One of the greatest judgements among the Body of Christ today is the question of Money…Riches…you know the “P” word!!!!
The whole idea of PROSPERITY among Christians has become as avoidable as leprosy. Amazingly enough though, there is no argument against a Believer who is broke as a joke, but let a Believer enter into the place of abundance and he or she will be the topic of conversation every time. It is believed by many that in order to please Big Daddy God one must sell everything, take a vow of poverty and THEN you can finally be defined as a humble servant of His.
Today, I was minding my own business in the privacy of my own home when Holy Spirit highlighted a particular passage of scripture to me. It is found in 2 Corinthians 8:8-9.
“I speak not by commandment, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that YOU through His poverty might become RICH.”
If I’ve heard it once, I’ve heard it a hundred times…Jesus was poor when He walked upon this earth and He should be our example!
Friends, the very nature of our God is ABUNDANCE! He owns it all and He never suffers lack. Jesus is so rich in every way that when He came to earth as the perfect sacrifice for man, He had to put off His rich state and put on poverty. Jesus did not become poor as our example of righteousness. He became poor in order to reflect the definition of hopeless humanity. You see, without Christ, you and I are the destitute ones in every way, but through salvation in Him we have been made Rich in all things. Heaven is not your only reward. God has a Huge Benefits Package for you to richly enjoy!
It is the best benefits package you will ever be offered:
- The Forgiveness of Sin
- Healing
- Power
- Dominion to Reign
- Hope
- Love
- Wholeness
- And YES - ABUNDANCE!
Your benefits package is for here and now. We will not need forgiveness in heaven. We will not need to be healed anymore. There will not be a need for power or the exercising of dominion once we arrive at our promised destination. It is there that we will live in total Victory! The benefits package is for earthly living and abundance is it’s common thread.
You see, I know exactly how it feels to be poor and in need. After my parents divorced, my mother became quite ill. We lived off food stamps for a period of time. Had it not been for the thoughtfulness of mom’s family, we would have been in a heap of trouble. They lovingly filled up our propane tank, which provided heat for our home in the dead of winter and also helped with our bills until Mom could get back on her feet.
Fast forward twelve years and you find me married at the young age of 17. Steve and I did not have one thing to our name except the clothes in our closets. We had no money and no education outside of high school. My parents lovingly purchased a new home, complete with a downstairs apartment so that we might have some sense of privacy as a newly wed couple. I remember admiring the prom dresses of the other girls in my Senior class. Oh, how I longed to look like a Princess as they did. My dress was borrowed from one of my bridesmaids – the very dress she wore in our wedding. Poverty became immanent for our future…BUT GOD!!!
When I met Jesus, my whole life changed. I began to familiarize myself with my true identity found in Christ and discovered that poverty was not a part of His plan for me. I have been tested by God in times of lack and also in times of much. My true character has been revealed. For, in times of lack I remained the same person as in our times of Much.
Money does not define us, nor do we grant it any place of control in our lives. When God says sell we sell. When He says buy we buy. When He says Give we Give. The foundation of our lives is built firmly upon Christ. As I often say, Money is simply the cherry on top! However, money is needed and for anyone who desires to do much for the Kingdom of God, you will need an abundance of money!
I’m not afraid of money as some are. I have discovered that Money only makes a person MORE of what they already are! Money, in itself, has no power. Money cannot change people. Money will not cause a person to sin. Riches simply often reveal the content of a person’s heart that already existed. If you are greedy, then abundance will make you more greedy. However, if you are giving, then abundance will make you more able to give.
Herein lies the secret:
“Honor the Lord with all your possessions and with the tithe of all your income. He shall cause your barns to be filled with PLENTY and your vats to continuously OVERFLOW with new wine.” – Proverbs 3:9-10
And remember this. If you truly have an issue with abundance and prosperity then let me know. I don’t have a problem asking God for your portion too. I pray BIG BIG BLESSINGS over your life!
