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GOSPEL OF GREED
THE GOSPEL OF GREED & ITS HINDRANCE TO EVANGELISM
Word/Faith proponent and false teacher Joel Osteen states:
”And if people can ever really see how good our God is, they'll come running to Him.” [Sermon: The Great Commission]
How does such a statement reconcile with John 6, where those Jesus blessed with physical blessings (loaves and fishes), walked away from Him and followed Him no more when He told them they must partake of His sufferings? They saw Him in the flesh and tasted His goodness with their own taste buds, and walked away, never to follow Him again.
"From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him." John 6:66
These who walked away saw God's goodness - they tasted it in the mouths He gave them. They ate His multiplied fish and bread. When they abandoned Jesus their stomachs were full of the goodness of the LORD, but their hearts were filled with selfishness and unbelief. They wanted His material wealth, but not His spiritual wealth, which would non-negotiably require them to lay down their lives and follow Him. They are burning this very moment in the flaming prison of fire (hell). Not one second has or ever will tick from eternity's time clock.
Contrary to the fairy tale message Osteen communicates, seeing God's goodness never guaranties men will repent and be saved. Nor, was/is there any such speech or posture intimated when Jesus gave the Great Commission. This patty cake, bubble gum gospel, communicating a cotton candy "Christianity", will win no one to Christ, and certainly make no disciples of Jesus. Osteen is of the false Word/Faith movement. Among many other heresies, the Word/Faith movement erroneously espouses the lie that when the w
orld around us sees the material prosperity of "blessed" Christians, they will come to Christ. So, they believe it is God's will for them to be materially rich in order to win the lost. Is this how Jesus told us to reach the lost? Is this how Christ told us the unsaved would be saved? No such notion, much less instruction is hinted of or given in the New Testament record. The preaching of the cross/Gospel is what causes men to repent and be saved.
Jesus said "Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a mans life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth." Luke 12:15
Many today are being taught that material wealth or lack thereof, is a direct measurement of one's status with the LORD. This is exactly what gives their hearts license to pursue material prosperity, in the face of divine truth which guaranties that not one "covetous man who is an idolater" will be in Heaven - regardless of whether or not he had a past relationship with the LORD.
"For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them." Ephesians 5:5-7
What could be plainer? All who pursue money in lieu of Christ as their first love are covetous idolators and will spend eternity in the lake of fire.
“No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” Matthew 6:24
Money is not the root of all evil - the love of it is (1 Tim. 6:10). God loves all of His people, regardless of the wealth they have or don't have in this life and at this time.
"Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?" James 2:5
Note here that there are those who are “the poor if this world” who are “rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom.”
Does material prosperity enhance our walk with the LORD Jesus? No. More money means more responsibility and privilege to fund the true Gospel, but will not enhance the hearts of men. Spiritual blessing only comes from the riches purchased by Christ who died and is risen again, seated at His Father’s right hand making intercession of of His saints (Eph. 1; Col. 2). Any sane Christian person would obviously rather have money than not to have it, but money has nothing to do with one's standing with God and the love of it only proves that "the love of the Father is not in us." (1 Jn. 2:15-17)
Loving money and the things of this world that money can buy (covetousness), is idolatry. Idolatry is soul-damning sin. Jesus commanded: "Ye shall love the LORD your God with all your heart....." (Matt. 12:37-39)
In stark contrast to the greed gospel so prevalent today, our LORD and His apostles actually taught that material prosperity can cause a man to lose out with God, for eternity.
"It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God." Luke 10:25
"But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 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 6:9-10
If our financial status is a direct indication of our spiritual life, some of us are in big trouble :) Paul warned of this deception and told us to flee such falsehood and those who teach or espouse it:
"If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes
of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself." 1 Timothy 6:3-5
If you read a new version of the Bible, the most important instruction in this text has been purposely removed (like so many other things in the new versions - do you see the hoof prints?). "From such withdraw thyself" at the end of verse 5 is removed in most new versions (which are corrupt). This all-important phrase is in the original Greek of the Textus Receptus majority text manuscripts.
We should boast alone is the fact that He has found us and made the way for us to know Him. God's kingdom is all about King Jesus, not man's pitiful pennies, all to be stripped away from him at his last breath - to stand naked before His Maker to give account of what he did with Christ and every penny given as a gift to him in his earthly life.
"Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD." Jeremiah 9:23-24
May our heavenly Father bless us today to rejoice alone in Jesus, our Treasure (Col. 2:3). And We are His "precious fruit of the earth" (James 5:7-9).
“The principal hindrance to the advancement of the kingdom of God is greed. It is the chief obstacle to heaven-sent revival. It seems that when the back of greed is broken, the human spirit soars into regions of unselfishness. I believe that it is safe to say there can be no continuous revival without ‘hilarious’ giving. And I fear no contradiction: wherever there is ‘hilarious’ giving there will soon be revival!” — O.S. Hawkins, U.S. Baptist pastor
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