Just getting started so to begin I will say hello to everyone and may God very richly, and exceedingly and abundantly bless everyone!
First I must say without apology that I believe God has no problem whatsoever with his children being abundantly prosperous in each area of our lives, but I feel that we too often lose sight of the true reason behind Gods prospering his children.
We seem to conveniently ignore the commandment of Jesus that we are to love one another even as he loved us in order to better achieve a personal level of satisfactory living.
I think sometimes we gauge the sincerity of our happiness with and thanksgiving toward God for his blessings in our own lives on how much we have gained and not on how we have been blessed with the ability and capacity to bless others.
It seems that the body of Christ in too many cases has become a gimme gimme gimme group and not what can I do to enrich the lives of others.
One scripture I have heard preachers use over and over again to 'Motivate' givers to give larger amounts of 'CASH' into their offerings is
Luke 6 verse 38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.The verse used by itself can be and often is easily used to influence othewrs to give more 'CASH' to get more 'CASH' BUT if these evangelists whose ONLY motive is self gain would use the verse completley in it's 'Intended' context they would see the true intent is to motivate the servants of Jesus to express a greater degree of love towards all people!:Luke 6:27-38But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also.Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.Jesus saidJohn 13:35By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.The greatest and most rewarding investment any person can ever make in life is the investment of compassion.
Proverbs 30:[7] Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die: [8] Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: [9] Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.
I have yet to see a prosperity teacher touch these, Im curious to see how they get around something as simple as this, let alone the "they who would be rich fall into temptation and a snare."
The doctrine of Contentedness is plainly seen in scripture, the prosperity types are absolutely without excuse. They are the wolves in sheeps clothing that the Lord and the Apostles said would come.
2Peter 2:[1] But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. [2] And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. [3] And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.
I dont think it could be said any better than that.
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2Ti 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth
Pro 19:17 He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.
This is my prosperity DOCTRINE, give to the poor, not some unknown ministry who gathers millions of dollors. I find it sad that i have never HEARD ANY OF THE PROSPERITY teaches QOUTE this verse, and I AM LIVID......ok be angry and sin not......... concentrate.
i think im just going to start paying my tithes to the church, giving a little offering, and focusing the bulk of my giving one helping someone in need.
