More of God
I grew up in a small country town in the 1950’s and 1960’s without much opportunity. Like most of my friends, I was filled with the desire to get out of there and make something of myself. And from high school graduation into middle age, I did just that, beginning a journey of pursuing material and financial success.
As time went on pride began to set in as my achievements blinded me from seeing that I was violating God's First Commandment. My goals and ambitions had become an idol that took God out of His rightful place as the Lord of my life. I am so grateful that God's grace came to me through good brothers who loved me and showed me the truth. Yet as wrong as I was in my material pursuits, I want to suggest that my way is not the only way to commit idolatry with the things of this world. Consider this false teaching that has led many astray.
In the past three decades or so a popular preaching point in modern Christianity promotes that God is here to help us get ahead in the world. We know this as the prosperity gospel, a Christian belief held by some that God wants believers to be wealthy and healthy, and that faith and positive actions can lead to material success. It's also known as the "health and wealth gospel" or "Name It and Claim It" gospel. This teaching promotes our God as the God of the affluent, rather than the one who came to earth and humbled Himself, spending time with the poor, the outcast and the lowly.
Just like my wayward behavior, this approach is also in opposition to the first and greatest commandment in Scripture which is to “love God with all of our heart, mind and strength.” (Mark 12:30-31) This means love Him above all else with everything we are. This kind of love leaves no room for a second object of affection. A.W. Tozer said it well; “Whoever seeks God as a means to an end will not find God.” This is true because God will not take second place to anyone or anything. While it is also true that God wants the best for us, he has not promised to assist us in striving for personal gain nor promised us a life of ease.
According to Scripture, physical, material, and financial prosperity are no sure marks of God’s favor, and suffering is no sure mark of His displeasure. The Bible teaches that material prosperity is often a snare (Luke 12:15) and that suffering is often a mark of blessing (Matt. 5:10; 1 Peter 3:14). God’s Word teaches neither that the Christian life is all physical and material prosperity, nor that it is all suffering. Rather, it teaches that there may be times of prosperity and times of suffering in the believer’s life (Phil. 4:12). Scripture warns us not to set our hearts on riches (Ps. 62:10), and it teaches wealthy believers not to trust in their wealth (1 Tim. 6:17).
Our biggest problem in life is not whether we have everything we want. Prosperity is not always having good health or a life without struggle. If you are in Christ, our greatest joy is because He has taken care of the biggest problem you and I will ever face - our sin and separation from the Father. God is our creator and is holy, and we have sinned against Him. But out of His great love, He sent His Son to redeem His enemies. God the Father, in Christ, has taken those who were His enemies and made them dearly loved children. Jesus obeyed where we disobeyed, He died the death we deserved and was raised from the dead for our justification. (Romans 4:25)
If we love God first as we should, we can’t possibly conceive of loving something more beyond Him. Read Psalm 16 and see the perspective the psalmist lays out. I think you’ll see that the whole message of Psalm 16 is to remind us that He is our place of contentment – rather than any measure of success we achieve.
So, when our heart is asking God to give us more of the “good life”, rather than more of God Himself, there will be a discontentment that will never go away. No amount of the good things of this world will ever satisfy.
I pray You will fill me with your spirit, so I can love You as You have loved me. Lord, let me love You first, above all other things. In Jesus name
Creidt: Ron Kelley
As time went on pride began to set in as my achievements blinded me from seeing that I was violating God's First Commandment. My goals and ambitions had become an idol that took God out of His rightful place as the Lord of my life. I am so grateful that God's grace came to me through good brothers who loved me and showed me the truth. Yet as wrong as I was in my material pursuits, I want to suggest that my way is not the only way to commit idolatry with the things of this world. Consider this false teaching that has led many astray.
In the past three decades or so a popular preaching point in modern Christianity promotes that God is here to help us get ahead in the world. We know this as the prosperity gospel, a Christian belief held by some that God wants believers to be wealthy and healthy, and that faith and positive actions can lead to material success. It's also known as the "health and wealth gospel" or "Name It and Claim It" gospel. This teaching promotes our God as the God of the affluent, rather than the one who came to earth and humbled Himself, spending time with the poor, the outcast and the lowly.
Just like my wayward behavior, this approach is also in opposition to the first and greatest commandment in Scripture which is to “love God with all of our heart, mind and strength.” (Mark 12:30-31) This means love Him above all else with everything we are. This kind of love leaves no room for a second object of affection. A.W. Tozer said it well; “Whoever seeks God as a means to an end will not find God.” This is true because God will not take second place to anyone or anything. While it is also true that God wants the best for us, he has not promised to assist us in striving for personal gain nor promised us a life of ease.
According to Scripture, physical, material, and financial prosperity are no sure marks of God’s favor, and suffering is no sure mark of His displeasure. The Bible teaches that material prosperity is often a snare (Luke 12:15) and that suffering is often a mark of blessing (Matt. 5:10; 1 Peter 3:14). God’s Word teaches neither that the Christian life is all physical and material prosperity, nor that it is all suffering. Rather, it teaches that there may be times of prosperity and times of suffering in the believer’s life (Phil. 4:12). Scripture warns us not to set our hearts on riches (Ps. 62:10), and it teaches wealthy believers not to trust in their wealth (1 Tim. 6:17).
Our biggest problem in life is not whether we have everything we want. Prosperity is not always having good health or a life without struggle. If you are in Christ, our greatest joy is because He has taken care of the biggest problem you and I will ever face - our sin and separation from the Father. God is our creator and is holy, and we have sinned against Him. But out of His great love, He sent His Son to redeem His enemies. God the Father, in Christ, has taken those who were His enemies and made them dearly loved children. Jesus obeyed where we disobeyed, He died the death we deserved and was raised from the dead for our justification. (Romans 4:25)
If we love God first as we should, we can’t possibly conceive of loving something more beyond Him. Read Psalm 16 and see the perspective the psalmist lays out. I think you’ll see that the whole message of Psalm 16 is to remind us that He is our place of contentment – rather than any measure of success we achieve.
So, when our heart is asking God to give us more of the “good life”, rather than more of God Himself, there will be a discontentment that will never go away. No amount of the good things of this world will ever satisfy.
I pray You will fill me with your spirit, so I can love You as You have loved me. Lord, let me love You first, above all other things. In Jesus name
Creidt: Ron Kelley
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