“Oh yes, brother, follow Jesus. He wants to prosper you. He’ll give you a bigger house, better car, more lucrative job. The blessings, you see.”

This puts smiles on faces, prompts many amens and swells the offering. It also puts bottoms on seats. It’s the preaching people love to hear.

The Bible says in 2 Timothy 4:3-4 “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers, and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.”

Prophetic words from the Apostle Paul. Fair comment to say he was describing the money-in-your-pocket preachers of today.
God may well materially bless some, but it is misleading to say the Christian life will expand everyone’s earthly bank balance.

Paul wasn’t motivated by money. He only knew suffering, hardship, and persecution. In fact the Lord told him on the road to Damascus it would be so (Acts 9:16). Surely if he heard one of today’s “prosperity sermons” he would smile.

Paul tells us: “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have.” (Hebrews 13:5). It is easy to sink in the quicksand of pursuing money and possessions. That is the world’s way. It should not be ours.

For non-believers without money, life has no appeal. During the stock market crash of 1929 those requesting rooms at fifteen-storey New York hotels were queried by the desk clerk: “Staying or jumping?”

Money is not the root of all evil, but the love of money (1 Timothy 6:10). Obsession with it hinders our Christian walk—and there are scriptures to back that, such as the story of the rich man and the beggar in Luke chapter 16.

Jesus said: “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” (Matthew 19:24)

Christians who hear only “the affluent life” preaching will fall like bowling alley skittles when hard times arrive. Most western countries suffer little persecution. Yet the day may come when western Governments order Bibles to be burned and Christians put on trial. Even jailed, as in some countries now.

The Bible says much about following Jesus being no picnic. Yet the following scriptures are unpopular and rarely preached— in this writer’s observation.

Could it be some pastors think that preaching on hardship, persecution and tribulation will mean the loss of half the flock?

 "You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ." 2 Timothy 2:3.

 "Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution." 2 Timothy 3:12.

 "We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God." Acts 14:22.

If we don’t experience that, maybe it’s time to re-examine our walk with God.

We should be striving to increase our eternal, spiritual bank account. Our motto must surely be: “I’ll follow you Lord, in good times or bad. In poverty or in wealth.”

• Topic: Miscellaneous

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