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Healthy, wealthy and happy!
I recently heard a message about a book titled “Jesus wants you to be healthy, wealthy and happy” that someone found in a store, and promptly placed in the “Christian fiction” section. This gave me the idea of writing a series of essays on “Christian fiction.” The first one focused on the prosperity gospel’s approach to health. This essay will focus on financial prosperity.
The idea that God wants us to be rich and that wealth is a sign of God’s blessing is pretty foundational to the “prosperity gospel.” The verse below is one of many verses that prosperity preachers use to justify their teachings.
“Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.”
- 3 John 2 (King James Version)
The King James Version is convenient for this discussion because it actually uses the word “prosper.”
Let’s take a look at other translations.
The New Living Translation (NLT):
“Dear friend, I hope all is well with you and that you are as healthy in body as you are strong in spirit.”
New International Version (NIV):
“Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.”
These other translations of the same verse just might give a more accurate perspective of what the writer
(John) was trying to communicate. It was basically a prayer for well- being. For example, if I was sending an email to a friend in January, I might write something like:
“I hope you and your family are doing well. Best wishes for a healthy and prosperous New Year.”
Imagine if years later, someone took this simple greeting and made it the basis of a major church doctrine? That is essentially what happened with 3 John 2. Of course, there are several other Bible verses that are central to the prosperity gospel.
Let’s look at another verse.
“Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”
Luke 6:38 (NKJV)
This verse is often used to support the idea that generous giving leads to wealth. (“Just keep giving, and God will see to it that you become rich”).
In order to put this verse in its proper context, let’s look at the preceding verse.
“Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.”
Luke 6: 37 (NKJV)
It is clear that the topic of discussion was forgiveness and not finances. This passage is essentially stating that we should be generous with forgiveness if we want to be forgiven. Somehow it has been used to promote the idea that generous giving leads to financial prosperity.
Paying God to control your children’s behavior
In another essay, I mentioned a female preacher who was asking her listeners to give a seed ($1000) to guarantee that their adult children would remain virgins till marriage. Not only is it unreasonable to believe that people can control the behaviors of their grown children, it’s even more absurd to think that you can somehow “pay” God to keep your children abstinent.
Paying to get into heaven
A few years ago, a video was circulating on the internet in which the general overseer of a Christian ministry that has branches all over the world was heard saying people wouldn’t go to heaven if they don’t pay their tithes. By that logic, he is implying that a place in heaven is something that can be bought with money.
The root of all evil?
So much of what is being preached these days is the antithesis of what Christ taught, especially when it comes to money. Money should be seen for what it is, a tool to accomplish things and not an end in itself. Some people misquote the Bible and say money is the root of all evil. What the verse in question actually states is that the love of money is the root of all evil.
“For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”
1 Timothy 6:10 (King James Version)
Unfortunately, the love of money has caused many preachers to manipulate and mislead their followers. It’s time for people to wake up to reality. You don’t get rich by giving all your money away, even to the pastor. If you want to be rich, you need to learn from people who understand how money works and take the right steps to build wealth. Money isn’t going to miraculously appear in your bank account, no matter how much faith you have, or how generous you are. You can read more of my thoughts on “miracle money” in this essay.
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