Who or What is YOUR God?

If poverty is accompanied by physical dangers, prosperity is accompanied by spiritual dangers. God will often move us through both for the purpose of testing us. We have to realize that God is in control of our life, and no amount of verbal commands can change the destiny and purpose God has laid out for us. If the Lord so blesses us with wealth it will add no hurt or harm. God’s blessings don’t come with the taint of evil or falsehoods.

Phil 4:11-13 (Phi) ...For I have learned to be content, whatever the circumstances may be. I know now how to live when things are difficult and I know how to live when things are prosperous. In general and in particular I have learned the secret of eating well or going hungry--of facing either plenty of poverty. I am ready for anything through the strength of the One who lives within me.

A man or woman of God MUST be content in order to serve God with integrity. There may be times when the Lord will place you in situations that you will have to suffer loss or be thrust in harms way for the Gospels sake. I love the fact that Paul was ready to be offered up for God’s service. He was beaten, stoned, starved, shipwrecked, and lied on for the sake of preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul could NOT be bought, or compromised in any way because of his devotion to God’s will. Materialistic preachers are the most likely to become false prophets. Why? Because they can be bought with the lure of MORE! A materialistic person ALWAYS wants MORE. If you remember Paul warned Timothy and Titus against Elders and Bishops that are materialistic.

Phil 4:12 (NAS) I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.

Phil 4:12-13 (Jer) I know how to be poor and I know how to be rich too. I have been through my initiation and now I am ready for anything anywhere: full stomach or empty stomach, poverty or plenty. There is nothing I cannot master with the help of the One who gives me strength.

Paul was a soldier of Jesus Christ, a good soldier that wasn’t corrupted by the world and the lure of wealth. If you are so consumed with making yourself comfortable and wealthy, how can you truly go to hard places for the work of the Lord? Imagine the Lord speaks to you and compels you to go to a Third World Country and preach the Gospel? Do you think you will be living in the lap of luxury in Haiti or Somalia? I have been to many of these places and I can tell you the Prosperity Message doesn’t work in a place where just having a roof over your head makes you blessed. God needs men and woman that can adjust to being with OR without. That is why Paul said “If you have food and clothing BE content!”.
Will We Follow if Jesus Asks Us to Enter Poverty For a Season?
Mark 10:21-27,31 (Jer) Jesus looked steadily at him and loved him, and he said, "There is one thing you lack. Go and sell everything you own and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me." But his face fell at these words and he went away sad, for he was a man of great wealth. Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!" The disciples were astounded by these words, but Jesus insisted, "My children," he said to them, "how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." They were more astonished than ever. "In that case," they said to one another, "who can be saved?" Jesus gazed at them. "For men," he said, "it is impossible, but not for God: because everything is possible for God... Many who are first will be last, and the last first."

Is it likely, with all of his contacts and experience, that this man would not have remained poor for long? And yet he was unwilling to obey Christ with all these advantages, even temporarily. The rich young ruler could have been the 13th disciple literally! Jesus offered a chance to hang with Him! He turned it down because he loved his STUFF! So often people forsake Jesus because of STUFF! Stuff like money, fame, and influence. I am not trying to say rich people can’t serve Jesus, but what I am saying is so often the rich make money their God. Money is a powerful thing; money can buy fame and influence. Money can buy friends and love…not REAL friends and love but a great counterfeit of the two. Money is the God of this World’s source of power. That is why the Bible states, “Man cannot serve TWO masters, God or Mammon (money), you will love one or hate the other.” What is YOUR God?

Chaplain Stevens

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