Alex: “You see, God and money are like the same thing.”
Me: “Brother, did you really just say that? It sounds like you are saying money is God. I’m very uncomfortable with what you just said. Can you elaborate?”
Alex: “All you see here, the buildings, what you’re wearing. It comes from money. We would have none of this without money. Where else would it have come from? Everything we have is because of money.”
Me: “My brother, God created everything. Money may or may not have been used, but God is the creator? It sounds like you are saying money is the creator and is God.”
Alex: “No no no. You’re misunderstanding me. See… all of these things bring happiness. Money brings happiness. You cannot have happiness without money. See?”
Me: “I know millionaires who have more money than I can fathom. Most are incredibly unhappy and never feel like they have enough. These things do not satisfy! No, God is our happiness, satisfaction, and joy. In heaven there will not be any money, but God will be there and we’ll have perfect joy. Alex, you are in a very dangerous place. You are worshiping money instead of God. Jesus tells us we cannot serve two master, you cannot serve money and God. You choose money, and that is not a good choice.”
Alex: “But scripture says there are two lords: God and money. It calls money Lord. It is used by God but it is also a Lord. God works through money. That’s why the Bible talks about money so much.”
Me: “No, scripture says that money is the root of all kinds of evil. Money is all material. It tells us in scripture to not store up treasure on earth where rust and thieves can get it, but store up treasure in heaven. What is in heaven? We will be, and other people who come along with us. And God. That is treasure in heaven, that is what lasts.”
Alex: “No, it says that the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. That’s when you do unjust, greedy things to get money. But there is nothing wrong with wanting money. Money is good.”
Me: “Making money the source of your joy is loving money over God. It is like what Jesus said in the parable of the sower in Mark 4 (I explained the parable). The third soil the seed was sown on grew up, but thorns and thistles grew up and choked it off. But in the last soil it reaped a harvest of 30, 60, and 100-fold. What choked out the third soil? It says “the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful” (Mark 4:18). Alex, you are desiring other things rather than God. You will be the third soil. You will bear no fruit.”
Alex: “No no no, you must be misunderstanding. What I’m saying is that how can someone who is a citizen of heaven be poor?”
Me: “You mean poor like Jesus was? Or like his disciples were? Or like many of his devoted followers are today? It says in Luke that “blessed are the poor”. Paul said he was content in plenty and in want. We are to be content in God. God gives us all things. God is our satisfaction. God is our joy. When Job had everything taken away, he still worshiped God. Yes, material things seem to bring some comfort and happiness, but it is all fleeting. It will all burn one day. There is no real joy in it. It is all a fraction of a reflection of the glory of heaven and the relationship we enjoy with our God and Savior Jesus Christ.”
… (our conversation continues on, with no change on Alex’s part. We parted amiably and I hope to talk to him again soon.)
This is part of an actual conversation I had last night with an Ethiopian friend in the park. He professed to love Jesus and to be a Christian. I asked him where he worships. He said he goes to an Ethiopian church and sometimes to Living Word. I told him Living Word is not a Christian church. It is a prosperity gospel church.
What is the prosperity gospel?
Well, for one, it is no gospel. It’s bad news. It says that if you become a Christian, God owes you health, wealth, and success. If you do the right things and pray the right prayers, God will make you rich. Most preachers you see on TV bring this terrible message. This is also a growing message prominent throughout Africa. May God have mercy on their souls and bring them to repentance!
They proclaim that God is a tool to acquire Money. Money is there God.
In reality, God uses money as a tool, both to give the sinner further over to his sin and to give blessings to his beloved.
Yes, God blesses the faithful and obedient. But the faithful and obedient are blessed because of their love of God. And that blessing may or may not be material blessings. Seeking after material blessings is the love of money, which is the root of all kinds of evil.
10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. (1 Tim. 6:10)
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