Comments on: What the Bible really says about prosperity

By: David

David — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 16:41:18 +0000

3 John verse 2 – “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.”

By: P31Woman

P31Woman — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 00:24:05 +0000

The passage about worry and all these things will be added unto you needs to be put into it’s proper context.

It is talking about what you need to survive. Not propserity or wealth.

Also in the Old Testament we find God “promised” material blessings.

In the NT we find Jesus first sermon. He promises his true followers what? Persecution. To emphasise this he mentions it twice. (Sermon on the Mt. Matthew 5-7)

By: bob

bob — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 17:02:23 +0000

Mark,
thanks for answering this –

Ravi, I am sorry I missed your comment, they come in a feed and if I get too many too fast, they fall off the screen and I miss them… sorry…

also, Mark I completely agree with you – I always think about it as – would I start this business myself? If the answer is no, then I don’t feel good about buying the stock…

By: Mark Minnella

Mark Minnella — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 17:23:44 +0000

Personally, I do not see anything wrong with investing in stocks in general. But you have to remember that when you buy stock in a company, you are buying ownership in part of that company. It is part of our duty as stewards to be aware of the actions of the companies that we invest in and ensure that we are not growing the money that God has entrusted us with through immoral means. Think of it this way. How would you feel if you found out that your church was taking the money you tithed, and instead of giving it to the poor, bought part of a pornography studio or abortion clinic as an investment to grow that money so that there would be more to give to the poor? It’s important that we do our research and don’t use companies that support anti-christian lifestyles to grow the money that God has entrusted us with. It is part of our duties as stewards. You can find out what many companies support and promote at http://www.MoralMoney.com. I’ll be honest and let you know that this is my website but as far as I know its the only free source of this information.

By: Ravindra Emmanuel

Ravindra Emmanuel — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 12:04:57 +0000

Thanks dear for the message. I was searching for “What the Bible really says about prosperity” and you have answered it. I have a questions. Is it okay to invest stocks?

What is your name? buddy. Thanks/Ravi

By: bob

bob — Wed, 14 May 2008 04:05:05 +0000

@Atomic
I completely agree that scriptures can be mis-interpreted when out of context and that scripture should be judged with other scriptures… Which ones do you think are out of context?

By: AtomicWedgey

AtomicWedgey — Wed, 14 May 2008 02:54:01 +0000

These verses are great, at least for those of us in USA and Western Europe, but I can’t help but wonder how the believers among the Karin peoples of Burma should interpret these verses? With the cyclone that killed so many, and a government that does so little for them already… Yet the church there is growing by leaps and bounds as it is throughout the third world, and I promise you that it has nothing to do with promises of safety or sufficiency. In most of the third world, belief in Christ exposes you to persecution and reduces your safety…

With all due respect to those who are quoting single verses, I would encourage you to look back at the passages they come from and read them from within the context they were written, keeping in mind to whom they were originally written. Philippians 4:13 say that “I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me.” (I added the caps for emphasis.) Does this mean that I can fly to the moon and back under the power of the holy spirit only? I think not. Paul was speaking to the sufficiency of Christ in being able to provide for his needs, and that he could do all that Christ was calling him to do, because Christ would equip him for his purpose. One must be careful not to take God’s word and pull things out of context.

A friend once went into a “Christian Health Food” store. Inside, prominently displayed on the wall was a verse that said (and I paraphrase) Eat not … drink not … (the ellipses replace the stated items) Upon arriving at home, he looked up the quoted verse and it said “Let us not say ‘Eat not … drink not…’

Sorry for my long 2cents.

By: Erin

Erin — Mon, 12 May 2008 19:17:53 +0000

What a great post. My husband and I have been discussing this for the last couple of days and getting someone else’s opinion is always helpful.

I tend to think that God will prosper us, but it may not be in ways that we think. He may never make us rich in the world’s eyes, but he can make it so that we can pay all our bills, live debt-free, etc. But most of all, He makes it possible for us to live in a way that is contrary to the world and still live well. As long as we seek Him and do His will we will be blessed (even if at the time we don’t consider it a blessing).

By: bob

bob — Mon, 12 May 2008 17:07:45 +0000

@Tristan
thanks for sharing – that is a great verse as well!

By: Tristan

Tristan — Mon, 12 May 2008 14:59:26 +0000

Thanks for the post, Bob! If we really dig in to God’s word and diligently seek Him, He will bless us. Verse 11 below really tells me that God desires to bless His people.

Matthew 7
7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

9 “Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!