This is a lie that I hear preached in churches over and over again and it is biblically untrue! I was in a church this past Sunday and the preacher there took it a step further. He said “If you love God, your children will mind and you will no longer have trouble with your finances”. Wow!
Maybe somebody should have told John the baptizer that. He could have kept his head on. Maybe Peter or Paul would have benefited from that knowledge too. Or the countless others across time who have been martyred for their love of God. I know personally that when I answered the calling to the Ministry, the Devil attacked me non-stop until he finally gave up and realized he couldn’t win.
In my opinion this is right up there with prosperity gospel. I’m not sure if they actually believe it or if they just use it to get more tithes from their congregation. Either way it against biblical teaching and against history. Let’s explore what we can learn about this from the Bible.
6 “Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan[a] also came among them. 7 The Lord said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.” 8 And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?”9 Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason?10 Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.” 12 And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord. 6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan[a] also came among them. 7 The Lord said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.” 8 And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?”9 Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason?10 Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.” 12 And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.
13 Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house,14 and there came a messenger to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, 15 and the Sabeans fell upon them and took them and struck down the servants[b]with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 16 While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 17 While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “The Chaldeans formed three groups and made a raid on the camels and took them and struck down the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 18 While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, 19 and behold, a great wind came across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young people, and they are dead, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”
20 Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. 21 And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”
Job 1:6-22 NKJV
Job loved God with all that he was yet the Devil still tormented him. This is but one story and there are many many others that show when you love and follow God it is not always lollipops and roses.
The prophet Jeremiah speaks truth to the corrupt religious culture around him. What is his reward? Jeremiah is rejected, mocked, and thrown in a well.
The Bible tells us that even Jesus, who was God in the flesh, was “a man of sorrows” and “acquainted with grief.” He was rejected by members of his own family, endured ridicule in his own hometown. He was hated by the religious leaders of His day, betrayed by friends, falsely accused, beaten, and tortured to death.
“In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,”
1 Peter 1:6-7 NKJV
Now don’t get me wrong. I am not saying it is all bad. But it is not all good either as many preachers and churches would try to lead you to believe. Everything has a purpose and it is to further God’s Kingdom. Always remember what it says in Ecclesiastes:
“When times are good, enjoy the good; when times are bad, consider: God has made the former as well as the latter so that people can’t discover anything that will come to be after them.”
Ecclesiastes 7:14 NKJV
God uses the good times and the bad times to chasten us and strengthen our faith. All we have to do is be accepting of both and learn from it all.