The pastor today preached about being rich or poor. According to her, that is a person’s choice. She spoke of three types of gospel being preached today: the poverty gospel, the moderate gospel, and the wealth-and-wellness gospel. As I reflect on these teachings, it becomes painfully clear that the message about money and fame has been tragically distorted within the church, leading many astray.
Let’s start with the “poverty gospel”—the outrageous notion that being poor somehow brings one closer to God. Those who preach this insidious message look down on wealth as if it’s a stain on one’s soul. They act as though material success means spiritual failure. What a cruel lie! The Bible doesn’t equate poverty with holiness. It condemns the love of money, not the possession of it (1 Timothy 6:10). Joseph, Abraham, Job, and Solomon were all blessed with wealth, yet their hearts were devoted to God. It wasn’t their riches that mattered; it was their faithfulness in using those riches for His glory.
Next, we have the “moderate gospel,” a pitiful compromise that lacks conviction. This gospel tries to walk a middle ground, where neither poverty nor wealth are openly condemned or embraced. It doesn’t challenge anyone to think beyond their comfort zones. These preachers peddle a message that says, “Just have enough to get by, and that’s fine.” But why should we aim for mediocrity when God’s Word overflows with promises of abundance for His people? The God who owns the cattle on a thousand hills (Psalm 50:10) doesn’t want His children to live in scarcity. How small and limiting this moderate gospel is when compared to the grandeur of God’s true plan!
Then, there’s the “wealth-and-wellness gospel.” This one gets a lot of criticism, and rightly so, for turning material prosperity into the sole focus of faith. Yet, even here, there’s a deeper truth that many overlook. Being wealthy is not a sin. Material riches are not evil. The real issue arises when wealth becomes an idol, when the pursuit of riches overshadows the pursuit of God. But if God blesses someone with wealth, why shouldn’t they embrace it? Proverbs 10:22 says, “The blessing of the Lord brings wealth, without painful toil for it.” How can anyone twist that into something shameful?
The truth is, wealth isn’t the problem. The problem is what we do with it, or worse, what it does to us. Jesus didn’t tell the rich to cast away their wealth simply because it was bad. He warned them about the dangerous attachment to riches. The rich young ruler in Matthew 19 walked away sorrowful, not because wealth is inherently wrong, but because his heart was trapped by it. Yet, we forget that Jesus Himself relied on the wealth of others to carry out His ministry (Luke 8:3). The apostle Paul, too, depended on financial support. How easily we forget that wealth, when handled wisely, serves God’s purposes.
The time has come to stop demonizing wealth and those whom God has chosen to bless. Wealth is a tool, a gift. It is not to be worshiped, but neither should it be condemned. When used with integrity, wealth builds up, it doesn’t destroy. If only we could see through the lies and distortions, perhaps we could start to understand God’s heart toward blessing His children.
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