WHY?

[And Such Were Some Of You]

Can someone answer these questions for me please....

Why is it that everytime one talks about "the blessings of God", "abundant living" and "30-60-100 fold return" we relate that to material and financial things.

Why is it that when the "enemy is pressing against you" it is because you are on the "brink of a financial breakthrough".

Why is it that when we speak of "breakthrough" it is only for financial and material blessings?

Why is it taught that we "give to get"?


I am tired, saints.

I am not saying that the people of God should not have these things but why is EVERYTHING about that?

[giantsdodie]

andsuchweresomeofu said:

Can someone answer these questions for me please....

Why is it that everytime one talks about "the blessings of God", "abundant living" and "30-60-100 fold return" we relate that to material and financial things.

Why is it that when the "enemy is pressing against you" it is because you are on the "brink of a financial breakthrough".

Why is it that when we speak of "breakthrough" it is only for financial and material blessings?

Why is it taught that we "give to get"?


I am tired, saints.

I am not saying that the people of God should not have these things but why is EVERYTHING about that?

Well in all honesty I would say this probably depends on who you are watching and when. However giving to get is actually a biblical principle. Many people have distorted it and misrepresented it however the principle itself if biblical. Now the principle extends far beyond money but thats another story.

[And Such Were Some Of You]

Actually, bro., it is not another story and that is part of my point. We (general) have distorted it, manipulated it etc.

And of course, it depends on who you are listening to, I cannot make a blanket statement for all people. This morning, I was watching "apostle somebody or other" and the 20 minutes he was on television just got me to thinking. His message was about the above and he hit on those points I mentioned. (this is one reason why I try not to judge someone from their TV time as we know most are edited and you only get about 20 minutes of a message that may have lasted an hour or more).

I just sat there thinking that he is not isolated in the way in which he was teaching this morning and that there are many who preach about money and material wealth.

Sowing and reaping is definately part of the kingdom of God, but I believe some of our teaching is way off and a bit unbalanced.

[livinganewlife]

Well I have been sick and tired for a loooooonnnnnggggg time.

Money has become the only factor in which Saints, Prophets, Preachers, etc determine a blessing.

Me I am thankful and count it a blessing when I wakeup in the morning and see the Cardinals outside my windows chirping. To me that is the greatest joy / sound in the world. I can wake up and hear the birds chirping praise.

IMHO the teaching on tithes, giving and anything pertaining to money is distorted in Churches.

Has anyone noticed that most preachers were ex pimps, gang bangers and drug dealers and some of those tactics have trickled into mainstream Christianity.

[nina]

I can't answer the questions... I do find comfort in this, and I pray that you will be comforted:

"Who is a wealthy person?"

Answer: "One who is happy with his portion."

This teaches that wealth derives from happiness and not the other way around.

Further, this leads to the inference that if one cannot be happy with what one presently has, then further material possessions will also not increase one's level of happiness.

As well-known and widespread as these ideas may be, deep down many people believe that the portion they presently have is not necessarily their portion, that is, the portion meant for them.

As a result, they feel a sense of want that detracts from their happiness and they tend to unduly focus on having "more."

By stating "his" portion instead of "the portion he presently has," indicates that one's present portion is indeed his INTENDED portion.

This message is confirmed by teaching that what one actually possesses at any given moment in time is what they are MEANT to possess at THAT point-in-time.

It is what they NOW require to grow beyond their present spiritual level.

If one grows, the tools they require for growth will also increase, according to the need.

The message is still the same. We have to be happy with our portion because it IS our portion.
It doesn't mean that you can't want more, and perhaps, even strive for more.
But it does mean that one cannot go through life feeling that you received the "short end of the stick."

To me, it's about being faithful and about the attitude of the heart. The mannah still comes every day...
My two cents

[ybrown]

Because we’re so self absorbed and put absolutely no value on spiritual things. That’s why everything in the bible about prosperity, breakthrough and abundance is now taken to be something natural that we can spend, drive, live in, wear, eat or flaunt. If it doesn’t fall into those categories, we don’t want it.

The law of reaping and sowing is a biblically principle and God does ordain some material wealth, but what is going on here is so beyond that. What most are reading into scripture is based on pure carnality and materialism. I hate to say it but that is the filthy lens that the prosperity gospel gives to saints with which to read scripture. It is a shame too because they are being robbed blind in more one than one. We've become too earthly to even get the spiritual food that God is feeding.

It’s a sign of the times. We’ve taken our eye off Jesus. But oh, don’t lose heart. God is still working, even in this.

[giantsdodie]

livinganewlife said:

Well I have been sick and tired for a loooooonnnnnggggg time.

Money has become the only factor in which Saints, Prophets, Preachers, etc determine a blessing.

Me I am thankful and count it a blessing when I wakeup in the morning and see the Cardinals outside my windows chirping. To me that is the greatest joy / sound in the world. I can wake up and hear the birds chirping praise.

IMHO the teaching on tithes, giving and anything pertaining to money is distorted in Churches.

Has anyone noticed that most preachers were ex pimps, gang bangers and drug dealers and some of those tactics have trickled into mainstream Christianity.

MOST preachers are ex pimps gang bangers and drug dealer ??

I dont think so. Are there some. Of course and bless God they are saved, but I do not believe that we can say that MOST preachers are this.

I would advise almost any saint of God nowadays to do themselves a favor, selectively watch the Word Network, TBN and whatever else comes on those channels and recognize that men of God are exactly that. Men. Not perfect and prone to make mistakes just like the rest of us.

As far as the "prosperity" teaching that occurs. We can point to almost every move of God in the last century and we can see that there are extremes that exist and that GOD is the one who brings the balance. Some folks believe in divine healing. Some do not. Some folks believe that the ONLY healing should be divine. You shouldnt go to a doctor, you shouldnt take medicine. Now obviously that is out of balance. Yet this exists today but no one disputes that healing is the will of God.

Some folks is ALL about money. Some folks will say that we should be broke and destitute as that draws us closer to God. Both these extremes exist and they are both wrong.

The reality is that God is about balance. God doesnt care how much money we have. What He cares about is does the money have us.

Sure some of the teaching is off and unbalanced but I have seen off unbalanced teaching about almost everything. Healing. Delieverance. Spiritual Warfare, Faith, every time God brings the balance.

The problem I think as saints is that we get caught up in what I tend to call the demon of wrong focus. We look at the bad usually because it is so very prevalent and we miss all the good that happens around us.

[livinganewlife]

giantsdodie said:

livinganewlife said:

Well I have been sick and tired for a loooooonnnnnggggg time.

Money has become the only factor in which Saints, Prophets, Preachers, etc determine a blessing.

Me I am thankful and count it a blessing when I wakeup in the morning and see the Cardinals outside my windows chirping. To me that is the greatest joy / sound in the world. I can wake up and hear the birds chirping praise.

IMHO the teaching on tithes, giving and anything pertaining to money is distorted in Churches.

Has anyone noticed that most preachers were ex pimps, gang bangers and drug dealers and some of those tactics have trickled into mainstream Christianity.

MOST preachers are ex pimps gang bangers and drug dealer ??

I dont think so. Are there some. Of course and bless God they are saved, but I do not believe that we can say that MOST preachers are this.

I would advise almost any saint of God nowadays to do themselves a favor, selectively watch the Word Network, TBN and whatever else comes on those channels and recognize that men of God are exactly that. Men. Not perfect and prone to make mistakes just like the rest of us.

As far as the "prosperity" teaching that occurs. We can point to almost every move of God in the last century and we can see that there are extremes that exist and that GOD is the one who brings the balance. Some folks believe in divine healing. Some do not. Some folks believe that the ONLY healing should be divine. You shouldnt go to a doctor, you shouldnt take medicine. Now obviously that is out of balance. Yet this exists today but no one disputes that healing is the will of God.

Some folks is ALL about money. Some folks will say that we should be broke and destitute as that draws us closer to God. Both these extremes exist and they are both wrong.

The reality is that God is about balance. God doesnt care how much money we have. What He cares about is does the money have us.

Sure some of the teaching is off and unbalanced but I have seen off unbalanced teaching about almost everything. Healing. Delieverance. Spiritual Warfare, Faith, every time God brings the balance.

The problem I think as saints is that we get caught up in what I tend to call the demon of wrong focus. We look at the bad usually because it is so very prevalent and we miss all the good that happens around us.

I will say that the men of God who are ex pimps, drug dealers and gang bangers are not caught up in prosperity either. They are more concerned with SOULS and peoples lives being changed forever. The ones who are truly saved are thankful and grateful for God's mercy and grace.

On the other hand these ex pimps (street folks) have taken the same tactics from the streets and are now using them in the Church.

Pimps and Gang operate on the Manipulation and Intimidation tactics and it is really sad that preachers nowadays have bought into the Fear and Intimidation tactic when it comes to giving.

Example; "You want be Blessed until you give" God will curse your health if you don't give, your children won't be blessed unless you give x amount of dollars to the Mand of God."

Those are the same tactics that Pimps and Gang bangers utilize.

Pimp: If you don't bring me x amount of dollars I will "hurt" your child......

Gang Banger: If you don't join then you won't be "blessed" or have the protection of my set.

What's the difference between the Preachers tactics and the street folks?

God is not a God who goes around threatening his children, the Lord leads and guides us to ALL righteousness and we don't have to walk in fear of Him but in Reverence of who He is.

[livinganewlife]

Amen GDD Balance in all things is KEY!!!!!

[giantsdodie]

Again we realize that in everything there tends to be a negative aspect. What we need to do is stopc focusing and concentrating on the negative. I am not saying ignore it. I am saying pray about it and MOVE ON. There have been charletons in the church since day one. Why dwell on that and allow it to break one's focus on God. Them folks will have to answer to GOD about that. Pray for them.

And another thing. We have got to stop assuming everyone who calls themselves a preacher are called of God. Anyone can set up a 5013C and call themselves a church. Doesnt mean its the church of the Lord Jesus Christ however.

Yes preachers talk about money. They will from now until Jesus comes. Jesus talked about financial things. The teaching often had both a natural and a spiritual connection. We have to be wise enough to see both applications.

I dont have an issue with peope teaching people how to prosper according to the Word of God. There are many people teaching a BALANCED approach according to the Word.

The difference is many of those are not on television so we dont see them every single day.

[And Such Were Some Of You]

livinganewlife said:

IMHO the teaching on tithes, giving and anything pertaining to money is distorted in Churches.

Amen!

[And Such Were Some Of You]

nina said:

I can't answer the questions... I do find comfort in this, and I pray that you will be comforted:

"Who is a wealthy person?"

Answer: "One who is happy with his portion."

Amen!

To me, it's about being faithful and about the attitude of the heart. The mannah still comes every day...
My two cents

and again, Amen!

[And Such Were Some Of You]

ybrown said:

Because we’re so self absorbed and put absolutely no value on spiritual things. That’s why everything in the bible about prosperity, breakthrough and abundance is now taken to be something natural that we can spend, drive, live in, wear, eat or flaunt. If it doesn’t fall into those categories, we don’t want it.

The law of reaping and sowing is a biblically principle and God does ordain some material wealth, but what is going on here is so beyond that. What most are reading into scripture is based on pure carnality and materialism. I hate to say it but that is the filthy lens that the prosperity gospel gives to saints with which to read scripture. It is a shame too because they are being robbed blind in more one than one. We've become too earthly to even get the spiritual food that God is feeding.

It’s a sign of the times. We’ve taken our eye off Jesus. But oh, don’t lose heart. God is still working, even in this.

Ahhhhh sis............

Someone actually does hear my heart.

[livinganewlife]

What happened to the days of just seeking GOD in the simple things and not in gimmicks and tricks.

Just seeking his face and being blessed because you have spent time in the presence of the Lord... Doesn't that count more than money?

Oh how I want to know Him, to feel Him, and to be close to Him whether I have money or not!

It is good to know that my Relationship with the Lord means more than ANYTHING!!!

[And Such Were Some Of You]

giantsdodie said:

livinganewlife said:

The problem I think as saints is that we get caught up in what I tend to call the demon of wrong focus. We look at the bad usually because it is so very prevalent and we miss all the good that happens around us.

Is there really such a demon?

Sometimes there is a burden placed upon the heart of a believer. A burden placed there by the Lord and until you are released from it, that is what you will "see". I for one am not focusing on the wrong thing, nor am I focusing on the men/women of God. My focus is truly upon the Lord and His Word and therefore when things seem to stray from that TRUTH then you cannot help but notice it.

Yes, there are times when people want to focus just on the "negative" stuff; or they want to judge the man and woman of God - that is not my goal here. We cannot put a sheet over our eyes and not say anything about this "teaching" that goes on from time to time. Sure, people go to the extreme about many things, which was really my point; I am not saying that the preaching on money and material wealth stands alone. God is purifying His people in several areas and it is my belief that this is one area where many of us fall short.