1} To whom did John address his letter, and what greeting did he use? 3 John 1:12} Why is it important to love one another? 1 John 4:7-113} John speaks of the selfless love bestowed upon humanity. What did the Lord offer and for what purpose? John 3:16-174} While we cannot fully demonstrate the true essence of the divine love offered to all, how can one show this behavior toward many people?5} What are some attributes of love? 1 Corinthians 13:4-76} In light of the characteristics of love previously discussed, what actions can be undertaken to demonstrate affection towards those you know and encounter?7} What did John pray for? 3 John 1:28} John wishes for his friend to thrive in various aspects. What additional insights does the Bible provide on achieving success in life? Psalms 1:1-3 Jeremiah 29:10-14 Romans 8:26-289} Achieving prosperity through wealth and resources is not wrong. What are the advantages of God blessing individuals in this manner? How can those with significant financial means contribute to the church and the community?10} What health benefits do you gain from being blessed by God? What actions can you take to maintain optimal health?11} It’s evident that spiritual strength is advantageous and helps you maneuver through a world frequently caught in sin. What are some methods to enhance your spiritual relationship with God?12} Why is it important for all three areas of your life (wealth, health, and spirituality) to thrive in service to the Lord?
JUST A THOUGHT
Over the last few decades, the message of prosperity has gained traction in churches. This particular ministry focuses on receiving God’s blessings, which are often associated with financial gain, but can also encompass good health and spiritual growth. Nevertheless, for many prosperity preachers, the central theme of their messages revolves around money. This focus aims to ensure that individuals can pay their bills, enjoy a wonderful life on earth, possess the necessary resources to fulfill God’s purpose, and, of course, provide the ministers with the means to lead extravagant lifestyles. While it’s not solely about that, many preachers who frequently discuss wealth often end up emphasizing the pursuit of earthly riches as a stepping stone to accumulating even greater rewards in heaven.
At first glance, this appears problematic. It suggests that our focus should solely be on accumulating wealth instead of serving the Lord. However, there does not need to be a divide between wealth and spiritual growth, knowledge, or doing good in the name of Jesus. A person can be prosperous while also supporting church ministries, missionaries, and constructing churches. In fact, to carry out many of the initiatives that contemporary churches undertake, we require funds and resources to finance ministries that can assist communities around the globe. Prosperity messages present various issues, one of which is the tendency to reduce everything in the Bible to a single theme.
Prosperity ministers primarily focus on maximizing compensation related to their roles, whether in their careers, ministry, or prayer. Many biblical passages, including the one from 3 John, discuss God’s blessings and the financial rewards that accompany them. While numerous scriptures address wealth, not all references are negative. God desires His people to flourish, guiding them to the Fertile Crescent after their exodus from Egypt. He is not a tyrannical ruler enforcing a peasant-like existence rather, He wants His followers to become leaders and educators who influence cultural standards, inspiring others to seek a loving relationship with Him. It’s not sinful to have money the real issue lies in the excessive love of it. Therefore, the concern is less about the message itself and more about the disproportionate emphasis placed on it.
The remarkable aspect is that when you explore the various denominations within the Christian diaspora, you’ll find each has its own central beliefs. This may be hard to perceive while immersed in your own culture, but when you begin visiting different denominations, a consistent pattern emerges in their conversations, music, and the way individuals relate to one another or reference the Bible. Often, their focus is intensely centered on specific beliefs, themes, or scriptural rules. A denomination or church might emphasize love, faith, baptism, the Sabbath, Holy Communion, modesty, dietary laws, speaking in tongues, holiness, gender standards, and countless other factors that are too many to enumerate.
A major reason for the hyper-fixation on specific parts of the Bible is that they define what makes a denomination or church unique. Consider this: if you have multiple orange-flavored sodas, and each one tastes identical, the only distinction for the consumer is the price. They would easily switch between brands, especially if the flavors are the same. Soda companies must make their orange flavor slightly different, add caffeine, or ensure their other products stand out, encouraging customers to choose a variety from their brand. Whatever tactics they employ, soda companies ensure their orange soda takes priority over competitors. Unfortunately, we often emulate this behavior in various churches.
We frequently overlook the potential of other churches and denominations as partners in spreading the gospel, instead seeing them as rivals for congregants. It’s uncomfortable to admit, but this issue circles back to a topic we often avoid discussing in church contexts: finances. Take, for instance, two distinct denominations, which we will refer to as Alpha and Beta.
Denomination Alpha comprises ten million members and is actively sharing the gospel of Jesus worldwide. In comparison, Denomination Beta has one million members and is also reaching out to people globally. To God, both are fulfilling their duty to spread the message of Jesus so that many can choose Him. This sounds promising until the issue of finances arises. After all, Alpha has the capacity to generate significantly more revenue and undertake more initiatives than Beta. While the members of Beta may not consciously feel jealous or desire greater wealth and power, the competition could become problematic if more individuals transfer from one denomination to another, taking their tithes and offerings with them. So, what’s the solution? Focus on preaching or teaching specific themes or ideas from the Bible and convey to everyone that this approach is the best way to foster a relationship with God and ultimately achieve eternal life.
Consider Alpha, which emphasizes faith as the key to entering heaven, focusing its sermons and doctrines entirely on this principle. In contrast, Beta advocates for temperance and self-control as the primary path to eternal life. This results in two competing denominations, each highlighting different biblical aspects to attract followers. Ideally, all Christian groups should represent the entire Bible, suggesting that, similar to our orange soda analogy, an individual can receive the same message from any church. The distinction lies in how the message is presented—through the church's service, sermons, music, and small groups. For instance, one might choose a church based on proximity to avoid excessive travel expenses and time. Just as with the orange soda example, no one would go out of their way, passing multiple grocery stores, for the same soda available nearby. For a product to warrant a detour, it must feel unique or special. The same applies to choosing a church.
Many individuals pass by numerous churches en route to their place of worship, drawn instead by a message or focus that resonates with them. In the case of Alpha and Beta churches, some may appreciate the idea of faith because it aligns with their upbringing and values. For others, the principles of self-control and temperance hold significance, particularly if their past has been marred by addiction, and they are striving to overcome those challenges. Ultimately, a person who teaches the values of hard work and faith must also cultivate self-control and temperance to ensure they are fulfilling their responsibilities without jeopardizing their belief in God. Similarly, someone overcoming addiction must also learn about faith in the Lord, recognizing how it can aid in their healing journey.
Concentrating on specific elements of the Bible can foster exclusivity within the church, resulting in members who excel in certain areas of their spiritual growth while facing challenges in others. The Bible is extensive, offering a plethora of books, letters, ideas, and concepts. In theory, one can explore various narratives and themes in the Bible to craft a message that meets the spiritual needs of members who expect this kind of knowledge. For instance, a sermon on Jesus’ crucifixion might resonate with a group that emphasizes love, highlighting Christ's affection for His people and that particular dimension of His sacrifice. A faith-centered church would reflect on how Jesus exhibited faith, trusting that His ministry and sacrifice would ultimately benefit humanity. Conversely, a group focused on self-control might delve into the immense restraint Jesus displayed by refraining from punishing the soldiers responsible for His suffering. While these various perspectives are valid, consistently highlighting a single theme denies church members a fuller understanding of Jesus’ crucifixion by limiting the discussion to either faith or self-control.
Focusing solely on specific areas to attract more members and funds negatively impacts the average individual seeking a personal relationship with God. The real beneficiaries are primarily those at the top. This illustrates why, when we analyze prosperity ministry, we see a consistent representation of the actions taken by various churches, ministries, and denominations.
The most beneficial action you can take is to personally explore the scriptures and understand how different parts of the Bible connect with various ideas and beliefs. Use the scriptures you gather from church—whether from sermons, songs, Bible studies, or books—as your foundation. This will typically lead you or your group to a main focus, which is a positive and wonderful starting point. While examining a specific passage or idea, begin to ask questions and investigate how the verses you read may also connect to other topics, themes, books of the Bible, characters, or concepts that were not previously considered. Strive to become the complete individual in God’s eyes. Don’t allow the limitations of organized religion and leadership to hinder your authentic and fulfilling relationship with Jesus Christ. Ensure you thrive in the Lord, which encompasses not just financial wealth but also your health and spiritual life.
