Last week, after a small meeting at my church, I gave a ride to some friends and was approached by two men. It was a robbery and they took my car and several things. This post, however, is not an outburst about crime or a whining about it.
“God will give you double”
When the people in my daily life began to hear the bad news, I heard some phrases frequently. Such as “God will give you double” or “God will restore you” among others in the same sense.
I know that many may think that I am being radical to look at these figures of speech. But this has led me to think about how a theology directed toward full material prosperity has long been gaining ground among Christians. I confess that this annoyed me a little. After all, who said that it is within the scope of the Lord to give me back what was stolen from me?
Rm 11:33 “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! (34) “Who has known the mind of the Lord or who has been his counselor?” (35) “Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them?” (36) For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen”.
I can not be a hypocrite to say that if I could choose, I’d choose to have my things back. However, linking the above with the situation I lived, I noticed how stingy we are and sometimes we treat God as if He were a kind of guarantor. An Almighty Being, who has already provided us with all the earth and its resources. And that he gave himself out of unconditional love for man. As someone who should serve us in some way. And not the opposite, the way it should be, with all serving God with all the heart.
Can God bless us with material goods?
Mt 7:11 “If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”
Ecc 5:19 “Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God”.
This is not to say that God can not bless his children with a certain material and earthly prosperity. It means that we should not worry about material things, but rather understand that the greatest treasure is stored for after this life. Seeking Christ only for financial break-ups or for professional growth and goods makes no sense.
Jesus himself makes this clear when he begins to establish the mission of the early Christians, which extends to us today:
Mt 10:7 “As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ (8) Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give. (9) “Do not get any gold or silver or copper to take with you in your belts— (10) no bag for the journey or extra shirt or sandals or a staff, for the worker is worth his keep”.
True wealth
God gives us the chance to have a treasure in heaven, for free. But at the same time it makes it clear that our heart should not seek for more than necessary for survival and a life worthy. Of course, knowing that God can bless us with the riches of this world, we understand that He only does this, if He desires and when our heart is not at all out of His purpose.
The Lord has done more than restoring us materially. So we have no condition whatsoever to demand of Him any financial blessing.
Phil 3:7 “But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. (8) What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ”.
As for the men who have committed this robbery, I ask all the brethren to pray for these lives so that Satan will have no more power over their minds and the grace and love of God will reach them!
May the grace of Jesus be with all, so that you may seek Him with all your heart, for who He really is. Amen!
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