Wealthy Christians-immoral?

Wealthy Christians-immoral?

Tuesday, February 28, 2017

10:02 AM

I always find it interesting when people, especially other Christians, criticize Christians for doing well financially.   I see a lot of stories like that on Yahoo News.  Things like "this pastors net worth is disgusting", etc. 

I think to myself, really?  Why?  Now I realize that those who aren't Christian don't know Scripture but I would expect Christians to know better.  Scripture is very clear that if we go all in for God we will be rewarded.   

Most people get that.  However many people think that reward will only come once we get to Heaven.  That is simply not Scriptural.  What people miss is that Scripture is very clear that we will be rewarded with exponentially more than what we gave to begin with and we will be rewarded here and now as well as when we get to Heaven.  Take a look.

Malachi 3:8-10(NKJV)

    “Will a man rob God?      Yet you have robbed Me!     But you say,     ‘In what way have we robbed You?’     In tithes and offerings.

    You are cursed with a curse,     For you have robbed Me,     Even this whole nation.

    Bring all the tithes into the storehouse,     That there may be food in My house,     And try Me now in this,”     Says the Lord of hosts,     “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven     And pour out for you such blessing     That there will not be room enough to receive it.

Here we have God telling us about how it works.  If you do things God's way, God will reward you with overflowing goodness.

Matthew 19:28-30(NKJV)

So Jesus said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 

And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. 

But many who are first will be last, and the last first.

Jesus explaining the concept of receiving "100 fold" of what we gave up, plus we get eternal life too!  This 100 fold increase apples across the board.  Give up some time to serve God and he multiplies your time back to you.  Give some of your effort and energy to serve God and he multiplies that energy and effort back to you for use on your other goals.  And yes, use your financial resources in the service of God's plan and He will multiple that gift back to you as well!

Mark 10:29-31(NKJV)

So Jesus answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, 

who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life. 

But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

Here we have Jesus saying essentially the same thing as the verses in Matthew while at the same time clarifying the time frame.  As you can see highlighted in green, we get 100 fold of the things we gave up "now in this time" and then Jesus goes on to clarify that we get eternal life "in the age to come". 

Luke 18:29-30(NKJV)

So He said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, 

who shall not receive many times more in this present time, and in the age to come eternal life.”

Here we have St. Luke confirming what Jesus said as reported in St Mark's Gospel.  We will be rewarded many times over for what we commit to God's plan…in this present time and then we get eternal life in the age to come.

So why do so many Christians struggle financially?  I'm sure there are many reasons but I think one of the main reasons is failing to stand on the promises of God.  

God said that he will reward His workers here and now as well as in eternity.  That is one of the ways God blesses His people.  Now when you have Christians going around saying that those financial blessings are disgusting, what they are really doing is calling one of God's blessings evil. 

I think God looks at that and thinks to Himself, "If this person thinks my blessings are evil then I sure wouldn't want to give something they don't want!".  :)  Yes I do think God has a sense of humor like that!