To be clear what I meant by this doctrine I have defined the problem area
as:
‘God wants me to be prosper and be rich in worldly
things and it is OK for me to accumulate (ie hoard) my wealth’.
God desires to make me rich rather than just providing all my needs according
to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus (Phil 4:19)
The Teachings of Jesus
Have you ever thought it strange that none of Jesus’ teachings
are used to back up this position :-
Mat 6:19
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth……”
Mat 6:21
“For where your treasure is there will your heart be also..…”
Mat 6:23
“No man can serve two masters……You cannot serve God and Mammon (ie
riches)”
Luke
12:16-21
Parable of the rich (hoarding) Fool…
‘This very night your life will be demanded of you’
Luke 16:
14-15
The Pharisees who loved money were sneering… ‘What is highly valued
among men is detestable in God’s sight’
Luke 19:
19-25
Story/parable of Lazarus and the rich man
-
The Apostles Teachings
The main new testament scripture used to support this
teaching comes from almost right at end of the NT
ie 3 John vs 2
‘Beloved I pray that you may prosper
in all things and be in health just as your soul prospers’
This over looks numerous less favourable and unsuitable
scriptures
1 John 2:15-17
‘Do
not love the world or anything in the world or anything in the world. If anyone
loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him’
‘The world and its desires will
pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever’
And a warning to ‘anyone who teaches false doctrines and does
not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ…..men of corrupt
mind who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means
to financial gain’ (1 Tim 6:3-5)
1 Tim 6:9
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
1Tim 6:10
For the love of money is the root of all evil, Some people eager for
money have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many
griefs
Prosperity and Blessing taught outside of the context of
generosity to the poor and sowing into Gods kingdom is usually received by the
heart of man as a justification for greed and love of the world.
Greed is defined as idolatry (ie when we love and
therefore serve money more than we love and serve God) (ie Eph 5:5 and Col 3:5)