from Jeff
Rob Bell has a new book out called "Jesus Wants to Save Christians." The description of the book talks about how a church in his town just finished a $25 million expansion while 1 in 5 people in the city live in poverty. Bell says his book is about those two numbers. You can guess he's not in favor of the expansion. Chances are he won't say anything about his own wealth and the poor around him.
Contrast that with popular preacher Joel Osteen who recently said "God wants me to be rich." Last week, Walletpop.com had a brief bio on Osteen and the $72 million that his church brings in every year.
These days the rich are an easy target. In fact, "the rich" is a nameless, faceless category of people like "the poor" often pitted against each other for political gain - even if those politics are of the religious sort. In the same way, Osteen and other megachurch leaders are often easy targets for criticism - perhaps rightly so.
I saw the wealth of churches on display yesterday as I had to make a trip home to Franklin, TN for some family stuff. I was blown away by all the changes in my hometown. Megachurches are popping up everywhere. New multi-million dollar buildings are going up left and right and next door to each other.
Reading Osteen's comment "God wants me to be rich" made me wonder. What are we really seeking from God? To know him or be blessed by him? Osteen prides himself on conveying a positive message, dripping with honey sweetness for every listener. He learned from his father to preach a "gentler salvation." Some have called him the "cotton candy" preacher. Others have said his ilk are nothing more than "pimps of the gospel." I don't know whether you like him or not, and my purpose is not to convince you either way.
So does God indeed want some to be rich? And if so, for what purpose? I'm rich by the world's standards, so are you. Politicians and religious folk with agendas might categorize people differently, but basically you and I are rich.
I do believe God gifts some people with the ability to make money. I've known people that can turn anything into gold just by touching it.
Still, I wonder about how churches use their wealth. Should we assume that the logical progression of a church's life includes the purchase of property and the building of multi-million dollar buildings which leverage the future generations who might worship in that location? Sounds ultimately like a losing strategy to me. If God wants us to be rich, then how best do we witness to the world with our wealth? How do we show that we seek to find satisfaction in knowing God, not just being blessed by him?
Jesus warned us about wealth. He said it puts us at a severe disadvantage. It's harder to get into the kingdom, downright near impossible. He said wealth is deceitful, leading us to think more of ourselves than God. So, how then do you reach the rich man? By convincing him that God wants him to be even richer?
For Christians, it's not about how to have our best life now, but be prepared for our best life yet to come. For churches, it's not about how to have our best church here, but spreading the church everywhere else. Seems to me like a few extra million - and a few less buidings - could go far toward that goal. The world is not impressed when Christians get rich and thank God for it. They are impressed when we empty ourselves and our pockets for the purposes of the kingdom.
Friday, August 8, 2008
"God Wants Me to be Rich"
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1 Timothy 6:6-12, 17-19
6 Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, 7 for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. 8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 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. 11 But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
17 As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. 18 They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, 19 thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.
If I understand this correctly, being rich in and of itself is not a sin. Lack of contentment is. Those who are blessed with wealth can be influences in was that most of us cannot. They can endow the arts. They can sponsor ministries. They can be generous in ways that we cannot. I have met a few truly godly wealthy people ( by which I mean wealthier than I) who are not concerned with appearance, what they drive, who they associate with. In fact, many wealthy people have seen great fluctuations in their wealth. Some of them have gone from great wealth to nothing several times. Unfortunately, I have known rather few of these types. Most of us fall into the “I want more” category. Mix this with the insecurity of a social climber and one has a recepit for spiritual dissaster.
Below is an excerpt from the guidelines for oblates (non-monks who associate with a monestary) of the Benedictine Order:
As their states in life permit, Oblates make use of various means for improving themselves spiritually, intellectually, culturally, and socially, by making a Retreat, a Day of Recollection or Renewal, attending a Workshop, Seminar, Lecture, or Prayer Meeting, as occasion offers from time to time. They combine prayer and work by living and working in the presence of God, aware of God's presence everywhere, knowing that God is nearer to them than they think.
They are patient and content with their lot in life in so far as they cannot change it for something better, calmly and courageously ac- ccpting the sufferings and hardships which sooner or later come to everyone.
They practice patience, especially by accepting the daily crosses and burdens of life willingly and bravely, with full trust in God, no matter how heavy these burdens may be, knowing that God can turn sufferings into blessings.
They are generous and warmhearted to the poor, the needy, the unfortunate, the sick, the sad, the afflicted, and the lonely
They are concerned about the needs of others, regardless of race, nationality, creed, sex, age, occupation, profession, or social status
They give generously of themselves in working for the religious education and Christian formation of youth
They faithfully fulfil the duties of their states in life, especially with regard to the care of their families and dependents.
They practice the spirit of poverty, by not being unduly attached to material things, by thanking God for what they have, and by using God's gifts in a sensible way for the glory of God and the good of all
To me, this sounds much better than “God wants me to be rich.”
John Cassian writes in his third conference:
RICHES and possessions are taken in Holy Scripture in three different ways, i.e., as good, bad, and indifferent. Those are bad, of which it is said: “The rich have wanted and have suffered hunger,” Ps. xxxiii. (xxxiv.) 11. …Those riches are good, to acquire which is the work of great virtue and merit, and the righteous possessor…There are some also which are indifferent, i.e., which may be made either good or bad: for they are made either one or the other in accordance with the will and character of those who use them
Unfortunately, I feer that we often exhibit poor character in association with our material blessings.
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