What does James 2:5 mean?
"Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?" - James 2:5, KJV
How spirituality and Godliness can open your life to endless prosperity
James still calls his Christian readers "beloved," though he is rebuking them for giving favor to rich people over those who are poor. He began this section by urging Christians not to show partiality,
painting a picture of what illicit favoritism looks like in practice.
“Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,-1 Thessalonians 5:6-9
In the culture of these early Christians, it would be perfectly normal to give a wealthy man a place of honor at a gathering. It would be equally typical to expect a poor, dirty man to stand in the corner,
or to sit on the floor. James insists, though, that our belief in Christ should change the way we treat everyone. We must not let the prejudice of culture, or the allure of money, to determine our standards.
In fact, demonstrating favoritism for the rich over the poor reveals that we don't really trust what we claim to believe. In this verse, James makes his point with a very specific question: Hasn't God chosen some who are poor in this life to be rich now in faith and rich forever in His kingdom? Isn't that the promise He makes to those who love Him?
Every Christian reading James's words should answer "yes." That's what we believe. But if that's what we believe, James asks, why don't we treat each other that way when we get together? Why don't we treat poor Christians with the same respect, honor, and attention we give to the wealthy ones?
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GOD’S CALL TO THE POOR
[1 Corinthians 1:26-27]
Preferential treatment of the rich is wrong. James makes his case that biased judgment is wrong through four rhetorical questions he will ask, expecting an affirmative answer. Those who have entered into a faith relationship with Jesus Christ must not let social distinctions and differences continue to find a place in their lives. He that loves Christ must love all His relatives.
Poor Christians are special people to God. Discrimination against them is therefore an affront to God. It defies His will. Masters and slaves (Eph. 6:9), rich and poor are alike before Him. He saves each of us on the basis of the work of Christ on the cross and not because of anything that we are or have. But the poor are more receptive to the gospel message therefore they seem favored by God.
I. RICH IN FAITH, 5.
II. WHO OPPRESSES, 6-7.
Verse 5 shows how God views the poor. Listen my beloved brethren: 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?
This does not mean that God’s choice has been limited to the poor nor does it mean that all poor have been chosen. But as a matter of fact the poor have been more receptive and more responsive to the Gospel. James seems to teach that this was not just chance but the result of the way fallen creation works (1 Cor. 1:27). Jesus even asserted that to fulfill His messianic mission He "preached the Gospel to the poor" (Lk. 4:18, 7:22).
Verse 5 outlines three blessings which God bestows upon persevering poor believers. 1st, they are called out by God, 2nd, they are rich in faith and 3rd they are heirs of the kingdom. God’s call to repentance is a call to recognize one’s spiritual poverty. It is God’s will that all people come to repentance and be saved (1 Tim. 2:4) but only those who recognize their need become part of His chosen. God has determined to call out through the Gospel to the poor of the world. How to keep healthy fitness
In His sermon on the plain Jesus declared, "Blessed are you poor for yours is the kingdom of God" (Lk. 6:20). The first sermon Jesus’ preached [in His hometown synagogue] concerned His mission and began with the testimony, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor" (Lk. 4:18). Jesus identified the Spirit’s anointing in His ministry with God’s concern for the poor. When John the Baptist tested the authenticity of Jesus’ ministry, Jesus sent him this evidence, "the poor have good news preached to them" (Lk. 7:22). When the Apostles confirmed Paul’s ministry they asked that he "should continue to remember the poor" (Gal. 2:10).
From the first, Jesus had a small number of affluent adherents. Nicodemus, Joseph of Arimathea, Joanna, and others ministered to the Lord from their substance (Luke 8:2). However, the central appeal of the gospel was to the poor people of the land. Without question the early church consisted largely of poor people. The Palestinian poor people were experiencing particularly dark days. Crises ravaged the peasants and depressed wages crushed the laborers. Palestine and possibly other parts of the world experienced famine (AD 46-48). Their circumstances made the poor more responsive to the message of salvation.“We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. So then death worketh in us, but life in you. We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak; Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you. For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.”-2 Corinthians 4:8-15
The second blessing to the poor who heed the Gospel is the opportunity to be rich in faith. They are rich because of the eternal treasures that salvation by faith bestows on them and rich in exercised faith for daily living. They have great opportunity to grow in faith due to their poverty because they must depend upon God not monetary possessions for their daily needs. Then when crises do come there is no one or any where else to turn but God and as God answers they grow in faith concerning God’s faithfulness. This faith in God is what makes one truly rich. It is the uplifted open hand of the soul which receives all the bountiful supplies of God. Worldly wealth is subject to fading, defiling and perishing influences, but the eternal riches gained by faith are stored up in the imperishable vaults of heaven, the kingdom God.
The third blessing that the poor (and the
wealthy) have to look forward to is their inheritance as sons of the
King. The Kingdom of God signifies God’s reign which Jesus inaugurated
in His first coming. To be an heir of the kingdom is to possess it and
have it possess you. All heirs of this kingdom share in both the earthly
and eternal blessings, privileges, and responsibilities of its Risen
King. This kingdom of Christ is imperishable, undefiled and unfading. (1
Peter 1:4).
Please note God promises His kingdom to those who love Him, not to those who love this world and its riches. Most person’s whether rich or poor love this life, not God and His life.
W.A. Criswell related a life-changing encounter with the poor that encouraged his downtown church to continue reaching out to all people. Not long after he became pastor of First Baptist Church, Dallas, he went to the church early one morning. He noticed a group gathered around one of the doorways of the sanctuary. Curious, he worked his way through the crowd. He saw a man on the steps with his hands stretched out toward the church door. The man was dead. He died reaching out to the church in the heart of the city. This caused W. A.Criswell to design a whole spectrum of "Good Shepherd" ministries to reach the neediest and poorest people in the community. But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.-Deuteronomy 7:8
How many other churches have responded to reach the poor? Racial prejudice has diminished but economic prejudice is stronger than ever. The poor have become an embarrassment rather than an opportunity for ministry. Thus churches gear their programs to reach the middle class and largely ignore to poor. One must ask: what am I and my church directly doing to reach the poor? Jesus said He was anointed to preach the Gospel to them. Reaching the poor with the Gospel is an earmark of authentic Christianity.
II. WHO OPPRESSES YOU, 6-7.
Verse 6 presents the church’s low regard for the poor. But you have dishonored the poor man. Is it not the rich who oppress you and personally drag you into court?
In the first part of verse 6, James charges his readers with attitudes and conduct which are contrary to God’s. Christians contradict their calling when they favor the affluent and ignore the poor. Christians are to give the poor person respect and grant him a place as a fellow child of God. Proverbs 14:21 say "He that dishonors the poor sins."
In the second part of the verse James asks us to consider who are the opponents of true Christianity? It is the rich people whom they court who oppress, dominate, intimidate, exploit and wrongfully abuse evangelical Christians. Favoring the rich is not in the best interests of Christians. Not only are Christians oppressed, but these godless affluent exploited the needy to whom the Christians were reaching for Christ so that they could pad their pockets even farther
Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.-1 Timothy 4:16
Please note God promises His kingdom to those who love Him, not to those who love this world and its riches. Most person’s whether rich or poor love this life, not God and His life.
W.A. Criswell related a life-changing encounter with the poor that encouraged his downtown church to continue reaching out to all people. Not long after he became pastor of First Baptist Church, Dallas, he went to the church early one morning. He noticed a group gathered around one of the doorways of the sanctuary. Curious, he worked his way through the crowd. He saw a man on the steps with his hands stretched out toward the church door. The man was dead. He died reaching out to the church in the heart of the city. This caused W. A.Criswell to design a whole spectrum of "Good Shepherd" ministries to reach the neediest and poorest people in the community. But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.-Deuteronomy 7:8
How many other churches have responded to reach the poor? Racial prejudice has diminished but economic prejudice is stronger than ever. The poor have become an embarrassment rather than an opportunity for ministry. Thus churches gear their programs to reach the middle class and largely ignore to poor. One must ask: what am I and my church directly doing to reach the poor? Jesus said He was anointed to preach the Gospel to them. Reaching the poor with the Gospel is an earmark of authentic Christianity.
II. WHO OPPRESSES YOU, 6-7.
Verse 6 presents the church’s low regard for the poor. But you have dishonored the poor man. Is it not the rich who oppress you and personally drag you into court?
In the first part of verse 6, James charges his readers with attitudes and conduct which are contrary to God’s. Christians contradict their calling when they favor the affluent and ignore the poor. Christians are to give the poor person respect and grant him a place as a fellow child of God. Proverbs 14:21 say "He that dishonors the poor sins."
In the second part of the verse James asks us to consider who are the opponents of true Christianity? It is the rich people whom they court who oppress, dominate, intimidate, exploit and wrongfully abuse evangelical Christians. Favoring the rich is not in the best interests of Christians. Not only are Christians oppressed, but these godless affluent exploited the needy to whom the Christians were reaching for Christ so that they could pad their pockets even farther
Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.-1 Timothy 4:16
The
economically powerful also used the legal system to get their way. They
would get outspoken Christians out of their way on trumped up civil or
criminal charges. They would use the court system to snatch away the
wages, savings, rent and property of the poor. Just as in Old Testament
times (Ezek. 18:7f, Amos 4:1, 8:4-6), in Jesus’ time and still today it
is the affluent of society that are opponents of true Christianity.
Verse 7 continues to warn the church to be wary of the actions of the rich. Do they not blaspheme the fair name by which you have been called?
The Bible holds the most serious accusation until last. They were not content with oppressing the poor. They insulted the Lord Jesus by belittled His Word and rejecting His claims. The good name of Jesus is beautiful, attractive, noble and honorable. Jesus is only name truly worthy of great distinction and praise. One can readily imagine the godless rich undermining Jesus as distorted the purpose and mission of Christianity and the church. Our Lord was poor and He was a victim of injustice perpetuated by the wealthy leaders of His day.
If they blaspheme Christ they are blaspheming all those called Christians for that is the name by which we have been called. How can you honor those who dishonor your Christ? To do so is to dishonor His name.
Robert E. Lee "was approached after the Civil War by the managers of the infamous Louisiana Lottery. He sat in his old rocking-chair, crutches at his side, and listened to their proposition. He couldn’t believe his ears: he asked them to repeat it, thinking that he couldn’t have heard them correctly. They said they wanted no money from him. All they wanted was the use of his name, and for that they would make him rich. Lee straightened up in his chair, buttoned his old tunic about him, and thundered, ‘Gentlemen, I lost my home in the war. I lost my fortune in the war. I lost everything in the war except my name. My name is not for sale, and if you fellows don’t get out of here I’ll break this crutch over your heads.’" For some, a good name is all that they have left. James believed that Christians should respond to an attack on Jesus’ name. When he wrote that the rich blasphemed Jesus’ name, he expected that his statement would motivate his readers to a high degree. More than one’s own name, one must seek to honor Jesus’ name.
Believers belong to Jesus, not to rich exploiters. Jesus has promised the Kingdom of God to these who love Him. There is no greater offer that could be offered by any rich person, the most rich person, or all rich people together.
Yet before we conclude let me balance our message a little. Poverty carries no guarantees of spirituality. A.W. Pink maintained: "Worry over poverty is as fatal to spiritual fruitfulness as is gloating over wealth. "Poverty more often makes people bitter rather than better. Christian commitment does not flourish in the nation’s slums. Both poverty and affluence must be sanctified at Christ’s feet. Neither one carries an automatic blessing or a damnation." Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength. So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, Hold your peace, for the day is holy; neither be ye grieved.-Nehemiah 8:10-11
Verse 7 continues to warn the church to be wary of the actions of the rich. Do they not blaspheme the fair name by which you have been called?
The Bible holds the most serious accusation until last. They were not content with oppressing the poor. They insulted the Lord Jesus by belittled His Word and rejecting His claims. The good name of Jesus is beautiful, attractive, noble and honorable. Jesus is only name truly worthy of great distinction and praise. One can readily imagine the godless rich undermining Jesus as distorted the purpose and mission of Christianity and the church. Our Lord was poor and He was a victim of injustice perpetuated by the wealthy leaders of His day.
If they blaspheme Christ they are blaspheming all those called Christians for that is the name by which we have been called. How can you honor those who dishonor your Christ? To do so is to dishonor His name.
Robert E. Lee "was approached after the Civil War by the managers of the infamous Louisiana Lottery. He sat in his old rocking-chair, crutches at his side, and listened to their proposition. He couldn’t believe his ears: he asked them to repeat it, thinking that he couldn’t have heard them correctly. They said they wanted no money from him. All they wanted was the use of his name, and for that they would make him rich. Lee straightened up in his chair, buttoned his old tunic about him, and thundered, ‘Gentlemen, I lost my home in the war. I lost my fortune in the war. I lost everything in the war except my name. My name is not for sale, and if you fellows don’t get out of here I’ll break this crutch over your heads.’" For some, a good name is all that they have left. James believed that Christians should respond to an attack on Jesus’ name. When he wrote that the rich blasphemed Jesus’ name, he expected that his statement would motivate his readers to a high degree. More than one’s own name, one must seek to honor Jesus’ name.
Believers belong to Jesus, not to rich exploiters. Jesus has promised the Kingdom of God to these who love Him. There is no greater offer that could be offered by any rich person, the most rich person, or all rich people together.
Yet before we conclude let me balance our message a little. Poverty carries no guarantees of spirituality. A.W. Pink maintained: "Worry over poverty is as fatal to spiritual fruitfulness as is gloating over wealth. "Poverty more often makes people bitter rather than better. Christian commitment does not flourish in the nation’s slums. Both poverty and affluence must be sanctified at Christ’s feet. Neither one carries an automatic blessing or a damnation." Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength. So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, Hold your peace, for the day is holy; neither be ye grieved.-Nehemiah 8:10-11
CONCLUSION
If we really believe that the ground is level at the foot of the cross and that any and all must be saved by God’s grace, we will be forced to relate to all people in Christian brotherhood and not on the basis of social status. Are you impressed by status, wealth or fame? Are you partial to the haves while ignoring the have nots? This attitude is sinful.
Let us heed the Bible’s condemnation of favoritism. Though we would rather identify with successful people than with apparent failures, let us learn to treat the poor as we would the impressive. As James has reminded us, the impressive may have gained their way and their significance at the expense of others.
Identify more with Jesus who came as a humble servant without even a place to lay His Head. God views all people as equal, and if He favored any group of people it is the poor and the powerless. We should follow His example. Let us share the gospel with them and make sure they are welcome and accepted in our church.
“Listen,
my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in
the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he
promised those who love him? But
you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting
you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?” (James 2:5-7)
Salvation is not offered to anyone on the basis of anything that God sees or foresees in that person, because that would make salvation depend on something that originates in fallen man. God’s choice is completely based on His grace and purpose. “For he says to Moses, ‘I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.’ It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.” (Romans 9:15-16)
James is not teaching that God chooses all poor men for salvation and passes over all rich men. Rather, it was obvious in the early church, that many more poor people had trusted in Christ for salvation, as compared to the rich. That’s why Paul wrote to the Corinthians: “For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:26-29) Although there is no merit inherent in poverty, poor people often realize how short life is and thus see their need for eternal life more readily than the rich do. As Jesus explained after the encounter with the rich young ruler, it is hard for the wealthy to get into God’s kingdom, because their riches usurp the place that belongs to God alone (Mark 10:17-27). It is those who are poor materially who are also often poor in spirit, recognizing their need for God’s grace (Matt. 5:3).
By choosing those whom the world rejects and despises, God magnifies the riches of His grace. When James says that God chooses the poor “to be rich in faith,” he means, rich in the sphere of faith. They have spiritual riches in Christ through God’s sovereign, gracious choice, which brought them to faith in Him (as Paul argues in Eph. 1:3-14). God’s choice makes them “heirs of the kingdom” (James 1:5). At the moment of salvation, they come under the reign of Christ in their hearts (Col. 1:13-14), but there remains in the future the fullness of that kingdom and its blessings, when Jesus returns in power and glory (Matt. 25:31-34).
James states that by making distinctions based on outward factors, the church has dishonored the poor man. Then he asks two rhetorical questions, based on their current circumstances, to show that by aligning themselves with the rich against the poor, they are siding with God’s enemies, who are also their own enemies. James is not teaching that the church should ignore or despise the rich because of their riches. That would be reverse discrimination! The church should show God’s love and grace to all, whether rich or poor. Rather, he is saying that the rich should not be given preferential treatment, to the detriment of the poor, in an attempt to court their money or influence. James makes two points:
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 7:7-12)
Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,-1 Thessalonians 5:6-9
Yes Woody, God really does want us to be rich. But sitting around waiting for a "deposit" isn't the way. Besides, the only guys making deposits for us aren't gods. They're con men who insult us by sending token rebate checks, while they're making huge deposits of your money in Swiss banks. Woody's great at making us smile. But he's not really waiting, he's taking action, making films.
Faith plus action really works. So today, let's develop our own "Five Faith-Based Rules of Getting Rich." I've got some ideas. I'll lay 'em out, you refine 'em.
Nothing's wrong with getting really rich on a little faith, especially when our leaders have screwed things up so badly. Faith's a great way to start! I'm sparked because lately I've been seeing a lot of "How to Get Rich" books, magazine stories and newspaper articles. U.S. News even put out a special: "Secrets of the Super-Rich." No surprise, publishers know we want escapism. A headline selling promises of a better future sell lots of copies during bear/recessions.
My files are loaded with them: But the one in Portfolio about Joel Osteen, "God Wants Me to Be Rich," was especially inspiring. Not because he's the author of 7-million-copy bestsellers such as "Your Best Life Now" and "Become a Better You." Not because he's the supersuccessful pastor of America's biggest megachurch, grossing $75 million a year. And not because he encourages us to "focus on the positive and banish negative thoughts." Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;-Ephesians 5:16-20
What really touches me about Osteen is that he wasn't prepared and didn't really want the job. Then his father, who started the church in an abandoned feed store over four decades ago, died suddenly.
Fate, I identify with that. A twist of fate, and suddenly faith, destiny and talent hit you. We all have Osteen's kind of faith deep inside us, waiting for that moment. So let's try to put our finger on it today, in the broad sense, with our "Five Faith-Based Rules for Getting Rich."
Years ago I quoted the same message in economist Paul Zane Pilzer's bestseller, "God Wants You to Be Rich: The Theology of Economics:" "God does want each of us to be rich," says Pilzer, "in every possible way, health, love, and peace of mind, as well as material possessions. God wants this, however, not just for our own sake, but for the sake of all humankind ... An increase in the wealth for an individual almost always represents an even larger increase in wealth for society at large."
Of course the message can get distorted, one-sided, superselfish. And yes, that culture now runs Wall Street, Washington and Corporate America. But the principle is valid, a balanced pursuit, selfish and selfless, material and moral. This is one of those moments in history, a chance to shift our values back, get rich for ourselves and for a higher purpose.
For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.-Hebrews 10:36-38
Warning: Like Woody and Pilzer, Brother Ty knows God wants you to be rich. But he also knows God's got some big-time "enemies" out to sabotage you. And like in "The Omen" and "The Exorcist," they come in disguise, for example, politicians, bankers, brokers and CEOs. But you already know there are so many of these little "devils" in the "unholy trinity" that can't be trusted: Wall Street, Washington and Corporate America.
One reader asked if this was a time to shift out of a Lazy Portfolio and into the "Nuclear Bond Portfolio" I wrote about in May 2005. That "Nuke" had 25% each in four fixed-income funds. Their three-year average is about 4%. The S&P 500 is about half that. And on a one-year basis, the "Nuke" portfolio blows the S&P away, about 7% to a minus 12%, a difference of 19 percentage points. But that assumes you made the move three years ago.
Stick to a Lazy Portfolio. They're all based on the Nobel prize-winning strategy of well-diversified no-load index funds. In the recent midyear updates, they consistently beat the S&P by as much as four percentage points, with no timing, no active trading.
I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me. He shall send from heaven, and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up. Selah. God shall send forth his mercy and his truth.-Psalms 57:2-3
If the joy of working for yourself isn't inspiring enough, Stanley tells us: Millionaires build wealth by living below their means and paying less taxes than the average taxpayer, 2% versus 12%: "I don't think the government loves these people. The secret is to put money somewhere that it will grow without your having to pay taxes on it immediately."
In a speech back in Chicago a year ago David Walker, former U.S. comptroller general, compared America with the Roman Empire: It "fell for many reasons, but three reasons are worth remembering -- declining moral values and political civility at home, an overconfident and overextended military in foreign lands, and fiscal irresponsibility by the central government."
Sound familiar?" Walker was a voice crying in the wilderness as Washington sank ever deeper into a moral swamp the past decade.
That "deal" was expressed in physicist's Gary Zukav's searching "Seat of the Soul:" "Each soul comes to the Earth with gifts ... to contribute its specialness in specific ways ... each soul agrees to perform certain tasks upon Earth. It enters into a sacred agreement with the Universe ... all of the experiences of your life serve to awaken within you the memory of that contract, and to prepare you to fulfill it."
In the final analysis, "faith-based getting rich" is double-barreled: God plus "You Inc." But you can't wait for God to call first. As 12-Step folks tell us: "I never just sit and do nothing. Rather I do whatever is in front of me, and leave the results up to Him; however it turns out, that's God's will for me."
That's "faith-based getting rich" at its best, trust starts with action, your action: "Leap and the net will appear!" As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me. Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice. He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me: for there were many with me. God shall hear, and afflict them, even he that abideth of old. Selah. Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God.-Psalms 55:16-19
But does that blessing necessarily always include material prosperity? Can all Christians expect to become wealthy? Turning to the Bible dispels such an expectation.
First, Paul often showed that his sufferings did not take away from his fullness of life. In his epistles he presents his suffering as part of the evidence that he was blessed and called by God (e.g. 2 Cor. 4:8-18; 6:3-10; 11:13-33; 12:1-10; Gal. 6:17). He once described himself “as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything” (2 Cor. 6:10). In Ephesians, writing from prison, five times Paul mentions wealth—referring to the gospel and all its treasures. He himself was a poor prisoner deprived of many basic human necessities, but he viewed himself as being wealthy.
In Philippians, also writing from Prison, Paul said about his financial needs:
Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God. For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake; Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.-Philippians 1:27-30
Some years ago I did a study of all the places in the New Testament where Jesus is presented as a model for us to follow. Of the 29 texts I looked more closely at four were general statements asking the readers to follow Christ; two were about forgiving as Jesus forgave (Eph. 4:32; Col. 3:13), and two were about meekness and gentleness (2 Cor. 10:1; 11:17). The other 21 were about the example of Christ’s servanthood and his sufferings.[1] So when encouraging generosity, Paul gives the example of Jesus and says, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich” (2 Cor. 8:9). Jesus himself said, “One’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions” (Luke 12:15). In the parable of the rich man and the poor beggar Lazarus covered with sores, it is the beggar who goes to heaven while the rich man suffers in hell (Luke 16:19-31). We can safely conclude that the New Testament does not include material success in its basic description what it means to be a follower of Christ.
When we turn to 1 Timothy 6 we find more warnings about the dangers of wealth. Paul says that it is right to want basic necessities like food and clothing: “But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content” (1 Tim. 6:8). Beyond that necessity, wealth is not a big deal. Paul says, “But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world” (6:6-7). It is not essential that we are rich, but it is essential that we are godly and contented. Elsewhere Paul says that he is content even while suffering: “For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Cor. 12:10). The idea of strength in weakness is another neglected biblical doctrine today.
Let’s get back to the warnings. In 1 Timothy 6:9-10 Paul says:
But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.-The first epistle of Paul the apostle to the Corinthians 1:23-31
In 1 Timothy 6 Paul also asks the wealthy to be rich in generosity: “They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life” (6:18-19). We invest in the Bank of Heaven by giving to the needy. Earlier we observed that Paul said in 1 Timothy 6 that wealth is less important than godliness and contentment. Now he is saying that lavish generosity is also important. The many teachings in the Bible about giving show that, for a biblical Christian, this is one of the great ambitions in life. Paul says the Macedonian Christians were “begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints” (2 Cor. 8:4).
When urging the Corinthian Christians to contribute to the needs of the church in Jerusalem, Paul says, “Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality” (2 Cor. 8:13, NIV). In a world of glaring inequality, we give generously so as to bring some measure of fairness and equality. This urgent need for fairness in the world has led many Christians to make a decision to adopt a simple lifestyle—avoiding extravagance and giving as much as possible for the work of God and to the needy. As someone has said, “We live simply so that others may simply live.” In support of this idea of a simple lifestyle we refer to Jesus’ statement, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth” (Matt. 6:19).
Many of the commended followers of Jesus in the New Testament were poor. The Macedonians were heroes because they gave despite their poverty: “We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part” (2 Cor. 8:1-3). The giving of these poor Christians is described using the word wealth. In a passage rebuking the church for considering the rich as superior to the poor, James says, “Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?” (Jas. 2:5). The poor believers were actually rich!
In the letters to the seven churches in Revelation, only two churches do not receive a rebuke. And both of them are described as not having what the world thinks of as material success. The first is the church in Smyrna. The angel talks of their “poverty” then immediately says, “But you are rich” (Rev. 2:9). The second is the church in Philadelphia, which is described as having “but little power” (Rev. 3:8). They were two rare exceptions of churches having God-approved lifestyles at a time of great compromise. And they were poor and powerless! Isn’t it interesting how the poor Christians in these passages are described in terms suggesting that they were wealthy? That sense of being wealthy constitutes an important aspect of the identity of a Christian. If we are happy about our identity, then we will surely be happy people.
The mother church in Jerusalem consisted mainly of poor people. So other churches had to help them. There is nothing to say that they were poor because of something wrong in their beliefs or actions. It was a time of economic hardship in Jerusalem, compounded by the fact that many retirees lost their social relief benefits when they became Christians. Therefore the Christians in Jerusalem had great economic needs that Christians in other parts of the world met through their missionary giving.
It is true that the Old Testament promises prosperity as one of the blessings of faithfulness to God (e.g. Deut. 28:11). But we must remember that these promises were made to a righteous nation under the Old Covenant. The Old Testament often describes the pain of righteous individuals in that nation who struggled with the fact that the wicked were prospering while they were not. Many of the laments in the Psalms mention this struggle. Psalm 73 is a classic. Here Asaph’s struggle over his lack of prosperity compared to the prosperity of the wicked is solved only after he realizes that God will judge the wicked with righteousness. The books of Job and Habakkuk highlight the faith of genuinely godly people who honor God by refusing to give up trusting in him in the midst of terrible suffering. The Old Testament then does not assure the righteous of prosperity. In fact, like the New Testament, it also warns people often of the dangers of prosperity (e.g. Deut. 6:10-25; 8:11-20; 32:15-18).
Finally, history shows that some of the greatest growth of the church took place when the Christians were really poor and struggling. This was so recently in China, Nepal, and Korea (in the early years of church growth), and now in Iran where there is significant growth. Many qualities, such as child-like trust, are easier for the poor to grow in their lives. This is one reason why Christ said it was so hard for the rich to enter the kingdom of God.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,-The first epistle general of Peter 1:3-4
Wealthy Christians can honor Christ especially by being humble, generous, and godly while being wealthy. Poor Christians can honor him especially by being contented, full of faith, generous, and godly while being poor. It is clear that in the Bible wealth is far less important than contentment, joy, peace, holiness, love, and generosity. People with these characteristics are, according to the Bible, truly prosperous whether they are economically rich or poor.[2]
"What should we learn from the story of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16?"
Answer: Luke 16:19-31 contains the account of a very rich man who lived a life of extreme luxury. Laid outside the gate of this rich man’s house, however, was an extremely poor man named Lazarus who simply hoped “to eat what fell from the rich man’s table” (v. 21). The rich man was completely indifferent to the plight of Lazarus, showing him no love, sympathy, or compassion whatsoever. Eventually, they both died. Lazarus went to heaven, and the rich man went to hell. Appealing to “Father Abraham” in heaven, the rich man requested that Lazarus be sent to cool his tongue with a drop of water to lessen his “agony in this fire.” The rich man also asked Abraham to send Lazarus back to earth to warn his brothers to repent so that they would never join him in hell. Both requests were denied. Abraham told the rich man that if his brothers did not believe in Scripture, neither would they believe a messenger, even if he came straight from heaven.
Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness. -The book of Psalms 107:8-9
There is some question as to whether this story is a true, real-life account or a parable, since two of its characters are named (making it unique among parables). Parable or not, however, there is a much we can learn from this passage:
First of all, Jesus teaches here that heaven and hell are both real, literal places. Sadly, many preachers shy away from uncomfortable topics such as hell. Some even teach “universalism” – the belief that everyone goes to heaven. Yet Christ spoke about hell a great deal, as did Paul, Peter, John, Jude, and the writer of Hebrews. The Bible is clear that every person who has ever lived will spend eternity in either heaven or hell. Like the rich man in the story, multitudes today are complacent in their conviction that all is well with their soul, and many will hear our Savior tell them otherwise when they die (Matthew 7:23).
This story also illustrates that once we cross the eternal horizon, that’s it. There are no more chances. The transition to our eternal state takes place the moment we die (2 Corinthians 5:8; Luke 23:43; Philippians 1:23). When believers die, they are immediately in the conscious fellowship and joys of heaven. When unbelievers die, they are just as immediately in the conscious pain, suffering, and torment of hell. Notice the rich man didn’t ask for his brothers to pray for his release from some purgatorial middle ground, thereby expediting his journey to heaven. He knew he was in hell, and he knew why. That’s why his requests were merely to be comforted and to have a warning sent to his brothers. He knew there was no escape. He was eternally separated from God, and Abraham made it clear to him that there was no hope of ever mitigating his pain, suffering, or sorrow. Those in hell will perfectly recollect missed opportunities and their rejection of the gospel.
But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me. Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog. Save me from the lion's mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns. I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee. Ye that fear the LORD, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel. -The book of Psalms 22:19 -23
Like many these days who buy into the “prosperity gospel,” the rich man wrongly saw his material riches as evidence of God’s love and blessing. Likewise, he believed the poor and destitute, like Lazarus, were cursed by God. Yet, as the apostle James exhorted, “You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter” (James 5:5). Not only do riches not get one into heaven, but they have the power to separate a person from God in a way that few other things can. Riches are deceitful (Mark 4:19). It is certainly not impossible for the very rich to enter heaven (many heroes of the Bible were wealthy), but Scripture is clear that it is very hard (Matthew 19:23-24; Mark 10:23-25; Luke 18:24-25).
True followers of Christ will not be indifferent to the plight of the poor like the rich man in this story was. God loves the poor and is offended when His children neglect them (Proverbs 17:5; 22:9, 22-23; 29:7; 31:8-9). In fact, those who show mercy to the poor are in effect ministering to Christ personally (Matthew 25:35-40). Christians are known by the fruit they bear. The Holy Spirit’s residence in our hearts will most certainly impact how we live and what we do.
Abraham’s words in verses 29 and 31 referring to “Moses and the Prophets” (Scripture) confirms that understanding the revealed Word of God has the power to turn unbelief into faith (Hebrew 4:12; James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:23). Furthermore, knowing Scripture helps us to understand that God’s children, like Lazarus, can suffer while on this earth—suffering is one of the many tragic consequences of living in a sinful and fallen world.
The Bible says our earthly lives are a “mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes” (James 4:14). Our earthly sojourn is exceedingly brief. Perhaps the greatest lesson to learn from this story, then, is that when death comes knocking on our door there is only one thing that matters: our relationship with Jesus Christ. “What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?” (Matthew 16:26; Mark 8:36). Eternal life is only found in Christ. “God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life” (1 John 5:11-12). The truth is, if we wish to live apart from God during our time on earth, He will grant us our wish for eternity as well. As one pastor aptly said, “If you board the train of unbelief, you will have to take it all the way to its destination.”
But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. - The first epistle general of Peter 1:15-23
Prosperity in the life of a Christian comes in three forms.
1. Material prosperity. Wealth can be little or much and must be recognised as coming from the hand of God. If we have little we are to be content with what we have. If we have much we are to use it honestly and wisely in the service of God; being ready to give to the necessities of others. We are to avoid relying upon riches or coveting them. Riches are not a measure of our standing in the sight of God. Riches can be an impediment to entering the kingdom of God.
Proverbs 23:4 Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom. 5 Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.
Psalms 37:16 A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.
Proverbs 15:16 Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith.
Matthew 6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
Matthew 6:22 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.
Mark 10:25 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.
Luke 12:15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
Luke 16:11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?
1 Timothy 6:7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
Hebrews 13:5 Let your conversation (way of life) be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
1 Corinthians 16:2� Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.
2. Physical prosperity. Good health is not guaranteed for those in Christ. Illness and disease are part of the world of sin and death in which we live. Illness or disability should not be viewed as punishment from God for individual sin. This lesson is clearly taught in the book of Job and the erroneous views of Job’s three friends are repudiated by God. Like material prosperity, good or ill health should be viewed as coming from the hand of God as a test of our faith.
Job 2:10 But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.
John 9:2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? 3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.
3 John 1:2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
3. Spiritual prosperity. By reading and meditating on scripture we can come to know God. God offers us eternal life through understanding the Gospel, repenting of our old way of life, being baptised by immersion in water for the remission of our sins and living the rest of our lives by the commandments of Christ. We should recognise that each has differing talents from the hand of God to be used in his service. Spiritual prosperity is manifested in the living of a Christ-like life and showing the love of God to our fellowman.
Proverbs 16:16 How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!
Ecclesiastes 7:12 For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it.
Matthew 6:20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Matthew 13:23� But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
2 Corinthians 8:9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.
Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
1 Timothy 4:8... godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.
1 Timothy 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.
1 Timothy 6:11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. 12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
James 2:5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?
2 Peter 1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 5 And beside this, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. 10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: 11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
John 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
Matthew 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
I hope you have found this helpful.
I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.-The book of the prophet Isaiah 44:22
God bless!
If we really believe that the ground is level at the foot of the cross and that any and all must be saved by God’s grace, we will be forced to relate to all people in Christian brotherhood and not on the basis of social status. Are you impressed by status, wealth or fame? Are you partial to the haves while ignoring the have nots? This attitude is sinful.
Let us heed the Bible’s condemnation of favoritism. Though we would rather identify with successful people than with apparent failures, let us learn to treat the poor as we would the impressive. As James has reminded us, the impressive may have gained their way and their significance at the expense of others.
Identify more with Jesus who came as a humble servant without even a place to lay His Head. God views all people as equal, and if He favored any group of people it is the poor and the powerless. We should follow His example. Let us share the gospel with them and make sure they are welcome and accepted in our church.
James 2:5 – RICH HEIRS OF THE KINGDOM
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.-Romans 5:1-2
Imagine that you were giving a
presentation to a group of one hundred people. In your message, you tell
them that if they will follow the simple, free guidelines which you
will share with them, then each one of them can become the wealthy heirs
of a king. You assure them that you are not joking, that it really can
happen and it will happen, guaranteed, if they carry out the
instructions that you will give to them. Do you think there would be at
least a couple of people in that gathering who would be interested in
what you have to offer them? No doubt. I think there would be a whole
lot more than a couple of folks interested in being a king’s heir, don’t
you?
Well, the God of heaven has not made a
promise about inheriting earthly wealth from an earthly king, but He has
given us a great promise about being rich heirs of a kingdom. Here are
the words of James 2:5: “Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?”
What is the context of this wonderful
promise from God? In the first nine verses of this chapter, James is
instructing the brethren about the need for God’s people to treat others without partiality.
If anyone among them was tempted to treat any wealthy people with great
respect and kindness, but at the same time show contempt and disrespect
for any poorer people who came into their assembly, then they needed to
be reminded of this truth: God has chosen the poor of this world to be
heirs of His kingdom (2:5). That does not mean, of course, that the Lord
forbids the prosperous people of the world to obey the gospel. Yet, the
reality that has been seen throughout history is this: among the
“wealthy and privileged” folks of the world, not many render obedience
to the Lord and stay faithful to Him.
Now let us go back to the promise of
James 2:5 and look at four aspects of it. These are exciting matters!
What does James say about those who will receive what God has promised?
- “Chosen” – Those who will receive the fulfillment of God’s promise are those whom He has chosen. For what has He chosen them? Salvation (2 Thessalonians 2:13). Where Has He chosen them? In the Christ (Ephesians 1:4). How does He choose them? He calls all people through the gospel (2 Thessalonians 2:14), and those who respond by believing and obeying it are added to the Lord, that is, are made a part of God’s chosen people (Acts 5:14; 2:47). Again, the door to God’s family is open to all, rich and poor, but only those who choose to submit to Jesus can have their sins forgiven and become part of God’s elect. It is much more common to see the poorer ones of this world make such a soul-rescuing decision.
- “Rich in faith” – While the world goesclamoring after material, “uncertain riches” (1 Timothy 6:17), those who are God-fearing pursue the wise goal of being rich in faith. A person who is rich in faith is one who puts his/her trust in God, lives by faith, and is blessed in return with a wealth of spiritual blessings in Jesus (Ephesians 1:3). Our Lord said that the saints in Smyrna were in poverty, but were rich at the same time (Revelation 2:8,9). Materially speaking, they were at poverty level; spiritual speaking, though, they were blessed in great abundance. Regardless of our financial status, each one of us can be rich in faith.
- “Heirs of the kingdom” – As God’s children, we are “heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ” (Romans 8:17). By His grace, God allows you and me to be joint heirs with Jesus. Is that not encouraging?! As Jesus said, we will “inherit the kingdom prepared” for us from the foundation of the world (Matthew 25:34). Of which kingdom will we be the heirs? Since Christians already are in God’s church in this life, then the promised kingdom must be “His heavenly kingdom” (2 Timothy 4:18), that is, heaven itself, where our inheritance is reserved for us – an inheritance that is incorruptible,undefiled, and does not fade away (1 Peter 1:4).
- “Those who love Him” – To whom is entrance into the kingdom promised? The James 2:5 answer is that the kingdom is for those who are its heirs: the heirs are those people who are (1) God’s chosen, (2) rich in faith, and (3) love God.
- The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD. It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth.-Lamentations 3:25-27
This is not the first time in the book
of James that we read about a wonderful blessing being promised to those
who love the Lord. Here in James 2:5, the kingdom is promised to those
who love Him. Back in James 1:12, we learn that to “those who love Him,” God promises the crown of life.
What moves us to love the God of heaven? We readily admit, “We love Him because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19). As Paul wrote, “. . . the love of Christ compels us”
(2 Corinthians 5:14). Because of our gratitude for what Jesus has done
for us, we ought to love Him more than anything or anyone (Matthew
10:37). Our love for the Lord causes us to submit to His desires, like
Jesus said, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word . . .” (John 14:23).
It’s Better To Be Rich in Faith Instead of Wealth
Salvation is not offered to anyone on the basis of anything that God sees or foresees in that person, because that would make salvation depend on something that originates in fallen man. God’s choice is completely based on His grace and purpose. “For he says to Moses, ‘I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.’ It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.” (Romans 9:15-16)
James is not teaching that God chooses all poor men for salvation and passes over all rich men. Rather, it was obvious in the early church, that many more poor people had trusted in Christ for salvation, as compared to the rich. That’s why Paul wrote to the Corinthians: “For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:26-29) Although there is no merit inherent in poverty, poor people often realize how short life is and thus see their need for eternal life more readily than the rich do. As Jesus explained after the encounter with the rich young ruler, it is hard for the wealthy to get into God’s kingdom, because their riches usurp the place that belongs to God alone (Mark 10:17-27). It is those who are poor materially who are also often poor in spirit, recognizing their need for God’s grace (Matt. 5:3).
By choosing those whom the world rejects and despises, God magnifies the riches of His grace. When James says that God chooses the poor “to be rich in faith,” he means, rich in the sphere of faith. They have spiritual riches in Christ through God’s sovereign, gracious choice, which brought them to faith in Him (as Paul argues in Eph. 1:3-14). God’s choice makes them “heirs of the kingdom” (James 1:5). At the moment of salvation, they come under the reign of Christ in their hearts (Col. 1:13-14), but there remains in the future the fullness of that kingdom and its blessings, when Jesus returns in power and glory (Matt. 25:31-34).
James states that by making distinctions based on outward factors, the church has dishonored the poor man. Then he asks two rhetorical questions, based on their current circumstances, to show that by aligning themselves with the rich against the poor, they are siding with God’s enemies, who are also their own enemies. James is not teaching that the church should ignore or despise the rich because of their riches. That would be reverse discrimination! The church should show God’s love and grace to all, whether rich or poor. Rather, he is saying that the rich should not be given preferential treatment, to the detriment of the poor, in an attempt to court their money or influence. James makes two points:
- God’s enemies use their strength to oppress the poor, whereas God is concerned for justice for the poor (2:6). Because of greed and selfishness, in every culture and age, the wealthy tend to take advantage of those who are helplessly poor. “If a creditor met a debtor on the street, he could seize him by the neck of his robe, nearly throttling him, and literally drag him to the law-courts.” (William Barclay explains in Daily Study Bible: the Letters of James & Peter [Westminster Press], p. 67) That’s what James is describing here. It is not wealth that James is condemning, but a lack of compassion and understanding on the part of the wealthy towards the poor. So James’ point is that if you give preferential treatment to the rich man who oppresses the poor, you’re aligning yourself with God’s enemies. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.-2 Corinthians 5:17-20
- God’s enemies blaspheme the name of Christ by which Christians have been called (2:7). William Barclay (ibid., pp. 67-68) suggests that the wealthy slave owners may have insulted their Christian slaves or the slaves’ new Lord and Master because of several reasons. The believing slave would have a new sense of independence, and thus no longer cringe at his master’s power or he would have a new sense of priorities, and thus insist on leaving work aside so that he could worship with his fellow believers. These and other reasons would cause these rich unbelievers to blaspheme the name of Christ and those who followed Him. So, again, James’ point is that showing partiality to the rich is wrong, because you align yourself with those who despise God. Why court the favor of those who oppose God? Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:-Hebrews 3:7-8
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 7:7-12)
Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,-1 Thessalonians 5:6-9
God wants you to be rich: 5 faith-based rules
Warning: Wall Street, Washington & Corporate America have own gods
ARROYO GRANDE, Calif. (MarketWatch) -- What's faith got to do with getting rich? "I am plagued with doubts," says Woody Allen: "What if everything is an illusion and nothing exists? I definitely overpaid for my carpet. If only God would give me a clear sign! Like making a large deposit in my name in a Swiss bank."Yes Woody, God really does want us to be rich. But sitting around waiting for a "deposit" isn't the way. Besides, the only guys making deposits for us aren't gods. They're con men who insult us by sending token rebate checks, while they're making huge deposits of your money in Swiss banks. Woody's great at making us smile. But he's not really waiting, he's taking action, making films.
Faith plus action really works. So today, let's develop our own "Five Faith-Based Rules of Getting Rich." I've got some ideas. I'll lay 'em out, you refine 'em.
Nothing's wrong with getting really rich on a little faith, especially when our leaders have screwed things up so badly. Faith's a great way to start! I'm sparked because lately I've been seeing a lot of "How to Get Rich" books, magazine stories and newspaper articles. U.S. News even put out a special: "Secrets of the Super-Rich." No surprise, publishers know we want escapism. A headline selling promises of a better future sell lots of copies during bear/recessions.
My files are loaded with them: But the one in Portfolio about Joel Osteen, "God Wants Me to Be Rich," was especially inspiring. Not because he's the author of 7-million-copy bestsellers such as "Your Best Life Now" and "Become a Better You." Not because he's the supersuccessful pastor of America's biggest megachurch, grossing $75 million a year. And not because he encourages us to "focus on the positive and banish negative thoughts." Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;-Ephesians 5:16-20
What really touches me about Osteen is that he wasn't prepared and didn't really want the job. Then his father, who started the church in an abandoned feed store over four decades ago, died suddenly.
Fate, I identify with that. A twist of fate, and suddenly faith, destiny and talent hit you. We all have Osteen's kind of faith deep inside us, waiting for that moment. So let's try to put our finger on it today, in the broad sense, with our "Five Faith-Based Rules for Getting Rich."
Years ago I quoted the same message in economist Paul Zane Pilzer's bestseller, "God Wants You to Be Rich: The Theology of Economics:" "God does want each of us to be rich," says Pilzer, "in every possible way, health, love, and peace of mind, as well as material possessions. God wants this, however, not just for our own sake, but for the sake of all humankind ... An increase in the wealth for an individual almost always represents an even larger increase in wealth for society at large."
Of course the message can get distorted, one-sided, superselfish. And yes, that culture now runs Wall Street, Washington and Corporate America. But the principle is valid, a balanced pursuit, selfish and selfless, material and moral. This is one of those moments in history, a chance to shift our values back, get rich for ourselves and for a higher purpose.
For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.-Hebrews 10:36-38
First rule: Trust God ... but not his 'enemies'
Seriously, you know the old saying, "From your lips to God's ears?" What if you call first? "If God phones, take the call!" says Brother Ty in "God is My Broker." But what if it's not him? "How do I screen out Satan's calls? Will Caller ID work? Is a telephone the only way God has of calling me? What if God calls collect?"Warning: Like Woody and Pilzer, Brother Ty knows God wants you to be rich. But he also knows God's got some big-time "enemies" out to sabotage you. And like in "The Omen" and "The Exorcist," they come in disguise, for example, politicians, bankers, brokers and CEOs. But you already know there are so many of these little "devils" in the "unholy trinity" that can't be trusted: Wall Street, Washington and Corporate America.
Second rule: Wall Street won't make you rich, it's stealing from you
Why am I so darn blunt? Because this brutal truth obviously hasn't sunk into Main Street. Remember, today's Dow is below its March 2000 peak of 11,722. Wall Street's a superloser. If you put $10,000 in the market at the peak, you'd have less today than eight years ago. Yikes! Worse yet, inflation cuts your account in half, to about $5,000. Get it? Wall Street's con game lost a helluva lot of your money the past eight years.One reader asked if this was a time to shift out of a Lazy Portfolio and into the "Nuclear Bond Portfolio" I wrote about in May 2005. That "Nuke" had 25% each in four fixed-income funds. Their three-year average is about 4%. The S&P 500 is about half that. And on a one-year basis, the "Nuke" portfolio blows the S&P away, about 7% to a minus 12%, a difference of 19 percentage points. But that assumes you made the move three years ago.
Stick to a Lazy Portfolio. They're all based on the Nobel prize-winning strategy of well-diversified no-load index funds. In the recent midyear updates, they consistently beat the S&P by as much as four percentage points, with no timing, no active trading.
I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me. He shall send from heaven, and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up. Selah. God shall send forth his mercy and his truth.-Psalms 57:2-3
Third rule: Stop working for Corporate America if you want to get rich
British publisher Felix Dennis has an amusing new bestseller: "How to Get Rich: One of the World's Greatest Entrepreneurs Shares His Secrets." Next time you're in a bookstore scan it over coffee and a muffin. His bottom line: "You'll never get rich working for your boss!" Familiar? Yep. Same message as in Thomas Stanley's "The Millionaire's Mind" and Robert Kiyosaki's "Rich Dad, Poor Dad." Kiyosaki adds: "The problem with having a job is that it gets in the way of getting rich."If the joy of working for yourself isn't inspiring enough, Stanley tells us: Millionaires build wealth by living below their means and paying less taxes than the average taxpayer, 2% versus 12%: "I don't think the government loves these people. The secret is to put money somewhere that it will grow without your having to pay taxes on it immediately."
Fourth rule: You can't trust Washington to help you get rich
That is, unless you're a lobbyist of politician. No matter which party's in power, Washington no longer represents the American people. As a governing body, our 537 elected officials have lost their moral compass and answer only to the insatiable greed of 42,000 lobbyists with huge campaign donations.In a speech back in Chicago a year ago David Walker, former U.S. comptroller general, compared America with the Roman Empire: It "fell for many reasons, but three reasons are worth remembering -- declining moral values and political civility at home, an overconfident and overextended military in foreign lands, and fiscal irresponsibility by the central government."
Sound familiar?" Walker was a voice crying in the wilderness as Washington sank ever deeper into a moral swamp the past decade.
Fifth rule: 'Faith-based getting rich' means trusting in 'You Inc.'
As much as I'm inspired by folks like Osteen, Stanley, Pilzer, Kiyosaki and Dennis, in the final analysis, I know that "faith-based getting rich" and "prosperity consciousness" are about neither money nor religion. "Faith-based getting rich" goes deeper, you're in a very personal "deal" between you and your Higher Power, God, Tao, Yahweh, Allah, Gaia, Great Spirit, Universal Soul, Hero of a Thousand Faces, or whatever you call It.That "deal" was expressed in physicist's Gary Zukav's searching "Seat of the Soul:" "Each soul comes to the Earth with gifts ... to contribute its specialness in specific ways ... each soul agrees to perform certain tasks upon Earth. It enters into a sacred agreement with the Universe ... all of the experiences of your life serve to awaken within you the memory of that contract, and to prepare you to fulfill it."
In the final analysis, "faith-based getting rich" is double-barreled: God plus "You Inc." But you can't wait for God to call first. As 12-Step folks tell us: "I never just sit and do nothing. Rather I do whatever is in front of me, and leave the results up to Him; however it turns out, that's God's will for me."
That's "faith-based getting rich" at its best, trust starts with action, your action: "Leap and the net will appear!" As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me. Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice. He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me: for there were many with me. God shall hear, and afflict them, even he that abideth of old. Selah. Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God.-Psalms 55:16-19
Is It God’s Will for All Christians to Be Wealthy?
More and more Christians, all over the world, believe that material prosperity is the right of all Christians. They believe that God expects them to ask for it and to anticipate it as a sure fulfilment of his promise. There is no doubt that both the Old and New Testaments teach that the faithful will be blessed by God.But does that blessing necessarily always include material prosperity? Can all Christians expect to become wealthy? Turning to the Bible dispels such an expectation.
First, Paul often showed that his sufferings did not take away from his fullness of life. In his epistles he presents his suffering as part of the evidence that he was blessed and called by God (e.g. 2 Cor. 4:8-18; 6:3-10; 11:13-33; 12:1-10; Gal. 6:17). He once described himself “as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything” (2 Cor. 6:10). In Ephesians, writing from prison, five times Paul mentions wealth—referring to the gospel and all its treasures. He himself was a poor prisoner deprived of many basic human necessities, but he viewed himself as being wealthy.
Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. (Phil. 4:11-12)He implies that wealth is not necessarily a sign of God’s blessing, but contentment is. In fact in this epistle the words joy, rejoice, rejoiced, and glad appear 16 times. He says that we must “rejoice in the Lord always” (Phil 4:4). This is also the epistle that talks about the peace of God that passes all understanding (4:7). So contentment, peace, and joy characterize a truly wealthy Christian.
Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God. For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake; Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.-Philippians 1:27-30
Some years ago I did a study of all the places in the New Testament where Jesus is presented as a model for us to follow. Of the 29 texts I looked more closely at four were general statements asking the readers to follow Christ; two were about forgiving as Jesus forgave (Eph. 4:32; Col. 3:13), and two were about meekness and gentleness (2 Cor. 10:1; 11:17). The other 21 were about the example of Christ’s servanthood and his sufferings.[1] So when encouraging generosity, Paul gives the example of Jesus and says, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich” (2 Cor. 8:9). Jesus himself said, “One’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions” (Luke 12:15). In the parable of the rich man and the poor beggar Lazarus covered with sores, it is the beggar who goes to heaven while the rich man suffers in hell (Luke 16:19-31). We can safely conclude that the New Testament does not include material success in its basic description what it means to be a follower of Christ.
More Danger than Blessing
Third, the New Testament seems to show wealth more as a danger than as a blessing. It emphasises the dangers more than the desirability of wealth. Jesus set the tone for this emphasis with his statement, “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God” (Luke 18:24-25). This statement is cited in all three synoptic Gospels. But how often do we hear preachers repeat it today? Jesus underscores his teaching about the dangers of wealth in his parable about the rich farmer who acquired sufficient wealth to secure a comfortable retirement. He is called a “fool” at his death. Jesus explains by saying, “So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God” (Luke 12:16-21). In his evangelistic call to would-be disciples to deny themselves, take up the cross, and follow him, Jesus warns, “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?” (Mark 8:36). If we neglect this aspect of the call of Christ in our preaching of the gospel, we will be guilty of distorting the gospel just like the liberals of an earlier generation. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.-Romans 8:37-39When we turn to 1 Timothy 6 we find more warnings about the dangers of wealth. Paul says that it is right to want basic necessities like food and clothing: “But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content” (1 Tim. 6:8). Beyond that necessity, wealth is not a big deal. Paul says, “But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world” (6:6-7). It is not essential that we are rich, but it is essential that we are godly and contented. Elsewhere Paul says that he is content even while suffering: “For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Cor. 12:10). The idea of strength in weakness is another neglected biblical doctrine today.
Let’s get back to the warnings. In 1 Timothy 6:9-10 Paul says:
But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.Another strong warning comes in the parable of the sower, where Jesus says about the seed sown among thorns, “The cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful” (Mark 4:19). These two strong warnings tell us how the desire for wealth can cause huge harm by deceiving us into giving up God’s way for the way of supposed prosperity. Sadly, today we find so many people who have fallen into these very traps. They have ruined their spiritual lives and condemned themselves to an unhappy life. In light of such strong warnings about the dangers of desiring to be rich, backed by so many whose lives have been ruined in this way, preachers should be careful not to inflame that desire by promising wealth to their hearers.
But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.-The first epistle of Paul the apostle to the Corinthians 1:23-31
Treasures in Heaven
At the same time, the Bible does not give an entirely negative approach to the issue of wealth. Jesus said, “Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal” (Matt. 6:20). This statement is made in the context of what to do with wealth. Using language familiar to people in the business world, Jesus advises that we make the smartest investment in the most secure place: heaven. Preachers should encourage Christians to pursue eternal prosperity.In 1 Timothy 6 Paul also asks the wealthy to be rich in generosity: “They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life” (6:18-19). We invest in the Bank of Heaven by giving to the needy. Earlier we observed that Paul said in 1 Timothy 6 that wealth is less important than godliness and contentment. Now he is saying that lavish generosity is also important. The many teachings in the Bible about giving show that, for a biblical Christian, this is one of the great ambitions in life. Paul says the Macedonian Christians were “begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints” (2 Cor. 8:4).
When urging the Corinthian Christians to contribute to the needs of the church in Jerusalem, Paul says, “Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality” (2 Cor. 8:13, NIV). In a world of glaring inequality, we give generously so as to bring some measure of fairness and equality. This urgent need for fairness in the world has led many Christians to make a decision to adopt a simple lifestyle—avoiding extravagance and giving as much as possible for the work of God and to the needy. As someone has said, “We live simply so that others may simply live.” In support of this idea of a simple lifestyle we refer to Jesus’ statement, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth” (Matt. 6:19).
Example and Hero
Sixth, many of the heroes and devoted people of the New Testament were poor. Jesus is our prime example and hero. He became poor so that we might become rich (2 Cor. 8:9). He “emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant” (Phil. 2:7). Some say that Jesus took on the curse so that we may not have to live under it, and therefore we will not suffer as he did. But in both these passages Jesus is presented to us as an example to follow. Paul even says that he desires to “share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death” (Phil. 3:10). There is a depth of oneness with Christ that we will experience only when we suffer as he did. And to us union with Christ is the greatest wealth.Many of the commended followers of Jesus in the New Testament were poor. The Macedonians were heroes because they gave despite their poverty: “We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part” (2 Cor. 8:1-3). The giving of these poor Christians is described using the word wealth. In a passage rebuking the church for considering the rich as superior to the poor, James says, “Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?” (Jas. 2:5). The poor believers were actually rich!
In the letters to the seven churches in Revelation, only two churches do not receive a rebuke. And both of them are described as not having what the world thinks of as material success. The first is the church in Smyrna. The angel talks of their “poverty” then immediately says, “But you are rich” (Rev. 2:9). The second is the church in Philadelphia, which is described as having “but little power” (Rev. 3:8). They were two rare exceptions of churches having God-approved lifestyles at a time of great compromise. And they were poor and powerless! Isn’t it interesting how the poor Christians in these passages are described in terms suggesting that they were wealthy? That sense of being wealthy constitutes an important aspect of the identity of a Christian. If we are happy about our identity, then we will surely be happy people.
The mother church in Jerusalem consisted mainly of poor people. So other churches had to help them. There is nothing to say that they were poor because of something wrong in their beliefs or actions. It was a time of economic hardship in Jerusalem, compounded by the fact that many retirees lost their social relief benefits when they became Christians. Therefore the Christians in Jerusalem had great economic needs that Christians in other parts of the world met through their missionary giving.
It is true that the Old Testament promises prosperity as one of the blessings of faithfulness to God (e.g. Deut. 28:11). But we must remember that these promises were made to a righteous nation under the Old Covenant. The Old Testament often describes the pain of righteous individuals in that nation who struggled with the fact that the wicked were prospering while they were not. Many of the laments in the Psalms mention this struggle. Psalm 73 is a classic. Here Asaph’s struggle over his lack of prosperity compared to the prosperity of the wicked is solved only after he realizes that God will judge the wicked with righteousness. The books of Job and Habakkuk highlight the faith of genuinely godly people who honor God by refusing to give up trusting in him in the midst of terrible suffering. The Old Testament then does not assure the righteous of prosperity. In fact, like the New Testament, it also warns people often of the dangers of prosperity (e.g. Deut. 6:10-25; 8:11-20; 32:15-18).
Finally, history shows that some of the greatest growth of the church took place when the Christians were really poor and struggling. This was so recently in China, Nepal, and Korea (in the early years of church growth), and now in Iran where there is significant growth. Many qualities, such as child-like trust, are easier for the poor to grow in their lives. This is one reason why Christ said it was so hard for the rich to enter the kingdom of God.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,-The first epistle general of Peter 1:3-4
God's Plan
There is no doubt that the Bible teaches that faithful people who are wealthy have an important role in God’s plan. Some exemplary people in the Bible, like Abraham (Gen 13:2), Barzillai (2 Sam. 19:32), the Shunemite woman who helped Elisha (2 Kings 4:8), and Joseph of Arimathea (Matt. 27:57), were specifically described as being wealthy. After saying that the rich must not be haughty, Paul says that “God . . . richly provides us with everything to enjoy” (1 Tim. 6:17). Enjoying the things that money can buy is not necessarily wrong. At the same time it is significant that each of these four godly wealthy people mentioned were commended for their generosity.Wealthy Christians can honor Christ especially by being humble, generous, and godly while being wealthy. Poor Christians can honor him especially by being contented, full of faith, generous, and godly while being poor. It is clear that in the Bible wealth is far less important than contentment, joy, peace, holiness, love, and generosity. People with these characteristics are, according to the Bible, truly prosperous whether they are economically rich or poor.[2]
"What should we learn from the story of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16?"
Answer: Luke 16:19-31 contains the account of a very rich man who lived a life of extreme luxury. Laid outside the gate of this rich man’s house, however, was an extremely poor man named Lazarus who simply hoped “to eat what fell from the rich man’s table” (v. 21). The rich man was completely indifferent to the plight of Lazarus, showing him no love, sympathy, or compassion whatsoever. Eventually, they both died. Lazarus went to heaven, and the rich man went to hell. Appealing to “Father Abraham” in heaven, the rich man requested that Lazarus be sent to cool his tongue with a drop of water to lessen his “agony in this fire.” The rich man also asked Abraham to send Lazarus back to earth to warn his brothers to repent so that they would never join him in hell. Both requests were denied. Abraham told the rich man that if his brothers did not believe in Scripture, neither would they believe a messenger, even if he came straight from heaven.
Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness. -The book of Psalms 107:8-9
There is some question as to whether this story is a true, real-life account or a parable, since two of its characters are named (making it unique among parables). Parable or not, however, there is a much we can learn from this passage:
First of all, Jesus teaches here that heaven and hell are both real, literal places. Sadly, many preachers shy away from uncomfortable topics such as hell. Some even teach “universalism” – the belief that everyone goes to heaven. Yet Christ spoke about hell a great deal, as did Paul, Peter, John, Jude, and the writer of Hebrews. The Bible is clear that every person who has ever lived will spend eternity in either heaven or hell. Like the rich man in the story, multitudes today are complacent in their conviction that all is well with their soul, and many will hear our Savior tell them otherwise when they die (Matthew 7:23).
This story also illustrates that once we cross the eternal horizon, that’s it. There are no more chances. The transition to our eternal state takes place the moment we die (2 Corinthians 5:8; Luke 23:43; Philippians 1:23). When believers die, they are immediately in the conscious fellowship and joys of heaven. When unbelievers die, they are just as immediately in the conscious pain, suffering, and torment of hell. Notice the rich man didn’t ask for his brothers to pray for his release from some purgatorial middle ground, thereby expediting his journey to heaven. He knew he was in hell, and he knew why. That’s why his requests were merely to be comforted and to have a warning sent to his brothers. He knew there was no escape. He was eternally separated from God, and Abraham made it clear to him that there was no hope of ever mitigating his pain, suffering, or sorrow. Those in hell will perfectly recollect missed opportunities and their rejection of the gospel.
But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me. Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog. Save me from the lion's mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns. I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee. Ye that fear the LORD, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel. -The book of Psalms 22:19 -23
Like many these days who buy into the “prosperity gospel,” the rich man wrongly saw his material riches as evidence of God’s love and blessing. Likewise, he believed the poor and destitute, like Lazarus, were cursed by God. Yet, as the apostle James exhorted, “You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter” (James 5:5). Not only do riches not get one into heaven, but they have the power to separate a person from God in a way that few other things can. Riches are deceitful (Mark 4:19). It is certainly not impossible for the very rich to enter heaven (many heroes of the Bible were wealthy), but Scripture is clear that it is very hard (Matthew 19:23-24; Mark 10:23-25; Luke 18:24-25).
True followers of Christ will not be indifferent to the plight of the poor like the rich man in this story was. God loves the poor and is offended when His children neglect them (Proverbs 17:5; 22:9, 22-23; 29:7; 31:8-9). In fact, those who show mercy to the poor are in effect ministering to Christ personally (Matthew 25:35-40). Christians are known by the fruit they bear. The Holy Spirit’s residence in our hearts will most certainly impact how we live and what we do.
Abraham’s words in verses 29 and 31 referring to “Moses and the Prophets” (Scripture) confirms that understanding the revealed Word of God has the power to turn unbelief into faith (Hebrew 4:12; James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:23). Furthermore, knowing Scripture helps us to understand that God’s children, like Lazarus, can suffer while on this earth—suffering is one of the many tragic consequences of living in a sinful and fallen world.
The Bible says our earthly lives are a “mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes” (James 4:14). Our earthly sojourn is exceedingly brief. Perhaps the greatest lesson to learn from this story, then, is that when death comes knocking on our door there is only one thing that matters: our relationship with Jesus Christ. “What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?” (Matthew 16:26; Mark 8:36). Eternal life is only found in Christ. “God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life” (1 John 5:11-12). The truth is, if we wish to live apart from God during our time on earth, He will grant us our wish for eternity as well. As one pastor aptly said, “If you board the train of unbelief, you will have to take it all the way to its destination.”
But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. - The first epistle general of Peter 1:15-23
What is true prosperity in a Christian's life?
Does God really want you to be rich in this world's goods?
Prosperity in the life of a Christian comes in three forms.1. Material prosperity. Wealth can be little or much and must be recognised as coming from the hand of God. If we have little we are to be content with what we have. If we have much we are to use it honestly and wisely in the service of God; being ready to give to the necessities of others. We are to avoid relying upon riches or coveting them. Riches are not a measure of our standing in the sight of God. Riches can be an impediment to entering the kingdom of God.
Proverbs 23:4 Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom. 5 Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.
Psalms 37:16 A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.
Proverbs 15:16 Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith.
Matthew 6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
Matthew 6:22 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.
Mark 10:25 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.
Luke 12:15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
Luke 16:11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?
1 Timothy 6:7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
Hebrews 13:5 Let your conversation (way of life) be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
1 Corinthians 16:2� Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.
2. Physical prosperity. Good health is not guaranteed for those in Christ. Illness and disease are part of the world of sin and death in which we live. Illness or disability should not be viewed as punishment from God for individual sin. This lesson is clearly taught in the book of Job and the erroneous views of Job’s three friends are repudiated by God. Like material prosperity, good or ill health should be viewed as coming from the hand of God as a test of our faith.
Job 2:10 But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.
John 9:2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? 3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.
3 John 1:2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
3. Spiritual prosperity. By reading and meditating on scripture we can come to know God. God offers us eternal life through understanding the Gospel, repenting of our old way of life, being baptised by immersion in water for the remission of our sins and living the rest of our lives by the commandments of Christ. We should recognise that each has differing talents from the hand of God to be used in his service. Spiritual prosperity is manifested in the living of a Christ-like life and showing the love of God to our fellowman.
Proverbs 16:16 How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!
Ecclesiastes 7:12 For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it.
Matthew 6:20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Matthew 13:23� But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
2 Corinthians 8:9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.
Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
1 Timothy 4:8... godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.
1 Timothy 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.
1 Timothy 6:11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. 12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
James 2:5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?
2 Peter 1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 5 And beside this, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. 10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: 11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
John 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
Matthew 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
I hope you have found this helpful.
I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.-The book of the prophet Isaiah 44:22
God bless!
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