The Prosperity Gospel: Religious Pay-to-Play

Graft is “The act of taking advantage of one’s position to gain money, property, etc. dishonestly, as in politics.” (Webster’s Dictionary.) The “Prosperity Gospel” heresy is nothing more than spiritual graft.

On August 9, 2016, the New York Post published an article that opened with the startling claim: “Hillary Clinton put the [U.S.] State Department up for sale, with top aides pulling strings and doing favors for fat-cat donors to the Clinton Foundation … according to smoking-gun emails released Tuesday.” The article was carefully worded to avoid libel laws, but the title itself revealed the conclusion of the publishers: “Emails reveal Hillary’s shocking pay-for-play scheme.”

Graft may be synonymous with politics, but it is also illegal, so politicians try to keep evidence of their corruption hidden. In fact, graft allegations may have played a large role in Hillary Clinton’s surprising loss to Donald Trump in the United States’ 2016 presidential elections. Graft has permeated mainline Protestantism and many spiritual leaders are guilty of participation.

Following World War II, American evangelicalism saw an explosion of Pentecostal revivals.

In 1941 America went to war and in a very short time the economically depressed United States turned into a fiscal powerhouse. ... Post-World War II America considered itself doubly blessed. The economy boomed … Good health required fewer miracles … Positive thinking matched the nation's triumphant mood … Even pentecostals found the message irresistible. In the 1940s and 1950s, independent pentecostal healing evangelists began to speak of financial blessings, spiritual laws, and the significance of high-spirited faith. Their new focus on mind-power to win both health and wealth would be the start of the modern prosperity movement.¹

Kenneth and Gloria Copeland have become very wealthy through preaching their “hundred-fold return” heresy.

Out of this post-war revival, a new heresy was born: the “prosperity gospel.” Bradley A. Koch clearly defines this ideology, stating: “The Prosperity Gospel is the doctrine that God wants people to be prosperous, especially financially. Adherents to the Prosperity Gospel believe that wealth is a sign of God’s blessing and the poor are poor because of a lack of faith.”²

It sounds good. Hurting for money? Give what you have to God and He will return it to you pressed down and running over! Gloria and Kenneth Copeland preach a “hundred-fold return” doctrine. In her book, God’s Will Is Prosperity, Gloria Copeland wrote:

You give $1 for the Gospel’s sake and $100 belongs to you; give $10 and receive $1,000; give $1,000 and receive $100,000.   I know that you can multiply, but I want you to see in black and white how tremendous the hundredfold return is…Give one house and receive hundred houses or one house worth one hundred times as much. Give one airplane and receive one hundred times the value of the airplanes. Give one car and the return would furnish you with a lifetime of cars. In short, Mark 10:30 is a good deal.³

This is worse than graft. This is simony. Simony is graft disguised in robes of light. It is defined as “The act of buying or selling ecclesiastical preferment, ecclesiastical pardons, or other things regarded as sacred or spiritual.”⁴ The term itself comes from Simon Magus, whose story holds a dire warning to all believers to shun the dangers of this false gospel.

Simon Magus

Simon was a sorcerer. He made a good living at it, too. He had all the locals convinced that the “miracles” he performed were from Yahuwah.

Then Philip came to town. The difference between the miracles wrought by Philip through faith in Yahuwah versus those performed by Simon’s incantations and black magic was so great, that those who had previously been deceived by Simonflocked to Philip’s preaching. Miracles were performed. The sick were healed. Devils were cast out. Simon himself believed (after a fashion) and was baptized. But there was more to come.

When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had been converted, they sent Peter and John to them. Upon arriving, Peter and John prayed for the converts, asking the Father to pour His Spirit upon them, and He did!

Simon Magus saw this and was stunned. This was a level of power he did not possess. And he wanted it! He asked Peter to sell him this ability. “And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.” (Acts 8:18, 19, KJV)

Peter was appalled. He sharply rebuked Simon Magus in one of the harshest denunciations recorded in Scripture, saying: “Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of [Yahuwah] could be purchased with money! You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of [Yah]. Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray [Yahuwah] if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.” (Acts 8:20-23, NKJV)

This article will demonstrate that the sin of Simon Magus is foundational to the so-called “Prosperity Gospel.”

Heretical Errors

The doctrine of prosperity is riddled with error. It is based on three assumptions:

1. Wealth is a sign of Yahuwah’s favor and blessing.
2. Poverty is a sign of that Yahuwah is displeased with you or something in your life.
3. If you give to Yahuwah, He is bound by His Word to give you more in return than you have given.

In Health, Wealth & Happiness: Has the Prosperity Gospel Overshadowed the Gospel of Christ? authors Russell S. Woodbridge and David W. Jones identify five theological errors on which advocates of the Prosperity Gospel go astray.

These errors are given as follows:

1. The Abrahamic covenant is a means to material entitlement.
2. Jesus’s atonement extends to the “sin” of material poverty.
3. Christians give in order to gain material compensation from God.
4. Faith is a self-generated spiritual force that leads to prosperity.
5. Prayer is a tool to force God to grant prosperity.⁵

1. The Abrahamic covenant is a means to material entitlement.

Prosperity preacher, Joel Osteen, heads Lakewood Church, a nondenominational charismatic mega church. An average of 52,000 people attend services each week. Joel and Victoria Osteen live in an elaborate mansion valued at $10,500,000.

Prosperity advocates twist Scripture, claiming the promised spiritual blessings actually promise material wealth. This is a huge mistake and it quickly leads followers into some doctrinally dangerous waters. Edward Pousson summarizes the prosperity gospel view of the Abrahamic covenant, stating: “Christians are Abraham’s spiritual children and heirs to the blessings of faith. . . . This Abrahamic inheritance is unpacked primarily in terms of material entitlements.”⁶

A text from Paul is frequently quoted to support this twisted interpretation: “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us … That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ.” (Galatians 3:13-14, KJV)

The problem is, they neglect to quote the second half of the verse, which clearly shows the spiritual application Paul intended: “That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Yahushua the Annointed; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” (Galatians 3:14, KJV)

The work of the Holy Spirit was clearly spelled out by the Saviour:

It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

 

And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

 

Of sin, because they believe not on me;

 

Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;

 

Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

 

I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.

 

Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. (John 16:7-13, KJV)

Notice: not a single promise of material prosperity can be found in these verses. The Spirit brings with it the wealth of Heaven in spiritual blessings! This is confirmed in Galatians 3:29 which states: “And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.” This obviously has a spiritual application, not a physical one. A Gentile believer does not have his mitochondrial DNA magically transformed upon conversion. We retain our physical bodies after conversion but we are Abraham’s seed spiritually. It follows, then, that the “promise” spoken of refers to spiritual wealth, not material prosperity.

 

Prosperity gospel preachers are the only ones who see huge returns on their money.
In this video, Pastor David E. Taylor of Joshua Media Ministry International gives a court deposition on misuse of church funds.

2. Jesus’s atonement extends to the “sin” of material poverty.

Again, this sounds good on the surface. But it lays an incredible burden of guilt on followers by teaching that material poverty is a sin. By extension, physical suffering and sickness are deemed sins as well. Kenneth Copeland writes:

The very basic principle of the Christian life is to know that God put our sin, sickness, disease, sorrow, grief and poverty on Jesus at Calvary. For God to put any of this on us now to teach us or to strengthen our faith would be a miscarriage of justice. To believe that God has a purpose for sickness would mean that Jesus bore our sickness in vain. What an insult to His love, care and compassion for us!⁷

This is nothing but the same old burden the Pharisees used to bind on innocent sufferers! Yahushua always rejected such beliefs.

And as Yahushua passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?

 

Yahushua answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of Yahuwah should be made manifest in him. (John 9:1-3, KJV)

3. Christians give in order to gain material compensation from God.

There is a word for this and it’s called bribery. A bribe is: “Money or favor given or promised in order to influence the judgment or conduct of a person in a position of trust … something that serves to induce or influence.”⁸ Bribery is illegal in most countries, and yet this is precisely what Christians are doing when they give to get.

Prosperity preachers even refer to it as the “Law of Compensation.” This is not selfless giving, but the very epitome of selfish giving. They give in order to get something even greater in return. This contradicts the teachings of the Saviour who said: “But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.” (Luke 6:35, NKJV) The reward received will be great in Heaven. Material wealth is promised no one this side of eternity.

4. Faith is a self-generated spiritual force that leads to prosperity.

“The Kenneth Copeland Airport, a private airport established by the ministries, is visible to the north east of the home. The organization keeps its $20 million Citation X jet, and another small one there. In 2007, Copeland was accused of using the jet for personal vacations and friends.” Copeland “owns three planes, and his church, northwest of Fort Worth, has a small fleet as well. Last March, after asking donors to chip in about $20 million, his church took ownership of a jet capable of flying a mile in about 6 seconds. Recently, the church gained a fifth plane: a $3.4 million jet.”  (http://virtualglobetrotting.com/map/kenneth-copelands-house/) (http://www.religionnewsblog.com/19870/kenneth-copeland)

The Bible teaches that faith is a gift. It grows by hearing the word of Yah. Faith itself is defined as: “Belief; the assent of the mind to the truth of what is declared by another, resting on his authority and veracity, without other evidence.”⁹ That is faith. But prosperity preachers perform a slick bait-and-switch. They use a word with positive connotations (faith) but then smoothly redefine it into something that is not supported by the Word of Yah!

Kenneth Copeland declares: “Faith is a spiritual force, a spiritual energy, a spiritual power. It is this force of faith which makes the laws of the spirit world function. … There are certain laws governing prosperity revealed in God’s Word. Faith causes them to function. They will work when they are put to work, and they will stop working when the force of faith is stopped.” Then he adds with blasphemous presumption: “Do you see how this functions? The laws of prosperity work the same as the laws of salvation, healing and so forth.”¹⁰

Prosperity preachers teach a different faith than that found in the gospel, and the “prosperity gospel” is a false gospel. Paul spoke of false teachers, warning believers of being “tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.” (Ephesians 4:14, KJV)

5. Prayer is a tool to force God to grant prosperity.

Prosperity preachers teach the presumptuous idea that certain words, certain claims, can force the Almighty to do whatever the believer requests. This is no different from a heathen incantation designed to force the spirits to obey!

Creflo A. Dollar declares: "Well, you need to hear about money, because you ain't gonna have no love and joy and peace until you get some money!"

Creflo Dollar, an American televangelist and founder of World Changers Church International, writes in “Prayer: Your Path to Success”: “When we pray, believing that we have already received what we are praying, God has no choice but to make our prayers come to pass. He honors His Word, not our emotions. … By allowing the Word to be the foundation of our prayer life, our confidence in our prayers will soar to new heights.”¹¹

Prayer is the breath of the soul, but it is never a tool to force the Almighty to comply with our demands. In Gethsamane, the Saviour prayed earnestly that He might not have to “drink of the cup” but every time He made that plea, He added, “Nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” (Luke 22:42, KJV)

Furthermore, our confidence is to be in the love of the Father and the merits of the Saviour, not in our own prayers!

Presuming to Demand of Yah

David prayed: “Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.” (Psalm 19:13, KJV) The Prosperity heresy is nothing but presumption! It presumes that, regardless of the state of one’s heart, a person can claim the promise to get anything he wishes!

David W. Jones, in his preface to Health, Wealth & Happiness, states:

While I surely had been exposed to the prosperity gospel earlier in my life, it was not until I began my seminary training that I grasped the size and influence of the prosperity gospel movement. I was amazed to find classmates and laypeople who viewed their relationship to God as a give-and-get transaction. They saw God as a kind of sugar daddy who existed to make them healthy, wealthy, and happy on account of service rendered. While God certainly does provide and care for His followers, prosperity theology is a corruption of His self-revelation, a distortion of His plan of redemption, and an idea that can ultimately lead to a reckless view of the material world.¹²

This reckless view, based on presumption, is a very real problem that hurts countless sincere individuals. Pastor Rick Henderson, warning of prosperity preacher, Joyce Meyer, writes: “Not only does she teach giving as a way to leverage more money from God, she is reckless with desperate people. She is not at all concerned if people give to her instead of paying bills. This is intolerable!”¹³

Worse still, this false gospel is now being exported around the world, victimizing those already struggling and desperately poor in third world countries.

Yahushua warned: “It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come! It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.” (Luke 17:1-2, KJV) The “little ones” spoken of here are not just children. They are anyone vulnerable to being taken advantage of by another.

Author and speaker, John Piper, has strong words to say about the greed of prosperity preachers who have become multi-millionaires by preying on the vulnerable who are struggling financially.

These prosperity preachers don’t just talk to Americans who are already well off … they get on their jets, their personal jets and they fly to Africa or the Philippines and they land and they gather a stadium full of 100,000 desperately poor people and tell them if they’ll believe in Jesus, they’ll get rich and all their needs’ll be met … and then they get in their jet with their pockets full and go home. That’s wicked. Because the Bible is so filled with teachings that in this life, this is a momentary affliction here. This light, momentary affliction is working for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.¹⁴

Bishop David Oyedepo is a Nigerian preacher and founder Living Faith Church World Wide. He has a total net worth of 150 million, and owns four private jets, plus homes in the United States and England. Oydepo’s church acquired a “530-acre facility, known as Canaanland, which serves as his headquarters. It is the home of the 50,000-seat capacity auditorium, the ‘Faith Tabernacle’, which is reputed to be the largest church auditorium in the world. This was a feat also recorded by the Guinness Book of Records.” https://genemcvay.wordpress.com/2014/11/02/rich-preacher-poor-preacher/ 

Spiritual Scam Artists

Carlo Ponzi was born in Parma, Italy, in 1882. He immigrated to the United States in 1903. During the voyage over, he gambled most of his money away, stating later: "I landed in this country with $2.50 in cash and $1 million in hopes, and those hopes never left me." After spending a few years in a Canadian prison (for forging a bad check) and another in the U.S. for smuggling in illegal immigrants, he hatched a plan to make his one million dollars in hopes come to reality.

And he succeeded! “He bought a mansion in Lexington, Massachusetts, with air conditioning and a heated swimming pool. He reportedly made $250,000 a day.”¹⁵ It didn’t last long, however. In 1920, an investigation began into his returns. Investors panicked, demanding their money back. Ponzi, of course, couldn’t deliver. Ponzi was a scam artist. Investors were bilked out of an estimated seven million dollars. Ponzi spent the next 14 years in prison and gave his name to a particular form of investment fraud that charlatans still attempt to use to this day: the Ponzi Scheme.

These wealthy prosperity preachers are even worse than the Carlo Ponzis and Bernie Madoffs of the world. They are worse because, ultimately, they misrepresent Yahuwah and His character. When a believer has accepted the lies and the hype and, in desperation for some financial easing, has given what he could not really afford to give, only to end up losing his home or job, he doesn’t blame the preacher that taught him to presume. Instead, he doubts the loving character of Yahuwah who has been misrepresented.

These spiritual scam artists use emotional manipulation to wring still more money from their listeners. They use the need of those already struggling financially to take what little they have left by promising if they will pay their offerings, they will get more in return than they have given. They say, “You can’t out-give God,” as added incentive to give every last penny to the prosperity gospel ministry.

Perhaps the cruelest twist of all is when the argument is based on a supposed need to build a third temple. If people repeatedly give to a prosperity ministry and never see a financial return despite all their giving, they may wake up and quit giving to that ministry. But this is not so when the need to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem is used as a reason to give.

This argument is based on Yahuwah’s promise to Abraham: “I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” (Genesis 12:3) It’s a fine racket that rakes in billions of dollars a year. Billions of dollars, just disappearing into the ether, because the temple still is not built, so the need still exists.

www.InPlainSite.org investigated the lifestyles of 22 televangelists and prosperity gospel preachers. Following are eight of them: Joel Osteen Lakewood Church and Osteen’s 10.5 million Dollar Home Kenneth Copeland Salaries, 18,280 square foot Parsonage/Housing Allowances, Private Airport for nine aircraft, Travel and Shopping Creflo Dollar Rolls-Royces, private jets, million-dollar Atlanta home and $2.5 million Manhattan apartment Paula (And Randy) White If one can afford a $2.1 million home on Bayshore Boulevard and a $3.5 million Trump Tower condo in New York, giving away a Bentley as a birthday gift is no big deal. Benny Hinn 10 million seaside mansion; a private jet, a Mercedes SUV and convertible, and “layovers” between crusades at the cost of $900 - $3,000 per night at locations including Hawaii, Cancun, London, Milan etc. Eddie Long Favors Gucci sunglasses, gold necklaces, diamond bracelets, Rolex watches and Bentleys, and says he is "on a different scale than the little black preacher sitting over there". “Bishop” Elijah Bernard Jordan This meglomaniac takes the proverbial cake, considering that the ceiling of one room in his multi million dollar mansion in an exclusive gated community, features a painting of Jordan on a throne – as God – with his three sons hovering around him as angels. T.D. Jakes $2.6 million luxurious pink brick, seven-bedroom home with swimming pool in the affluent White Rock Lake area of Dallas...next door to the former mansion of oil tycoon H.L. Hunt.

Religious Bribery

The “Prosperity Gospel” has come down from ancient heathenism, through Catholicism, to modern Evangelical Protestantism. It is a business transaction. In business, something is received, in exchange for something else.  In heathenism, the price to be paid in exchange for health, wealth, or victory was frequently the sacrifice of a child. Roman Catholics exchanged money for promised indulgences. Modern Evangelicals who have embraced the prosperity heresy, give, and give, and give in hope that, in exchange, Yahuwah will be forced to prosper them.

This concept is alive and well in Africa where “Prosperity teachers in Africa claim the ability to heal sickness, break curses, restore marriages, reverse bad fortune, and more.”¹⁶

In a report for TGC International Outreach … Charles Karuri addressed the problem of false teaching that has swept across the African continent. Karuri, pastoral assistant at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Nairobi, Kenya, described the “prosperity gospel” as a malevolent concoction: “African poverty, joblessness, and general societal dysfunction meeting an antithesis borne of Pentecostalism and traditional African religion. … These are the very things the witch doctor back in the village had been doing long before the prosperity message arrived on our shores,” Karuri said.¹⁷

Lives have been ruined, individuals hurt, and faith destroyed by this religious fraud which has no place in Christianity. (To read Tom Killingsworth’s experience working for Kenneth Copeland Ministries, click here.) Author Soren Dreir describes bribery very clearly, explaining: “The gifts are not real, since they come with a motive or on special occasions. The gifts are not real because they are bribes: ‘If you do this and that – I will reward you.’ Any form of gift that comes with an alternate motive is not a gift, it is manipulation and it exposes the ‘giver’ and the giver’s agenda.”

Money given with the intent to receive something in exchange is not a free-will offering. It’s a bribe. The gospel Yahushua taught was the very opposite of this. He said:

Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth. (Matthew 6:1-3, KJV)

People deceived by the prosperity gospel keep careful track of what they have given, fully expecting large returns on their “investment.” They certainly do not give self-forgetfully, not letting their right hand know what their left hand is giving.

In the past, when churches reached a certain size, they would split off and form new congregations. This was to 1) spread the gospel and evangelize; and, 2) meet the felt needs of the members. Prosperity gospel preachers do not do this. Instead, their attitude is the bigger, the better! Not only does this increase funds to their ministry (and thus increase their pay checks) but it also has a subtle influence of mind-over-mind among the church members. The prosperity gospel only works with the herd mentality of very large groups. This is mind manipulation because, it is reasoned, “So many people can’t be wrong!”

"Pastor [Joel] Osteen acquired Lakewood Church's new home at the former Compaq Center in 2005. The 16,000-seat arena is home to the nation's largest congregation (43,000 members) and underwent $95 million in renovations, according to a 2005 New York Times article. ‘Like many new evangelical churches, the building has no cross, no stained glass, no other religious iconography. Instead, it has a cafe with wireless Internet access, 32 video game kiosks and a vault to store the offering,’ the paper reported.” (http://www.christianpost.com/buzzvine/joel-osteens-10-5-million-mansion-cross-less-church-and-other-surprising-facts-about-the-mega-pastor-106986/)

No Man Can Serve Two Masters

People who embrace prosperity gospel heresy are attempting the impossible. Yahushua flat out said: “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve Yahuwah and mammon.” (Matthew 6:24, KJV) “Mammon” is an interesting little word that comes from the Greek, Mammonas, or avarice. Avarice is “Excessive or insatiable desire for wealth or gain.”¹⁸ The gospel of prosperity is the gospel of Mammon.

 

Peter sternly warned against this pernicious doctrine, stating:

But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying [Yahuwah] that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you. (2 Peter 2:1-3, KJV)

The gospel of prosperity is popular because it appeals to two large groups of people: the greedy, and those who are struggling financially. Almost everyone falls into one of those two categories. However, with this heresy, your success is not dependent on Yahuwah’s goodness and love. Rather, your success is dependent upon your ability to think positively and change your reality through your own works: paying of tithes and offerings. Worse still, your spiritual standing with Yah is judged by any outward display of wealth you can make. This follows, because if poverty and want are a sin, ostentatious displays of wealth are a sign of Yah’s favor! Spiritual pride takes over. This is no different than the attitudes of the Pharisees 2,000 years ago.

This heresy blatantly contradicts Scripture, which repeatedly states that troubles are the lot of Yahushua’s followers here on earth. “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

Prosperity gospel preachers are gathering treasure that passes away. Worse, they are leading astray multitudes, encouraging them to do the same. Yahushua’s message was the very opposite of the prosperity gospel. He said:

 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:

 

But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

 

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. (Matthew 6:19-21, KJV)

Yahushua further warned that with wealth comes great spiritual danger! “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of [Yahuwah].” (Mark 10:25, KJV) Paul was even more blunt. He wrote:

They that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of [Yah], flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. (1 Timothy 6:9-11, KJV)

Prosperity preachers are encouraging people to strive for the very things Paul says to flee, because they bring many sorrows!

The Bible is clear: life on a sinful earth is full of sorrow and woe. We enter the Kingdom of Heaven only through many trials and tribulations. Yahushua told Pilate, “My kingdom is not of this world.” (John 18:36, KJV) The promises given for life on earth are largely spiritual promises, while the promises for material prosperity are primarily for the life to come.

Don’t be deceived into sending your money to charlatans. Don’t assume that if you are struggling financially, you are under Yah’s curse. The Father does not work that way. Yahushua didn’t even have a house to call His own and yet the Father said of Him: “This is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:17, KJV)

Take up your cross and follow in the footsteps of Yahushua. Turn your attention (and your offerings) to saving souls and be a blessing to those in need around you. Worldly prosperity is offered no one in this life, but a divine Companion is promised. He will never leave you nor forsake you, regardless of the paths over which you are called to pass.

Trust in [Yahuwah], and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.

 

Rest in [Yahuwah], and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.

 

A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.

 

For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but [Yahuwah] upholdeth the righteous.

 

[Yahuwah] knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever.

 

They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.

 

The steps of a good man are ordered by [Yahuwah]: and he delighteth in his way.

 

Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for [Yahuwah] upholdeth him with his hand.

 

I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. (Psalm 37:7, 16-19, 23-25, KJV)

Trust in Yahuwah. He knows what you need and He will send you help just when you need it. You don’t need to bribe Him. He loves you. He delights to give His children every good thing.

It is enough.