Actually a jet is what I want. Not too big, 6-8seats, very luxuriously appointed and personally available whenever I want to travel. I also want an executive sprinter van. It’s like a limousine, but a lot bigger on the inside with TVs, wi-fi, workspace - it’s cool. Look it up. I also want to be 6’ 2”.
I found in the Bible some scriptures that I want to share. I figure with scriptures like these, it’s shopping season!
“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. Luke 11:9
Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request.1 Chronicles 4:10
Here’s a great parable that explains it all -
11While they were listening to this, he went on to tell them a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once. 12He said: “A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return.13So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas.19:13 A mina was about three months’ wages. ‘Put this money to work,’ he said, ‘until I come back.’
14 “But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We don’t want this man to be our king.’
15 “He was made king, however, and returned home. Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, in order to find out what they had gained with it.
16 “The first one came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned ten more.’
17 “ ‘Well done, my good servant!’ his master replied. ‘Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.’
18 “The second came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned five more.’
19 “His master answered, ‘You take charge of five cities.’
20 “Then another servant came and said, ‘Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth.21I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.’
22 “His master replied, ‘I will judge you by your own words, you wicked servant! You knew, did you, that I am a hard man, taking out what I did not put in, and reaping what I did not sow?23Why then didn’t you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?’
24 “Then he said to those standing by, ‘Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.’
25 “ ‘Sir,’ they said, ‘he already has ten!’
26 “He replied, ‘I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what they have will be taken away.Luke 19:11-20
I can get behind this idea - If I rock the stock market and move up the corporate ladder, God is going to double whatever I do well. If I ever become a preacher, I am going to be a prosperity preacher. I would preach good messages to all who want more and they get more if they pray for more. There’s always a problem with “sounds-to-good-to-be-true” offers. There is always a catch.
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.Matthew 6:33
All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”1 Peter 5:5
Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! Acts 8:20
I’m just not certain how to get my stuff while meeting all of these criteria. There is another challenge; I love my life without more stuff than what I have. I have faith, love, and a great family including extended family of believers. Giving God righteousness, humility, putting him first and other caveats seem like stumbling blocks. At first, I thought that maybe there was a dynamic tension. (Actually, I was working on a book called “Lord, Thy Will Be Done….and I Want It in Blue.” when I started my "Saved-ish" book). However, I do not think that there is a dynamic tension. It is more like a clear set of directions. Do what God wants and what you want will become more clearly aligned with him. Maybe what God wants for me is a jet, an executive van and to be 6’2”, but I am a ways from lining up with God's stated desire- line up with him first. Besides, I am happy with what God has given me already. However, my sinful heart still wants stuff. <sigh>
Prosperity preaching as I have viewed it on the internet seems to be strong on my first set of scriptures in this blog and a bit weaker on the second set. I’ve decided that I will work on the second set of scriptures first and will see where God takes me next. I not so secretly hope it is towards the jet, but I’ll wait and see.
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