God did NOT selected only a few to Prosper

One of the reasons, that Christians live a mediocre life is because they belief mediocre is where they should be. Because of the condition that we have been in, we have never seen the possibility or the vision that the life that we live, can be dramatically different to the one our family, or our friends has lived or are living.

You may find in the world that there are a few rich people, then there is a whole chunk of average folks, and then mountains of poor people in the world, and across the board there does not appear to be a distinction between if they are Christians or not, I would even dare to say, it would even appear that there are more secular super rich people than there are Christian super rich people! This is alarming, because this shouldn’t be the case. We Christians have all of heavenly blessings. (eph 1:3 whereas the non Christians don't have this) However most Christians don’t manifest it. The reality of so little Christian prospering, leads most Christians to the false belief that "God blesses a selected few financially to be prosperous, but not to most", and in regards to how he choose whom to be prosperous, he may choose Christians or Non-Christians, as from observation, we do not see an exceeding amount of rich Christians over that of non Christian. And more so than this, we don't see "Spiritual" Christians being more prosperous than others.

 It is because of the belief that "God selected only a few to be prosperous", that is the reason why most Christians do not go after prosperity the way God intended us to. Underlying deep in our belief system, We have taken on a lie that God might intended us NOT to prosper. You see the reason why some people prosper more than others may they be Christian or not, is not because God chose those to be prosper over others, but it is because they have gained knowledge, understanding and wisdom to the rules of finance, and they walked according to those laws, this is the reason they are prospering. May they be Bill Gates or the Godfather. 

The believe that God has selected only a few to be rich, keeps people in mediocrity, and be content with lack (“content” in a negative way, ie bounded, but cannot do anything about it). They are not motivated to search out how finances works, because they have taken on the perspective that people are rich because of fate, God choose those people to be rich and that is why they are rich. Now because they have experienced living in the average historically, and also see the people around them doing the same, they have taken on the belief that they were not the chosen ones to be rich.  And as such do not seek knowledge, understanding and wisdom as to WHY they need to be prosperous, and also do not seek knowledge, wisdom and understanding as to HOW they are to manifest prosperity. It is the ungodly belief that they are predestined to be mediocre, that keeps them in mediocre. 

If I belief God does prosper me, Will it mean I will be able to be as rich as Bill Gates or Warren Buffet? 

The answer is YES, but also No. Because the prosperity of God, is dependent also on some basic laws that are in operation in this world.

God's prosperity is promise based, and those promises in order to manifest, needs to be executed by faith in those promises. In order to prosper, you need to know what he said about you prospering, and how you are to prosper. 1) In the bible, you will read that he blesses what you put your hands to (Deut 28). If you do not put your hands to do anything, 100 x zero = ZERO. You need to work with what you have. 2) the process of, Seed, Time, Harvest will always applies. So in order for the things that is in your hands to become fruitful, there will be a process of planting seeds, a stage of growth, before fruit/harvest comes.

Lets look at this from a practical sense. and we choose Bill Gates as an example, only because most people know who he is and what he does. If Bill Gates never spent his time in the computer room in the early years of his life, he will not have what he has got. He needed to apply himself and learn the skill sets that he has got and continues to get, in order for him to continue to grow in prosperity.

secondly, Bill Gates' Microsoft is not at where it is now, back when it was pumping out MS-DOS. There are generations of products, repeated cycles of planting seeds, developing the product, and then harvest that happened along the way, to grow Microsoft to where it is today. 

Yes you "can" be as prosperous as Bill Gates, however the principle of seed TIME harvest still applies. if you have limited TIME, by logic, you will have less Seed Time Harvest Cycles. So even if you have the best idea, if you are 99. there may be limited harvest cycles left. The size of your harvest is also dependent on the seed that you have placed. Less seed, less harvest, more seed more harvest. And how much seed you have, is also dependent on previous harvests that you have. We have to understand the path of wealth is a journey and a growth process, it is not a one time thing.  Bill Gates is much further on his way in the marathon of wealth, than others if they are just starting off. 

Also, prosperity is limited by the law and gov't of the land. At places where there is limited possibility to apply yourself, say in present day Cuba. The political system does not allow you to prosper to the same degree as where laws allow you the freedom to prosper. Think of people during times of war. there basically is not a legal, stable structure that allows prosperity to securely increase. 

But how come the secular people are doing so much better in the game of wealth? Apart from the above factors, It has to do with vision. If you do not have a vision to be wealthy. you won't be wealthy. If you do not have vision to be extremely wealthy, you won't be extremely wealthy. If you have no vision to be the most wealthy in the world you won't be that either. Our vision limits us, and defines us as to where we can go, and where we will go. Most people are stuck in mediocre, it is because we have a mediocre mindset. If we can have a vision of what God say is possible, and gain knowledge, understanding and wisdom. We will start moving forward in the abundant life that Jesus spoke to us about. 

  

  

     

Purpose of Finance 1 Tim 6:10

The Purpose for finance

A misunderstanding of what money is and what it does, is one of the primary reasons why the kingdom of God has not advanced in a faster pace, why people have not enjoyed a much better material living, but even more, this lack of understanding has kept the children of God to be off a position of influence.

Material and enjoyable things are good!

Many Christians has read 1 Tim 6:10 without having a clear context of what it is saying. Who Paul is speaking to? and what is he trying to address? The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. This is exactly correct. However how we define “Money” is, is what is causing all the different doctrine. For most “the love of money” is talking about what money can do for them. This however is too broad a definition, as you can see in the following example, the love of “money” can be of very different motivation. And as such Paul cannot be addressing the love of “money” in the generality of the word. And hence is addressing a very particular view of money.

Take for instance, The Red Cross wants money so they can help people in need, where as ISIS wants the same money so they can push a particular religious agenda. Both group in essence love money. However Red Cross will fit into a biblical idea that is described in the below verse.

If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. 1 John 3:17

  If we do not differentiate what meaning Paul is addressing in terms of “money”, you will misread the true intention of the verse and what Paul is addressing, if you think of the love of money in a general sense. You will attempt to hate “money” for the wrong reasons, and reject finances for what it was created to do. Money is just a standardized medium of exchange. How and what “money” is representing to people is what Paul is addressing with 1 Tim 6:10.

If you think Paul is addressing “money” as the exchanges of pleasures in this life, and he is telling us don’t love the pleasures of this life. I am going to say something profound and may shock you. Ready? This is not what Paul is addressing. Good material things in and of itself is actually NOT wrong or bad, and a life of piety is not what Paul is asking people to seek after. I would even suggest that we should be thankful and be able to use money for the good material things in life. You may ask, where is the scriptural basis for this!?

Jesus came to give us life, and life abundantly. John 10:10.

Think of this earthly example to get a bearing. If your kid wants a bike, and he comes to you, and say, “Dad, I really like to have a bike, so I can ride to school rather than walk.” You as the good father if you have the means to do it, you would buy him a decent bike, in fact, you would buy him a safe, good looking bike, probably the best one out there, and one that your son likes. Or would you buy him a rusted old falling apart bike, or maybe not give him one at all? (provided that it is save for him to ride in, yes there maybe reasons not to, but I am just trying to bring out a point). With all things being equal, you would buy him the good one, 1, because it will make him happy, 2 it will make him look good, and it will make you look good. Now read the following verse.

If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! Mat 7:11

You may say, I don’t know if our enjoyment of the things on earth is high on God’s priority. Then you have not had a true vision of God the good father, but understood him to be God the God father. God wants us to be joyful, if material things gives you joy, ask and receive so your joy can be complete.

Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.John 16:24.

Money can satisfy needs

Money apart from representing things you want, it represents the basic things you needs, food, shelter, to desire to have money to satisfy these needs and want is certainly not wrong, and is not what Paul is addressing either. Truly, take time to think about this, If someone is loving money so that he can be a provider for his family. Is Paul saying this is a root of all evil?

Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. 1 Tim 5:8. 

For one to provide, one must have the means to do it. And money serves this purpose.  

 
All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I had been eager to do all along. Gal 2:10

But what about James?

When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. James 4:3

Now we are getting to the heart of the issue. And it is not what you think. The focal point of this verse, is not talking about how you want money for things you like. Its about the “motive” to get things. Are you “lusting” for the material things? The word “pleasure” translated here in the greek is “hedone” which is a lustful desire. It is saying you want the thing so bad that you will do wrong to get it, it is an evil desire that consumes the person and not a godly one. And hence you do not receive.

When Money becomes your God, then it leads to all kinds of evil.

So if Paul is not saying you shouldn’t love money for the needs it can fulfil, the wants that it provides. Then what is he talking about? The key notion that the verse is addressing, is not that the love of the things in this world, but that those who wants to get rich, is seeking richness as the end game and goal. It is the idea that “finance” or the “material things” in and of itself will satisfy the desire of your heart, and be able to REPLACE the need of the relationship with God, which only God can satisfy. You are chasing to satisfy a need that by design could not be satisfied with material things, hence the 1 Tim 6:10 says, “Pieced themselves through with many sorrows.” And if you are loving money, to replace the need of God this is where it is a root of all evil.

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”[a] Hebrews 13:5

Money on the surface has some of the properties which looks similar to God, it is a source for needs, It provides some security, it provides power. But whilst on appearance it has similarities to God, where the rubber meets the road, we can clearly see the limitations and facade that it is. Zig Ziglar summarizes this profoundly;  

“You can buy a bed, but not a good night’s sleep, a house but not a home, a companion but not a friend.”  Zig Ziglar

When Jesus said we cannot serve both God and Mammon, It is addressing exactly this, People are seeing Mammon as something that can replace God. So Money or Finance is not evil, it is not an idol unless you worship it as one.

“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. Mat 6:24

So what is money?

Money is just a tool. It is an efficient and effective way to move, transfer and motivate resources. It’s a tool that helps you complete a purpose. It is similar to work, you don’t work for the sake of working, you work because you want to get a particular thing done. God worked in the first 6 days, not because work in itself is good or bad, work is just necessary to complete a purpose, and because of the purpose work has meaning and as the purpose is good, hence work is good.

And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. Gen 1:26 

Man was created in the image of God. God is a ruler, He is the king of kings. And we were created in his image to be kings. Man’s purpose is to subdue and take dominion over the earth, so work and finances is to help us fulfil this purpose. If you seat at home and are not doing anything to subdue and dominate, providing order and managing and expanding the reign of God.  You are not actively participating in your grand design and purpose. You are not reflecting the image of God who is about Godly, Goodly dominion and expansion of his kingdom.

 

So why Money?

Because this is an economic world. The bible speaks much about finances, look at Leviticus, It uses things calculated with money, or physical things that are wealth based (cows, doves, harvests) It never condemns it. Abram was very rich, and it was not speaking about him rich spiritually. Its talking about he had the money!

Abram had become very wealthy in livestock and in silver and gold. Gen 13:2

Now if we understand that “Money”, like “Work” has its place in life, and should not be shied from, it is there to fulfil a purpose. Then you understand that money fuels purpose, and as such should be embrace. And as the saying goes if you “should”, then you “MUST”!

I hope the above material gives you a different perspective on 1 Tim 6:10. If you say, I don’t have a problem with money, I don’t love it, and I don’t hate it, for a lack of a better word I am “indifferent” to it. I don’t focus on money, I focus on God!

If that is you. Then I have a very challenging thought for you to think about to see if it is true.

“For the godly desire of money is the root for all kind of goodness, some people proficient in using money have found the purpose of their faith and blessed themselves with many joy”

Purpose of money

The purpose of money is described very clearly in Deut 8:17-18,

17 You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” 18 But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today. Deut 8:17-18.

and Confirming his covenant, is in the context of Gen 1:26 for the domination of the earth, and the abrahamic covenant in, of the messiah coming through the linerage of Abraham. Gen 17. And the fulfilment of God’s redemption through Salvation, which is prosperity in your spirit, soul and body, (eternal, material, health)

Money is to “confirm” God’s covenant,  the Hebrew word for confirm “qum” is talking about an active stand, to accomplish, to build, to ensure, to carried out.

IF you understand that the purpose of money is a tool to use to expand the reign of God, and God has assigned and given you the power to make wealth, and if you understand this mandate, Your love (desire) for money is for this reason, Do not let your religious thought hinder you in doing the works of God.

IF you are feeling guilty because you are wealthy, and hence has the ability to enjoy the better things in life. Ask God for a revelation of who God is, as the king, and you are his child, and what the life of a prince should look like, so that he can reflect who the king is.

IF you are reading the above line, and you think it still doesn’t seat right with you. I would suggest that the root of it lies in some misunderstanding of 1 Tim 6:10. And Mat 6:24. Study it, ask the question. Is Paul condemning the love of money to serve others? Is he condemning experiencing riches that God has provided?

The sooner we started loving money as what it’s designed for we can become effective in what we are designed to do.  (challenging line isn’t it, “loving money”) Love money as the tool that it is, love it like an artist his brush, love it like a builder loving his power screw driver, a writer loving his type writer, a cook loving his stove and oven. The sooner we can see money is a tool that is necessary to effectively complete destiny. The sooner we can see the kingdom of God advancing and taking territory where the devil has stolen ground.