as well (Ephesians 2:7) which we experience a ‘taste of it here’ having NOT receiving it fully either as implied by these verses together with Hebrews 11:39 & Hebrews 11:16 as well.
