Good Wednesday morning! In a movie made some years ago, a character sings a little ditty spelling out balance. Last night I thought that perhaps we have too many ministers going too far one way or another. Jesus did say that we will experience suffering, but he also said that God would provide for our needs. Jesus also gave us his peace. It may be true that the ministers who preach only health, wealth, and happiness therein are going too far toward the provision side. There is a scriptural basis for prosperity in the Bible, but that is not the entire Bible. There is a scriptural basis to preach suffering, but that too is not the only thing that Jesus said to us.
We have all observed the elder of the church. You know the one. Hardly a week goes by that he or she is not brought up in prayer for some health or life condition that involves seemingly unbearable suffering. As a youth, you might have even wondered how that person could show up with a smile on her face each week. The prosperity gospel boys might say that condition will last only for a season and then the elder will be restored. You might even wonder about that message as you attend the funeral. On the other hand, some Christians do appear to enjoy the health and wealth life with only minor seasons of testing or trial. We think of how unfair that seems relative to our own trials in this life. The suffering ministers might claim that those folks are not truly believers in Jesus. Well, that seems kind of unfair too in light of the Bible verses on God's desire to prosper us. And is it right that this health and prosperity would only happen in Heaven? Most of the verses dealing with provision, health, and prosperity that I can recall don't add "when you get to Heaven" on the end.
Perhaps it is not right to preach either 'gospel' exclusively. We can look around the world these days easily through our Internet or satellite news outlets. We see that Christians both far and near do suffer both physically and emotionally. We also see that some Christians do prosper in this life, though it is difficult or impossible to do in some nations. Christians have died in prison and Christians have died peacefully in their homes surrounded by friends and family in their last moments. Christians have lived in poverty and Christians have lived in wealth. Many of God's people have lived with little and with more than enough in their one lifetime. Look at the example of David who lived as a shepherd, a wanted fugitive, and as King of Israel. Paul had learned to be content with much or with little. Monks and nuns have come from wealthy families and taken vows of poverty. Sons and daughters of the well-to-do have become missionaries with little or no income. On the other hand, Christian children have grown up in poor homes and gone on to high paying jobs or even great wealth. Maybe, just maybe, we pay too much attention to prosperity AND suffering. Perhaps the problem is in trying to give one-size-fits-all sermons (or devotionals).
Praise God that the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ is both general and very personal. You may not suffer as much in life as that brother in Christ, or you may suffer much more. You may not have as much loot to give as that other family who has just as much faith in Jesus as you do. You may have much more to give than a family in that small village over yonder who has far more faith than all of us put together. We don't know what is coming to us tomorrow or the next day. Health, wealth, prosperity, suffering, trials, tribulations: perhaps we all should first seek our Lord and His Word. Accept what each has been given and praise God for all who believe.
Bucky
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