Presenting ...
... a weekly letter of encouragement.
19 November, 1997 - Singapore
Good Morning!
SURVIVING PROSPERITY
When I met Jerry he was making preparation to become a missionary
pilot. But a sad thing happened to him on the way to the mission
field: He got rich.
And turned cool spiritually...married a non-Christian...disavowed
the faith...and died a premature death.
Why is it so few believers endure the deadening effects of
prosperity upon their soul? My guess is that for every
ten who survive adversity you will find one who survives prosperity!
Is it any wonder Jesus made the poignant observation that "it
is easier for a camel to go through the eye
of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God"?
(Matthew 19:24)
Let me suggest three reasons why prosperity and spirituality
rarely go hand-in-hand:
(1) BECAUSE WEALTH OFTEN ROBS US OF OUR SENSE OF DEPENDENCY
UPON GOD:
"...When...your silver and gold increase and all you
have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you
will forget the Lord your God...You may say to yourself, 'My
power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for
me.'" (Deuteronomy 8:13,14, 17)
(2) BECAUSE WEALTH OFTEN COOLS OUR SPIRITUAL FERVOR BY GIVING
US A FALSE SENSE OF WELL- BEING:
Of the wealthy Laodicean believers, Jesus observed, "...You
are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other!...You
say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.'
But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind
and naked." (Revelation 3:15,17)
(3) BECAUSE WEALTH USUALLY GIVES US THE OPTION OF EASY
LIVING WHICH IS ANTITHETICAL TO CHRIST'S CALL TO DISCIPLESHIP:
We can effortlessly identify with the musings of the wealthy farmer,
"...You have plenty of good things laid up for many
years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry." (Luke
12:19)
QUESTION: How are you surviving your prosperity?
Is your heart as warmed today toward God as it was in the days
when you had little of this world's material goods and trusted
God for your simplest needs?
If you cannot answer that question with an honest "yes",
then there is a pretty good chance that your soul has been
seduced by prosperity.
My prayer is that you are having a great week!
Dwight Hill
- 1 Coleman Street #02-34
The Adelphi - Singapore 0617 .
- Phone: 337 6498; Fax: 336 9913
(c) Copyright 1996 Dwight Hill. Unlimited permission to copy or use is hereby granted subject to inclusion of this copyright notice.
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