Thursday, December 18, 2008

Satan's Favorite Bible Verse, Part 2

“Again I tell you, 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, NIV)
As I discussed in part 1 of this series, the passage found in Matthew 19:24 is one of the most misused and misunderstood statements that Jesus made during his time on Planet Earth. The notion that God wants his people to suffer or to live in poverty is not only contrary to the scriptures as a whole, but also a complete misapplication of Jesus’ “eye of the needle” statement and his subsequent explanation to the disciples. As a result, it has also become one of the devil’s favorite and most-quoted verses of the Bible. It has helped to keep Christians underfunded and ineffective in their plight to spread the good news of Christ & His love, severely crippling one of the biggest threats to his demonic kingdom.

(If you haven’t had a chance to read last week’s blog post, take a minute and review the first 2 points by scrolling down to part 1 of “Satan’s Favorite Bible Verse”)

#3 - The Definition of “Rich”

Does God truly refuse to allow entry into Heaven for those who are considered “rich” in the present world? If so, I guess it would be pretty important for us as believers to come up with an exact definition of what “rich” truly is, so as to ensure that we stay far away from that dreadful number. So, let me ask you, how do you define rich? Is there a number in your head? Perhaps the more poignant question might be, “What do you think is the number in someone else’s head?” Isn’t it possible that the answers are numerous & varied, with nearly every person thinking of a different number or amount altogether? Not only is it possible, but also highly probably, because an individual’s definition of “rich” is most certainly shaped by their own personal circumstances.

When most people come up with an income number for “rich” or a net worth number for “wealthy”, it’s nearly always a number much higher than what they currently have or earn right now. For me personally, when I was making $30,000 a year, I thought that $100,000 was rich. However, when I was making $100,000 a year, suddenly it didn’t feel very “rich” anymore. This mindset is just as prevalent in the top 1-2% of Americans as it is in everyday folks, with a recent survey revealing that only 8% of all millionaires consider themselves to be “very rich”. Regardless of our current income, nearly all of us consider “rich” something to be attained, a far-off destination that we are striving for, not a present reality.

Another defining factor for the term “rich” would need to include the area of the country or world in which a person resides. Earning $100,000 a year in a small Midwestern town may make your life pretty comfortable, filling your days with luxury and convenience. However, that same $100,000 in New York City or London has you living in a cramped studio apartment barely larger than most master bedroom closets. On a global scale, the differences are even more dramatic.

In the United States, we consider our “poor” to be those who make less than $20,000 or so per year (depending on the number of people in the household). However, in many parts of Africa, running water and electricity are considered a luxury to be experienced only by the social elite. Seeing through the eyes and paradigm of the impoverished in 3rd world countries would put just about everyone in the United States in the “rich” category and, according to many in the church, would have us all destined to a fiery grave.

The term “rich” is obviously a very relative term, with the definition based primarily on one’s own perspective. So it stands to reason that the perspective or definition of “rich” that we should most be concerned with is God Almighty’s. In the world’s economy, Bill Gates and Warren Buffet are 2 of its wealthiest inhabitants, but in Heaven’s economy they are just above the poverty line. How is “rich” defined by someone who paves his streets with gold and has designed and prepared a mansion for each and every one of his followers? Is God pleased if you make $30k, $60k, or even $100k/year? If so, what is the yearly income number at which his pleasure turns into divine dismay and unrelenting wrath? What happens if you are successful in utilizing your God-given gifts and talents and, heaven forbid, get a raise to $150k/year? Is that a sentence to eternal damnation? Obviously I speak in jest, but there are many in our churches today who actually believe that!

With so many definitions of the word “rich”, wouldn’t it make sense for God to spend his time judging the heart, rather than the size of someone’s pocketbook? Wasn’t that the whole point of the Sermon on the Mount? The root problem with the rich young ruler wasn’t his riches, but rather his attachment to, and unwillingness to let go of those riches. He gave lip service to the cause of Christ, but he was unwilling to let go of his worldly possessions to truly “take up his cross” & follow. Jesus saw right through to the heart and put this young man to the test, one that he miserably failed.

Compare that to the Biblical account of Zacchaeus, a tax collector in Jericho:
“But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount." Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost." (Luke 19:8-10, NIV, emphasis added)
Notice that Zacchaeus only offered to give up half of his possessions in a show of repentance, while Jesus commanded everything of the rich young ruler. Regardless of how you define wealthy in today’s economy (1 Million, 5 Million, 10 Million), if you start off wealthy and give up only half, how much does that leave you with? Quite a bit! So why did Zacchaeus get off so cheap? Why was he allowed to keep a substantial portion of his net worth, while the rich, young ruler had to abandon it all? Because again, it has absolutely nothing to do with the AMOUNT, and EVERYTHING to do with the HEART! Zacchaeus had already been convicted of his greed and materialism and he came to Jesus with a penitent heart, ready to humbly obey as his master commanded. Zacchaeus’ heart was pure in the presence of God, so there was no need for Jesus to call him to the same radical abandonment of wealth as he did the rich, young ruler.

For some people it takes giving up everything to break their idolatry of money, to some it’s half, and to some it’s none at all. God is not in the “robin hood” business of taking from the rich and giving to the poor. He is in the “Jehovah Jireh” business of blessing his saints abundantly that they may in turn bless the poor, their families, and the needy ministries in the Church. It’s not about dollars and cents to God. It’s about who (or what) is guiding your heart and your decisions. Your commitment to Christ is measured by how much of your cross you have taken up, not by how much of your money you have laid down. Poor people can be just as worldy and uncommitted to Christ as rich people, but God is calling us all to follow him without restrictions, conditions, or limitations.

When we come to this type of unconditional surrender, it is then that the windows of heaven can truly open up and God can abundantly bless the works of our hands. He is scanning the earth for those who are being faithful with what they have, so that he can bless them abundantly, in full confidence that they will put it to good use in spreading the gospel of His dear Son (while also taking care of their families as they are commanded in 1 Timothy 5:8). As we stay diligent and faithful to our divine calling, keeping money in its proper place in our lives, there is truly nothing that can keep us from success and prosperity as we live out our days here on earth.

Stay safe, be blessed, and if you see my wife today, wish her a happy 27th birthday!

(Stay tuned for part 3 of “Satan’s Favorite Bible Verse” when we talk about the most important part of reading this or any Biblical passage…CONTEXT!!)

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Satan's Favorite Bible Verse, Part 1

“Again I tell you, 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, NIV)

All of us have a favorite Bible verse or verses. For some it’s Jeremiah 29:11 and its promise of hope, for others it’s the strength we draw from God in Philippians 4:13, and for still others it is Proverbs 3:5, 6 and the knowledge that God is continually directing our paths. In stark contrast to those uplifting and encouraging messages, I firmly believe that one of satan’s favorite verses is found in Matthew 19:24. For centuries the devil has watched this one verse be repeatedly taken out of context and effectively used to keep God’s people marginalized & impoverished, unable to finance any type of lasting and effective missions or evangelistic outreach.

The devil has a variety of tactics and creative strategies to accomplish his goal of destroying mankind. However, one of his very favorites is using God’s Word and His people against themselves, rendering them ineffective in accomplishing their great commission. He tried the same thing against Jesus, though unsuccessfully, during His time of testing in the desert (See Matthew Chapter 4). Satan had the audacity to use scripture to try and deceive Jesus into cancelling his mission on earth and forfeiting his throne in Heaven. If he would try it on the Son of God Himself, why would we be surprised when he uses the same tactic on us?

When it becomes apparent to the devil that he will be unable to drag you into a lifestyle of sin, debauchery, and rebellion, he changes his focus to simply try to neutralize you, preventing you from doing any further damage to the kingdom of darkness. It’s called devil damage control or lucipher loss mitigation, if you will. By taking Matthew 19:24 out of context, and manipulating Christ’s followers into doing the same, satan has been successful in keeping Christians poverty-minded & consuming their time with making ends meet rather than preaching the good news to a lost generation. His minions continue to make billions of dollars to finance the moral destruction of humanity, while our missionaries spend more time itinerating than “seeking and saving”, because most of their donors can barely afford a few dollars per month.

When it comes to the topic of God’s will to bless his people and my blog subscribers, I know I run the risk of “preaching to the choir.” However, even those who believe God wants them to prosper still have a tough time explaining the meaning of this verse to others, not to mention to themselves. The “eye of the needle” concept, though completely misused and misunderstood, has become so deeply rooted in the hearts and minds of believers, that many times they will subconsciously sabotage their own success in fear that wealth will somehow keep them from God. Therefore, I want to help shed some light on the subject so that you can move forward in confidence that God truly wants to see you succeed.

#1 – The Preponderance of Evidence.

To rule on the side of the prosecution in a criminal trial, a jury must believe guilt “beyond a reasonable doubt”; however in a civil trial the burden of proof is simply “the preponderance of the evidence.” Once all the facts are gathered and analyzed, they are laid on the scales of justice and whichever way it tips determines the ultimate verdict. In the Bible, there are literally hundreds of verses that declare God’s will and desire to bless his people abundantly in regards to wealth and prosperity. There are a couple, literally 3 or 4, that when taken out of context could be used as an argument to the contrary. Yet, it never ceases to amaze me how many believers will hold fast to the one or two misunderstood verses, while ignoring “the preponderance of the evidence” that illustrates our loving Father’s desire to give good gifts to his children.

#2 – Guidance from the Apostle Paul

The Apostle Paul was one of the most radical followers of Christ to ever walk the face of the earth. He was the driving force of the rapid, exponential growth of the 1st century church and was eventually martyred for the cause of Christ. His zeal, passion, and unwavering adherence to the directives of the Lord were unmatched by any person of his generation. If Jesus’ advice to the rich young ruler was intended to create church doctrine and a fundamental belief system, wouldn’t Paul have been the first to admonish the church to flee from wealth and economic prosperity? Yet we find Paul repeatedly speaking of wealth and riches in a positive light
“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.” (2 Cor. 8:9)
“Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. (2 Corinthian 9:10-12, emphasis added, NIV)
In 2 Corinthians 8:9, the word that is translated as “rich” is the Greek word “ploutizo”. The root word “ploutos” is actually defined as “riches, wealth, and an abundance of external possessions.” Paul’s statement that Christ died in poverty to make us “rich” refers to literal, physical riches, not just a spiritual blessing. As hard as it may be for poverty-minded people to accept, Christ’s death on the cross accomplished a lot more than just salvation for the lost. For those who are willing to receive it, Christ’s shed blood brings healing to the spirit, the body, the mind, and the pocketbook. Praise God!

In fact, the only time in the New Testament that Paul refers to riches in a negative way is in 1 Timothy 6:9 when he states, “People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.” Notice that the warning is to those who “want to get rich”, not to those who are rich or become rich. Paul was speaking to the attitude of want, greed or the “love of money”. However when extracted from the rest of Paul’s writings and taken out of context, this verse may lead some to believe that Paul was advocating against wealth & prosperity in the church. But when you read just a few verses later in the same letter to Timothy, you see him giving guidance to his young apprentice in the faith on how to advise those who are “rich in this present world.”
“Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.” (1 Timothy 6: 17-19, NIV)
It is obvious from his writings, which make up the majority of the New Testament, that Paul felt money could be used as a powerful tool for meeting the needs of Christians and providing the means necessary to continue the church’s evangelistic work. When combined with the hundreds of other verses throughout scripture, both Old and New Testament, it’s unmistakably apparent that in regards to His children, God’s very nature is one of abundant provision and blessing. The harvest is ripe and plentiful, but the Lord needs laborers who are well-financed and focused on the mission at hand, not on how they will pay this month’s mortgage payment. The truth of God’s Word, and his desire to bless you financially, needs to be fully assimilated into your spirit so that you will never hesitate in your entrepreneurial pursuits. It is then that we will begin to see the wealth of the wicked laid up and taken hold of by the righteous, and used to take the gospel to the ends of the earth and hasten the return of our Lord. Amen!

(This blog post was originally intended to be just one part, but as I began writing the content expanded beyond my control. Therefore, I will continue next week with part 2 of “Satan’s Favorite Bible Verse” when we examine the context of Jesus’ statement in Matthew 19:24, as well as God’s definition of what “rich” truly is. Until then, have a blessed and prosperous week!)

Thursday, December 4, 2008

If You, Then God...

This week I was the recipient of a rather harsh & disturbing comment from a visitor to my website. He was upset by my assertion that our success in life in regards to wealth, business, and prosperity is tied to our action, or “works” as he put it. His contention was that we are all under grace and that all attention should be focused on God and nothing that we do impacts the way God works in our lives. His exact quote is as follows:

“According to you, our tithe brings the blessing. That's called the prosperity gospel. That's called works. ‘If we do this, then God will do that.’ He doesn't work that way.”
I typically don’t take the time to respond to negative e-mails or comments; however I felt as if this topic was far too important to ignore. The attitude of “let go and let God” is pervasive in the church and, not only is it unscriptural, but it’s keeping us poor, sick, and ineffective for the Kingdom of God. “If you do this, then God will do that” is EXACTLY how God works!

The Bible is filled with if/then relationships that apply to God’s people. There are literally hundreds of conditional statements in the Bible, including dozens in the book of Proverbs alone, many of which explain an action that is required of us by God and a reward if we obey. Do any of these sound familiar?

If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14, emphasis added)
“If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered.” (Prov. 21:13)
“If a king judges the poor with fairness, his throne will always be secure.” (Prov. 29:14)

Though God is immutable (does not change), I am assuming that these verses would be disregarded by my friend because they are from the Old Testament. I assume from his comment regarding “grace” that he feels as if most everything in the old covenant is not important, even those statements and verses that describe the unchanging nature of Jehovah God. Therefore, here are just a few of the conditional statements from the New Testament. Any of these ring a bell?

If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, [then] you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9, emphasis added)
“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.” (James 5:16, emphasis added)
“And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” (Matthew 24:14, emphasis added)
Salvation is a gift that none of us can earn, but it still requires action on your part. The prayer of faith requires action on your part. The fulfillment of the Great Commission requires action on your part. And yes, reaping financial blessing in your life requires action on your part.

“For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: ‘If a man will not work, he shall not eat” (2 Thessalonians 3:10)
You will again obey the LORD and follow all his commands I am giving you today. Then the LORD your God will make you most prosperous in all the work of your hands…” (Deuteronomy 30:8, 9, emphasis added)
"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!' (Matthew 25:21, emphasis added)

The concept of grace has been misunderstood and misapplied by Christians for generations. Grace is defined as God’s unmerited favor. It is God doing good for us even though we do not deserve it. I can think of countless times early on in my Christian walk when God blessed me, even though I was failing in many areas of my life. I have seen his hand of grace provide for me financially even though I was not responsible in many of my financial decisions. I was a child in the faith, and so God looked past some of my childlike ways and blessed me in spite of myself. That, my friend, is grace.

But do those displays of God’s unmerited favor give me a license to live contrary to his commands, even as I grow in my knowledge of the faith? Of course not! Grace is there to pick us up when we fail, like all imperfect beings have the tendency to do, and I am extremely thankful for it. However, it is not a license to live however you want, whenever you want & it certainly does not eradicate the God-established principle of sowing and reaping. Grace or no grace, when we make bad decisions in our lives more often than not we will reap bad results.

God’s love and acceptance may be unconditional, but according to his infallible Word, his blessings are certainly not. Many of them come with conditions of action or obedience to God and most Christians would like to believe this is not the case. Why tarry in prayer if you can just “name it and claim it”? Why work hard and make wise financial decisions if you can just send in $20 to your favorite ministry and lazily sit back waiting for your check in the mail?

Francis Cardinal Spellman (US Cardinal 1946) once said, “Pray as if everything depended upon God and work as if everything depended upon man.” I understand that this phrase is not scripture and not a foundation for doctrine, but how much more effective would the Church be if we began living by that credo? It is time for the body of Christ to quit waiting for something to fall in their laps, and start taking their God-given gifts and putting them to work for the Kingdom. Whether in regards to healing, business, or ministry, the righteous take it by force, not by passively standing by. Faith without works is dead, fruitless, and accomplishes nothing. So rise up, mighty warrior, and remember…If you, then God!