CONTENTMENT VERSES PROSPERITY

I can’t speak for you, but contentment and prosperity were confusing me. If you know me, I go straight to the Lord for all the answers so my confusion can be cleared up.

I knew I was content with the little I have had or the plenty I have had but what is enough and where is the line drawn between having too much or having too little according to God?

Today it seams we have 2 extremes and without clarity and balance.

One extreme teaches the prosperity gospel message that all Christians will be wealthy beyond their wildest dreams.

The other extreme teaches having clothes and food is enough all other desires beyond that is greed.

Lets look at Jesus and all His teachings through His Spirit by way of His first disciples and apostles that followed Him to get the correct balance between contentment and prosperity. This gave my mind full clarity and I hope it does your mind in Christ through His Spirit as well.

First, none of us can compare ourselves with what Jesus had materialistically because He knew He was sent to be crucified and be raised from death. He knew His future and the time of his death, we do not. Why would Jesus buy a home, a field, oxen, furniture, family, and die just to leave them in sorrow and pain? HE was sent for one purpose and that was to be crucified and be raised from death through His resurrection power by His Holy Spirit so we could receive His Spirit He gave us through the Cross by way of His blood when we crucify ourselves spiritually for His sake.

So, we do not compare our material desires with His because we have no foreknowledge of our death and we too are not sent to be crucified so others could live through our resurrected power. We are not God or His First Holy Son that came from Him.

Let’s look at His life pre-ministry. He was born in a manger this is clear, but they left the manger and were found by the 3 Wiseman in a house. The wise men did not visit him the night of his birth. That is a add on man-made story to represent the man made tradition of Christmas.

Mathew 2:10-11 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. 11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they ||presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

This is clear His family had a house, and gold, frankincense, and myrrh are earthly treasures. If God desired us not to have them He sure would not have given them to His first Holy family through the 3 wise men. He desires us to use them as good stewards but he knows we need them.

People labeled Jesus a carpenter (Mark 6:3), and He was known as a carpenter’s son (Matthew 13:55).The Greek word used for “carpenter” (tekton) could also be translated more broadly as “artisan,” “contractor,” or “handyman.” It is possible, therefore, that Jesus and Joseph were the sort of men you call when something needs to be fixed—be it made of wood, stone, or something else.

Don't you think it is odd to think he did not desire for us to have earthly things beyond clothes and food, and He would call that greed if we did, but build things for others beyond food and clothes? Through this we can clearly see He wanted us to have other things to enjoy for our comfort, but not put them above His Heavenly Father and I am 100% fully convinced he desired to have earthly things to help his family and others without it being greed. Since we know He was perfect and had no sin in Him.

He also did not have too much and desire more and more for Himself. This is also proven through His life. I am sure what He had he needed for his whole family to live comfortably without excessive luxury they did not need. He helped his earthly father build houses and furniture for His own family and village as a carpenter.

There is other scripture that Jesus proclaims earthly possession beyond food and clothes is an acceptable desire because He is recorded speaking about them and giving it to those that had them, and it was taken away because they were Christians. This is 100 times more than they lost in this present age! In Biblical days and in some areas of the globe today Christians who have homes and land in some countries are taken from them and ceased by the government of that country.

Mark 10:29 I tell you the truth, “Jesus replied, “No one who has left home or brothers or sister or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much, in this present age (homes, brother, sister, mother, children and fields-and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.

Why would he tells us we would receive more if we have left any of these for His sake if desiring them was being greedy? Desiring a home, land, or material earthly things for us to enjoy and share is not greedy, but having to much, putting it above Him and hoarding it for ourselves is. This is another clarity that clears up all the thoughts running through our mind.

His disciples had homes also and fishing boats they used to make a living and they were not greedy desiring these things. I can imagine they dreamed of being the best fishermen in their villages, but they never put their blessing above the Giver of the blessings.

Matthew 8:14 When Jesus came into Peter’s house, he saw Peter’s mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever. He touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began to wait on him.

This reveals Peter had a house Jesus stayed at and it had furniture, at least a bed, for Peter’s mother in-law to lay in. Was Peter greedy desiring to have a bed or house to raise his family in? No, it is clear Jesus never rebuked Peter for being greedy for desiring to have a home or furniture he needed for his family and I am sure he was willing to share all he had. This too is clear because his mother-in-law lived with him.

Next we will travel a few years in time and see what God teaches through Paul by way of His Holy Spirit about contentment and prosperity.

Romans 5:17 For if, by the trespass of one man (Adam) death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.

Grace is God’s favor, and it comes through His blessings in many ways so we can bless others expressing thanksgiving to God, and also His gift of righteousness reign in our life through Him for His glory and praise. Abundant provision of grace and all it forms and the gift of righteousness. This means an abundant life with all we need to enjoy it with and His gift of Himself we are able to live through His righteousness. All this is forms of His grace.

2 Corinthians 9:7-11 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. “He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever. 10 Now He who supplies the seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. 12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.

Last but certainly not least is Philippians 4:11-13 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

Being content is His given peace that goes beyond human understanding in any situation because, like Paul, we have have faith in Jesus for all we want and need. It does not say Paul never wanted anything other than food and clothes. It is written he has learned the secret of being content whether living in plenty or in want. It is clear it is not greedy to desire things and God will give you faith and peace while you wait in wanting more so you can share more or if you have plenty to share.

I hope this cleared a few things up for you. Now I am content in wanting and desiring things for myself, my family, and others so we can share all we have with the whole world for His glory and praise. I know not to desire too much and I know He will give me His strength and self-control to keep all balanced through His Spirit of truth. I also know not to put any earthly blessing He gives me above Him and our relationship as something I love and worship above Him. The love of money is a root of many evils and putting pleasures of this world above Him is not following Him; it is falling away from grace and from Him. God Bless everyone!