The other day I had the wonderful opportunity to hear someone say something really moronic. Don't you just love it when that happens? It's a wonderful feeling. It's a feeling you get as if everything has fallen into place for you or like the planets have aligned at just the right moment. Sometimes, these opportunities make my entire day because I can say to someone, "I know you're not going to believe this, but I was there when it happened".
I heard a minister preach on giving and receiving. It was your standard fare: if you tithe God will bless you, God desires you to live in prosperity, and on and on it goes.
But then I heard it. It was like poetry. I felt my ears tingle as the words dribbled out of the preacher's mouth like it was some form of audible milk and honey. The minister used someone in the audience as an illustration proving how God blesses those who give. The minister said - I'm quoting now - "This person gave to the church and now they're driving a brand new vehicle! You see, God wants you to be prosperous!"
But, you see, I know the truth. The truth of the matter is that the person and his family being used as an example here live in borderline poverty. They did not need a new vehicle. They cannot afford this automobile. And the person actually went into more consumer debt to acquire it! Mmmm... you smell that? That's the blessings of God!
Now I'm sure that the motivation of the preacher was not to mislead or coerce anyone into giving (at least I hope not). The person was probably trying to simply prove a point - that when you give God will give back. In fact, if you didn't know better, you may think that this is a great testimony of the goodness of God. It may inspire you to give. And that's fine with me.
But this statement raises a good point. A point that many American Christians seem to forget: acquiring material things (and especially going into debt to get them) is not God's idea of abundance! And yet, this is exactly what a lot of Christians have been doing for decades.
Somehow I don't think that the American Express card in your wallet is what God had in mind when Paul wrote, "my God shall supply all your need according to His riches and glory by Christ Jesus." Those rewards points are not manna from heaven, you know!
Shouldn't the church be, like Joseph was in Egypt, the example of abundance and prosperity the world will look to in a time of need? This way we can point them to the One who gave us the riches we posses while we're helping supply their needs. Wouldn't that be a tremendous testimony?
Instead, all we have to give is ripped up furniture and worn out clothing from the back room of a musty smelling building while the "blessed of God" go around living paycheck to paycheck and charging their way to excess so they can feel prosperous. I know because I've lived it and I've got a big stinking credit card payment for 10 years worth of purchases to show for it. Is this really how I'm supposed to live? Is this really what God wants from me? I doubt it.
