There is plenty of confusion regarding wealth and prosperity. Some people put blame on those who teach on the blessings of God. They are accused of preaching a “Prosperity Gospel,” one that they claim is not Biblical.

 
In Matthew 26, when someone used expensive perfume on Jesus, the disciples complained that the money could have been used to help the poor. Several years ago, when our church met in a hotel here in our town, several people complained that the expense of renting that hall was a waste.
With all these arguments swirling around, many people feel a sense of guilt regarding what they own and enjoy in life. In this brief post, we won’t be able to take an exhaustive look at this issue, but I want to draw out some principles from Hosea 10:1,2: “Israel is a luxuriant vine that yields its fruit. The more his fruit increased, the more altars he built; as his country improved, he improved his pillars. Their heart is false; now they must bear their guilt. The Lord will break down their altars and destroy their pillars.”
It would be impossible to define what amount of salary is too much, which car is too expensive, how big of a house one should live in, how costly can your wardrobe be, or other factors that we use to determine wealth. From the above verses I believe there are three things we need to keep a check on: Your altars, pillars, and heart.
1. Check your altars
When the Israelites increased in wealth, they built more altars. Their love for God became a matter of influence. They used “religion” as an opportunity to build relationships with foreign nations. They hoped that the increase in such relations would bring in more wealth. God was never interested in religion. He wanted a relationship with his people.
When your wealth increases, what happens with your relationship with God? Does it go deeper and more personal? Or, do you try to improve your religiosity and influence through religious connections? Your connections and relations may increase and bring you more wealth, but gradually you will loose your relationship with God.
Don’t fear, hate, or oppose wealth. Just keep a check on your most prominent relationship: God.
2. Check your pillars
For Israel, pillars could be part of the worship, where they had used Asherah poles from neighboring religions. But pillars could also indicate the large pillars used for the prominent buildings of their dignitaries. Their wealth and power was displayed by building larger and more pillars.
These structures indicated wealth, affluence, and power. This was an opportunity to flaunt their wealth so others can see. They gained satisfaction from this grandiose display of great structures so others can see their greatness.
Wealth was to be used for one’s own purposes and to help others. Flaunting and displaying was never the purpose. These were clear indicators that they were using their wealth in an improper manner.
Don’t fear, hate, or oppose wealth. Just keep a check on your pillars: what do you display?
3. Check your heart
They were guilty of having a heart that is false. Initially, God had given them a “land flowing with milk and honey” so that they can be a blessing to others. They were to be a lifeline to the needy – the widows, orphans, and the destitute.
Their present condition proved that their purpose had moved away from the original plan of God for their prosperity. An internal shift had taken place, showing that their heart moved away from God’s plan. They had a heart that shifted from God’s ways. Thus the Bible says that their heart is false.
Along with enjoying the prosperity that God gives, use what you have to bless others. The danger is that many of us will look at our finances and claim that we are not prosperous. But we need to bless others whatever our financial condition. Make sure your heart stays focused on God’s plan for your life to be a blessing to others.
Don’t fear, hate, or oppose wealth. Just keep a check on your heart.

“You people die healthy, I'm gonna die happy.” This was the response of a young man enjoying a fat greasy burger, fries, and a large drink. He was sitting in the employee lounge with a group of people who were mostly eating healthy food. When they told him about the benefits of eating healthy, those words were his response.

I just read a quote on Zig Ziglar’s Facebook page that says “You are free to choose, but you are not free from the consequences of your choice.” Perfect timing since I was about to write on Hosea 8:7a “For they sow the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind.”

From ancient days, this truth has been a standard. This concept was probably developed from the agricultural past of our ancestors. Even now, this remains true, and we still struggle to live by it. It seems we are trapped by our choices. Here are four reasons why we seem to fall into this trap.

1. We think choices imply permission

This may be a logical fallacy on our part. In essence, “what else is a choice for but to take it?” We assume that if the option is open and available, then it is there for our purpose. We jump to a conclusion and make the choice without thinking through the consequences.

2. We have not been taught how to make choices

This is a common struggle of people who had parents who were too controlling. Many domineering parents are like that for the good of their children. They want to protect them from harmful decisions. But this approach makes them unable to make intelligent choices as adults in the future.

3. The losses we face cause us to think we deserve some things

Those who experience numerous losses in their childhood may grow up with a scarcity perspective. So, when choices are available for them, they jump to decisions without sufficient thought. It is as if these are opportunities to make up for the losses they have faced.

4. Consequences are not clear to us 

We may be blinded to negative consequences due to various reasons such as inexperience, lack of good advice, or simply ignorance. Such a lack of clarity about the consequences of our choices will definitely make us vulnerable to making the wrong choices. We may opt for whatever appeals to our senses at that moment in time.

As God’s creation, the choices we have in life are a gift to us. The world was created with plenty of variety and choices. Make sure to avoid the dangers and stay away from the traps. But feel free to explore your choices and take your liberty.

Reaching Out in Distress

Remember these posts? “Feeling lonely,” “Feeling depressed, angry, gloomy…” These posts on social media are often followed by responses from readers with sympathetic words. The list of responses are often quite long. Do these words have any lasting impact? Is the person’s condition improved by the words offered by sympathetic fingers as they type away on their keyboards or phones?

It’s healthy to have friends you can turn to in times of deep sorrow. But turn to God first. He will strengthen your heart with his Spirit, and enlighten your mind with His perspective. Your friends will give you advice based on their perspective which may come from their own brokenness.

God is Waiting for You

When the people of Israel experienced extreme suffering, they refused to turn to God. He commented about their condition and said: "They do not cry to me from the heart, but they wail upon their beds; for grain and wine they gash themselves; they rebel against me" (Hos 7:14).

It seems we turn everywhere else but to God. Israelites did that too. But God is waiting for you to reach out to Him in your distress. He will be your strength when you have none left.

Skip the Social Media and Friends

You need the encouragement and companionship of friends, but they must come second. Allow God to impact your heart and mind before anyone else does. When the struggles of life cause you to cry out in pain, bypass your friends and social media and go directly to God. He is ready to help, and he is waiting. Will you go to him first?

When you turn to God first, He will impact your thinking about your situation. When you approach your friends, each of them will have their own ideas based on their hang ups. On social media, you'll get advice that spans the entire spectrum with no limits. So give God your first priority and allow Him to direct you.

“You? You won’t amount to much.” “Since you’re a poor student, you won’t be able to do much with your life.” “Are you sure you can handle that? You’re too skinny.” “Isn’t that motorcycle too big for you?” Those words and others similar to that pierced deep into my being. I never thought much of it through the years, but several years ago I began to understand the extent of the damage.

The Trap

The constant onslaught of negative comments with little or no positives have an impact much beyond what we can imagine. The pain of negative words continue for some time, but after a while, the pain goes away. The pain is replaced by a certain numbness to those situations and negative words. But the roots of negativity go deep and continue to influence the person all through life.

These roots cause various problems in different people. Some deal with a constant sense of inability to make decisions. Low self esteem becomes the guiding principle underneath this person’s behaviours. Fear of being rejected by others will cause them to cave in and not excel in most things they do in life.

This person may have some dreams, but they never expresses those dreams. They cannot imagine that their dreams can ever be fulfilled. Thus they never take the steps necessary to live out those dreams. Its a trap that keeps them from moving forward.

The Turn

For such a person, the change will come only with a dramatic impact through personal experiences, or a divine intervention. Sometimes, colleagues and friends take an interest in the person and help them to refocus.

But refocus is too simple of a word for someone who has been conditioned by decades of thinking that they can’t live their dream. Their past failures also attest to this negative concept that has held them back.

In essence the mind has to be reconditioned to think differently. Negative thoughts need to be replaced by positives. Thoughts of failures must be replaced by dreams about life and how there is hope for the future.

Most of all, come to grips with the reality of  negative influences. Acknowledge the damage that has been done to your thought processes. Then make a decision that by God’s help, you will be able to reverse the negative effects into positives.

Trust that God believes in you and has your best interest in mind. Oh, you’ve always known that, but you’ve never accepted that for yourself. It was a reality for others and not for yourself. But God wants to do this in you. He has an awesome dream for you and wants you to live it out.

So, acknowledge the negative effects of the past and understand that God’s dreams for you can be lived out. Daily, pray and commit yourself to God’s dream for you. Allow your thinking to be transformed and subsequently, your words and actions will begin to change. With God’s help, you will think His way and begin to live differently and confidently.

More sure of yourself

Once you understand yourself from God’s perspective, you will see yourself differently. Your timid and fearful nature will begin to gradually change to confidence. This gradual shift to confidence will be a great asset.

When you are more sure of yourself, you can dream God’s dreams. Big dreams. Your thinking begins to expand and the horizon, the future, looks entirely different. New possibilities begin to appear in your mind like never before.

Initially you may suppress these dreams because you have been conditioned to think less of yourself. But as the transformation progresses, you become more sure of yourself. This feeling of confidence will be uneasy to you at first as you feel unworthy of such thoughts. Just allow God to work within you and replace the negative thoughts with His thoughts, GOD size thoughts. You will notice yourself becoming more sure of yourself.

More assertive

Eventually the confidence within you will express itself outwardly. In your interpersonal relationships, you’ll be more assertive than ever before. You will notice the growing assertiveness and may want to pull back because of your years of negative conditioning. But now, God is working in you a conditioning that is different from the past.

Others will notice your new level of assertiveness. Especially when you have never behaved like this before. Your bold steps and words will be noticed by others.

I believe the greatest impact of your assertiveness will be in your performance. You continue to do the same work you’ve always done, but now, everything changes. Once your attitude changes from fear to confidence, and you begin to be more assertive, you will see greater results. Get ready for a change in your direction and future.

You don’t have to give in to the ideas and whims of others. You can listen to God’s voice and move forward; bold and assertive.

Quiet trust

The confidence and assertiveness you sense must not be just a general sense of positive thinking. A clear trust in God and his dreams for your life needs to be the foundation. God’s dreams are the fuel behind your confidence and assertiveness.

You are replacing fear and timidity that has controlled your thoughts and actions most of your life. This can be done only with a quiet trust in God. He will live His dreams through your life.

You’ve not had much trust in yourself and your abilities, but now you replace that with a trust in God.