#CHURCHTALK 40: Christian psychology of blessings and wealth

Source: Finance Monthly

You describe God's blessing as possession of cars and houses—things that are subject to corruption? 

Then why are you inviting non-Christians to be Christians? Without Jesus, they have earthly possessions. There are very wealthy Buddhists, Muslims, Atheists, etcetera, who do not believe in Jesus. 

Are these the things you boast of as blessings? Shame to Christianity, if all it is about is what can be obtained outside it. I will never be a Christian, if what it has to offer is what can be achieved without being a Christian.

1 Corinthians 15:19 [NLT] 

And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world.

You think God boasts on earthly possessions? What a thought! All that is in the earth will be destroyed at the end. Is that what you think God boasts on? Is your boast in things that will one day be ashes? We will be the most miserable of men if earthly possessions are our pride!

The idea that Christianity is meant for achieving material gain is often the product of unsound or non-existent teaching. It does not pass basic scriptural test or scrutiny. 

See what Paul says about people that think in such a way:

1 Timothy 6:5

Always in constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗴𝗼𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻.

Christianity is not a means for acquiring financial gain or riches. It is a means of obtaining salvation by faith in Christ Jesus!

Jesus had this to say:

John 2:16

And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not 𝗺𝘆 𝗙𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿'𝘀 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗮𝗻 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗲. 

The Church is not a place for making money, but a place for making sinners sons of God, and equipping the Saints for the work of ministry (Ephesians 4:11-13).

You can never quote Jesus saying that He came that men may be financially rich. What you hear Jesus say is that He has come that men might be saved and have eternal life.

John 10:10 [KJV] 

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. 

If you want to be financially rich, GET A WORK TO DO, AND DO IT DILIGENTLY! This is what the Bible teaches.

2 Thessalonians 3:10

For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that 𝗶𝗳 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸, 𝗻𝗲𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗮𝘁.

1 Thessalonians 4:11

And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀, 𝗮𝘀 𝘄𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂.

Ephesians 4:28

Let him that stole steal no more: but rather 𝐥𝐞𝐭 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐫, 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐢𝐬 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝, 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐭𝐡.

Act 20:33-35

33. I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel.

34. Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.

35. I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

We are men of eternal value, whose mind is now focused on external things! How sad! 

Yes, we have resources, but our boast is not in what we have but in Him by whom we possess all things according to His will. We pride in having Christ, not in having things. We do not lie to people that if they become Christians, they will be rich. They themselves know that one does not need to be a believer to be rich, because they have seen many unbelievers who are rich and wealthy!

You speak as though God wants only Christians to be Rich? You think he likes the Christian than the non Christians? God is not man. He is God!

There is nothing wrong in a Christian being rich—even being the world's richest—but Christianity is not and will never be about earthly riches! Never! Stop lying to people to come to Christ so that He will make them rich. Since you became saved, how much riches have you accumulated by being a believer? And other believers like you, how much have they gathered because they became believers too? 

Money is man-made as a compensation for work done. So, if you want money, then work!

Pastor Mark Desmond is the Senior Pastor of The Embassy of Zion Ministries, Nigeria. He is also the proprietor of Bismac Model Schools, Ifo, Ogun State, from where he writes, and can be reached via his Facebook page @Mark Desmond

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