I Want to be Wealthy
By Quaford COLEMAN
Q: I’m a Christian teen. When I finish high school and college, I want to own a successful business and become wealthy. I hear talk about ‘Prosperity Gospel,’ but I am confused. Some preachers are against it and others say it’s what God promises every believer. Who’s right?
A: The theology of the ‘Prosperity Gospel’ movement has been defined as the belief that ‘Jesus blesses believers with riches,’ or more specifically, as the teaching that ‘believers have a right to the blessings of health and wealth and that they can obtain these blessings through a positive faith and by maintaining a positive attitude.’ It has been a ‘hot button’ topic among the body of Christ for decades, but in recent years with a higher degree of intensity.
My colleague, Lee Jenkins (GT’s Money Matters columnist), wrote an amazing article (“The End of the Prosperity Gospel†Mar/Apr, 2010) on the subject of “Prosperity Gospel.†It was informative and accurate, although he came under attack because of it—which demonstrates that the body of Christ is very much divided on this issue.
According to I Tim. 6:10, “The love of money is the root of all evil.†Money, itself, isn’t the problem; for instance, money doesn’t go out and kill people; but our passion for money and for the power it offers us indicates something about our hearts. Jesus took this matter very seriously (Matthew 6:19-20); and we should as well. Each of us should always search our heart and soul to be sure that we are not caught up in a desire for wealth and prosperity to the point that we neglect God and our responsibilities to Him.
In I Tim. 6:9, the apostle warned believers to watch them- selves and be very careful, because the pursuit of wealth can become a subtle and devastating trap. The desire for riches and power can:
(a) Blind us to things that are much more valuable and important in the sight of God. Distract attention from the ultimate wealth – ‘spiritual wealth’.
(b) Trick and trap us to such a degree that we get so entangled in the pursuit of wealth that we compromise our integrity and character.
History is filled with stories of individuals that set high goals for riches and power but aimed low at spiritual things and ended up distracted and destroyed. God never wanted prosperity—power, wealth, career, a relationship, or any- thing else—to destroy us.
Many biblical passages warn us against living our lives with the principal goal of getting rich and possessing power. Yes, God desires to give His children good gifts; but gifts like a successful business, wealth, and authority should never cause us to lose sight of who we are and more importantly, Whose we are.
There’s nothing wrong with wanting a successful (profit- able) business, a beautiful wardrobe, or a comfortable house; but ask yourself this question: Ultimately, is the profit from my successful business going to help only me, or is it also going to help others? Is it going to have a positive effect on the world?
Jesus consistently reminded his followers to ‘…seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you,’ (Matt. 6:33). ‘For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?’ (Matt. 16:26). It is our character that counts and brings Him the most glory!
I want to thank all the pastors, evangelists, bishops and teachers who follow God’s Will with such obedience. I know today we need educators to stand up and step out in faith doing His Will. Yes the Lord our God wants us to be prosperous. He wants us to reach our point of happiness. For me my point of happiness is when I reach one area in my life fulfilling the visions he had given me, serving him. Realizing that it never ends at that one specific point. It keeps growing inside you. The Holy Spirit leads us to places in our lives to serve the Lord. We must have a discerning spirit to hear our Lord when he calls us to serve. I know I have a calling to reach women, to inspire them when I speak of the trials and tribulations I went through. The specifics in my life and how God always was with me even when I thought at that time, He wasn’t. Nothing is done in vain. His grace and His glory is what that is HIS GRACE and HIS GLORY. I today am so grateful he has chosen me to do His Will. I am a happily married mother of 11 children and 2 grandchildren who currently lives in Staten Island, NY. I am pursuing an opportunity to open an organization to help women and children through teaching the Word, getting spiritual counseling, and gaining life skills through Christ Jesus to obtain an education, life skills, self-sufficiency skills, and permanent housing. A place where battered mothers/women will feel safe, drug addicted mothers will find Jesus and accept Him as their Lord and Savior, a place where their children will not have to leave the mother’s side while she completes all requirements to become a loving stable mother and provide a stable environment for her child/children. I pray that the Lord will open all doors according to his will to have an environment where not only the family will stay together, they will learn how to pray together. They will live together. The mother doesn’t have to ever worry where her child is and she can focus on getting her own life back together. She won’t have to wonder if her child was molested, raped or abused in the system. A place where the fathers can also get involved and find the Lord Jesus. A place where God will provide and instruct me on how to, give me favor, and build it on HIS FOUNDATION, NOT MINE. It is time We Must Take Back our Lives and Live for the Lord, In HAPPINESS DOING HIS WILL.
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