It takes an abundance of character to follow in the footsteps of our heroes of faith, it doesn’t take an abundance of clothes, music, tv’s, cars, houses, furniture and so on. Paul ends his letter to the Ephesians emphasising the point.
I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you
with power through his spirit in your inner being so that Christ
may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you being
rooted and established in love may have power, together with all
the saints to grasp how wide and long, high and deep is the love
of Christ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that
you may be filled to the measure of all fullness of God. Now unto
him who is able to do exceedingly, abundantly (immeasurably)
more than all we ask or imagine according to his power that is at
work in us. To him be glory in the church and Christ Jesus through-
out all generations, forever and ever.
Ephesians 3:16-21
Paul doesn’t pray for material stuff, he is focussed instead on God’s power and love. He prays we are strengthened with power, grounded in love, which produces power which brings better understanding on God’s love, which is more valuable than wisdom. All these things seem intrinsically tied together. Love, strength, wisdom and power. They work together to give us quality of life, life to the full. Verse 20 needs to be read as one sentence with verse 21. Twenty describes God’s ability and twenty one states we give Him the glory. Twenty is about what He can do, not a guarantee of what He will do. In particular it is not a guarantee of financial stability, or wealth complete with two or more cars and McMansions for everybody. It may be worth noting here Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego’s ‘however’;
O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before
you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the
God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us
from your hand, o king. BUT EVEN IF HE DOES NOT, we
want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or
worship the image of gold you have set up.
Daniel 3:16-18
These verses clearly show that God is able to do things but that doesn’t mean He will.
Bottom line is I’ve been as guilty as any for misinterpreting these verses but the more I study them the more I’m convinced wealth has nothing to do with it. Can we be wealthy and Christian? Certainly. And God definitely calls certain people to be money makers for his kingdom but he doesn’t call all of us to be. Do I like stuff? Yes. Do I think we all need to give it all up? No. I think we need to seek God out and ask Him what He wants us to do. He will tell us. Some things though are right in front of our eyes. God calls us all to be more Christlike and embrace the purposes He has put aside for us. We are called to be more like David and seek His heart.
It may also be worth noting that a financial reading of the scriptures makes it easy for us to fall away from faith – if we don’t get. It also makes it easy to judge others if they don’t have and it would completely count out a great number of people in this world if our benchmark for faith is financial abundance. Abundance of character and needs to survive, well that’s another matter entirely.
I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you
with power through his spirit in your inner being so that Christ
may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you being
rooted and established in love may have power, together with all
the saints to grasp how wide and long, high and deep is the love
of Christ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that
you may be filled to the measure of all fullness of God. Now unto
him who is able to do exceedingly, abundantly (immeasurably)
more than all we ask or imagine according to his power that is at
work in us. To him be glory in the church and Christ Jesus through-
out all generations, forever and ever.
Ephesians 3:16-21
Paul doesn’t pray for material stuff, he is focussed instead on God’s power and love. He prays we are strengthened with power, grounded in love, which produces power which brings better understanding on God’s love, which is more valuable than wisdom. All these things seem intrinsically tied together. Love, strength, wisdom and power. They work together to give us quality of life, life to the full. Verse 20 needs to be read as one sentence with verse 21. Twenty describes God’s ability and twenty one states we give Him the glory. Twenty is about what He can do, not a guarantee of what He will do. In particular it is not a guarantee of financial stability, or wealth complete with two or more cars and McMansions for everybody. It may be worth noting here Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego’s ‘however’;
O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before
you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the
God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us
from your hand, o king. BUT EVEN IF HE DOES NOT, we
want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or
worship the image of gold you have set up.
Daniel 3:16-18
These verses clearly show that God is able to do things but that doesn’t mean He will.
Bottom line is I’ve been as guilty as any for misinterpreting these verses but the more I study them the more I’m convinced wealth has nothing to do with it. Can we be wealthy and Christian? Certainly. And God definitely calls certain people to be money makers for his kingdom but he doesn’t call all of us to be. Do I like stuff? Yes. Do I think we all need to give it all up? No. I think we need to seek God out and ask Him what He wants us to do. He will tell us. Some things though are right in front of our eyes. God calls us all to be more Christlike and embrace the purposes He has put aside for us. We are called to be more like David and seek His heart.
It may also be worth noting that a financial reading of the scriptures makes it easy for us to fall away from faith – if we don’t get. It also makes it easy to judge others if they don’t have and it would completely count out a great number of people in this world if our benchmark for faith is financial abundance. Abundance of character and needs to survive, well that’s another matter entirely.
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