Joel Osteen once said “you are not supposed to live in lack”. Says who? I’m almost certain he was referring to financial lack or lack of material possessions, and it even seems he’s equating lack with sin. My bible says Jesus lived in lack “the Son of Man has no place to lay his head” Luke 9:58. This doesn’t mean we need to voluntarily choose to be poor or to relish living in poverty, but the implication here is that if we are living in lack there is something wrong with us, that maybe our faith is too weak. Now as for me, I’m sure its my own fault for living in lack so maybe I’m not the best messenger for this, but regardless of my own circumstances, I’m not going to shy away from this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sometimes it is God’s will for us to forego the comforts of this world for the kingdom of God. Listen to the words of Paul: “But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord..” Phil 3:7-8 And it was Jesus who said, \u201cWatch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions<\/em>\u201d Luke 12:15 (emphasis added). God wants us to be rich spiritually, not necessarily materially. “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven…” Mat 6:19-20.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sometimes God even chooses the poor to do his work through them: “Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor<\/em> in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?” James 2:5 Did you see that? If you really want to be rich, try being “rich in faith”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not only can we live for Jesus in lack, but money comes with its own unique temptations which can harm us, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” 1 Timothy 6:10.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Being rich even has it’s own downsides because rich people often see no need for God, they become self-reliant which causes them not to seek or depend on God. “And Jesus, looking around, said to His disciples,\u00a0‘How hard it will be for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!’\u00a0<\/sup>And the disciples\u00a0were amazed at His words. But Jesus responded again and said to them,\u00a0‘Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!\u00a0It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.\u201d Mark 10:23-25.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The prosperity gospel inverts all of this and tells us that we all deserve to be rich financially. So people end up coming to church for the wrong reasons, just to seek a “blessing”, instead of going to church to worship Jesus. We have lots of shallow Christians going around talking about their right to prosper and how material prosperity is a sign of God’s blessing. So we end up with lots of Christians who spend all of their time boasting of their riches to prove that they are godly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Finally, our goal should be contentment in all circumstances instead of chasing material riches. “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” Phil 4:11-12<\/p>\n\n\n\n When we reduce faith to a financial formula, we completely miss the point. Material wealth fades, moths destroy it, and inflation eats it away. But the true wealth of a Christian is Christ Himself. If we have Him, we are never living in lack. Let\u2019s stop chasing temporary riches and start chasing the One whose presence is our greatest reward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Joel Osteen once said “you are not supposed to live in lack”. Says who? 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