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NASB | 1 Timothy 6:17 ¶ Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 1 Timothy 6:17 ¶ As for the rich in this present world, instruct them not to be conceited and arrogant, nor to set their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly and ceaselessly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. |
Bible Question: How is it that God is against money and prosperity when He has commanded us to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature? How can we say that prosperity is heretical when God's Ambassadors are suffering financial hardship needlessly? Do we criticize those televangelists for "impure motives" yet the average american family has 2 or 3 cars a tv in every room and more appliances than they know what to do with? What do you think? What's worse, to preach that God desires to bless His children financially or to hypocritically spend more money on self than the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ? |
Bible Answer: Greetings; God is not against money and prosperity. As this passage indicates, He is against people who put money and prosperity ahead of Him. I have two different problems with some televangelists. (1) Some of them preach a greedy theology that says all faithful Christians are entitled to be rich. This is heresy. (2) Some of them live very ostentatious lives that make me wonder what their viewers who send in the money had in mind. Did they intend to build the Kingdom or the televangelist's portfolio? I have even heard some of these folks claim that Jesus was wealthy, thus excusing their own greed. When I financially support a ministry, I don't expect my money to buy garish gilded furniture, fancy clothes, or pink wigs. I expect it to feed the poor, provide medical assistance, and most of all to support missionaries in the field who live their lives and their faith in full view of those they are struggling to reach. I'm not sure whom your last question is directed to - who are the "hypocrites"? For those of us who are not in full-time service, God asks for our tithes and our free-will offerings. So a faithful, godly person might easily "spend more money on self than the Gospel". For example, my employer gives me money for writing computer programs and considers it value given for value received. It is up to me as a Christian to turn a portion of it over to God. To the extent that a televangelist makes me feel good, I guess he or she can keep the money and call it value given for value received. But to the extent that I give my money in trust that it will be used to effectively spread the Gospel, most of it should go for just that. Peace and grace, Steve aka Indiana Jones |