1. Home
 ›
2. Guest Writers
>
3. Carolyn McDaniel
>
4. Prosperity Message

"Prosperity Message"
God's Way

I have heard the prosperity message preached for many years and have come to realize that I don't agree with all of it. Yes, it is good to be blessed by the finer things in life, but I don't think it pleases Jesus for us to squander money foolishly on unnecessary baubles when so many have so little.

I heard on the news this week that a preacher over a large church in another state was beaten up and robbed at a gas station. Among the items they took was a $15,000.00 watch. This made me angry that a minister would spend $15,000.00 on a watch! Have some in the Christian Church become so wrapped up in the prosperity message that they have lost sight of the gospel?

I bought myself a new watch today to replace the one I have had a few years. It finally stopped, and parts of the band were falling off. My new watch cost $10.00, and I couldn't be more pleased with it. I never even considered spending more than that.

Every day there are homeless people walking aimlessly on the streets, waiting for the next meal which is being prepared at the rescue ministry.

I see people waiting to pay their electric bills every month when I go to pay mine; they are unable to pay their bills in full, instead, just paying enough to keep the power on until the next bill comes. My heart is heavy, and I thank God that I can pay my bill.

I see the little children and elderly people in other countries on the T.V., and they look like skin draped loosely on bones, starving to death every day, with no hope left in life. $15,000.00 for a watch? What is wrong with people, especially Christians, who can throw that much money away and claim to care about others?

What good is the prosperity message if it isn't invested in the kingdom of God? Jesus talked about the poor widow who gave her last mite after watching the rich put in their gifts. He declared that she had put in more than them all. (Luke 21:1-4) This widows heart was in the right place, and she knew what was important to God.

In the early church, the members sold their belongings and put the money in a communal fund to be used for the benefit of all, ( Acts 5:1-11).

In Matt. 6:20 NIV Jesus commands us to store up for ourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. Matt. 6:19 says "Do not store up for yourselves treasure on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal."

Once when Jesus was reflecting on riches and the prosperity message, He told a man that if he wanted to be perfect he should sell all he had and give it to the poor, and then he would have treasure in heaven, (Mark 10:17-31).

I believe Jesus is more concerned with our helping and loving others, choosing these things, which are the real treasures in life. When we lose sight of what is important to God, then we truly have lost sight of Jesus.

Carolyn McDaniel

Carolyn McDaniel's Main Page

Home

Prosperity Message

"Lets Teach Our Children to Love"

Why is it so difficult for our educators and society, in general, to understand that love and respect for one another taught from a young age can solve much of the world's hostility and social problems!

"Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it" (Prov 22:6).

Love is the answer!

Loyalty and Faithfulness

True loyalty springs from the heart and is wrapped in love. It is often in our most private moments that true loyalty, or the lack of it, is made known.