“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19)
Prosperity is the key word in so much of society today.
When I took my students to Medellin, Colombia, we discovered that the quest for prosperity and power was at the root of so much violence, which had destroyed Colombian society of the 1980s and 90s.
Sadly, this quest for prosperity was and is so rooted in global society.
And, yes, even in the global Church.
Churches which preach the prosperity oriented gospel are flourishing in far-flung places in Asia, South America, and Africa. “Release your faith,” speak your faith,” “believe it, receive it,” etc. are the phrases which are often heard in these churches. The idea is that one can receive whatever one desires, if only one can believe, really believe, in what one is desiring. One’s spirituality and one’s Christian faith, supposedly is directly proportional to one’s faith to receive whatever one desire’s.
This rampant growth of the prosperity-gospel is quite contrary to Jesus’ teaching.
During the Sermon on the Mount Jesus taught the am ha-aretz, or the common people of the land about prayer. He warned them not to be like the prosperity people- the Sadducees, and the Pharisees. They pray to boast about their lofty dreams and desires. In their prayer-attire they display their opulence- a symbol of their spirituality. He warned them not to be like the Romans and the Greeks, whose prayers are full of lofty phrases that they display.
Jesus says to them. You do not need to be like them. Simply remember “Your Father knows your needs.” (Matthew 6:8).
When Jesus went around the towns and the villages he always discerned the needs of people, and met those needs. Many times these were “needs” of physical healing among crowds of common people (Luke 9:11). At other times it was emotional, spiritual and mental “needs,” as in the case of women who had been abused by society (Luke 10:42).
In his teaching, Jesus always taught the people to distinguish between “desires or wants” and “needs.” He taught them to learn from the birds in the sky and the animals of the field. They can teach us a thing or two about this. He taught the people to learn from the flowers and the plant kingdom. They can teach us a thing or two about this.
I teach at a liberal arts university- North Park University, so that I can learn from my colleagues in the sciences and arts, these lessons.
Jesus warned the common people not to be like the Romans and the Greeks. They seek after their own glory. It only led to unjust things that they did to others, just to meet their desires!
It only led to a deeply unsatisfying life, which led to more abuse of others under their control, just to attain their desires!
Jesus constantly reminded the people not to get into this deeply unsatisfying downward spiral of desires and wants.
How may one keep from getting into this downward spiral of desires and wants?
Jesus said to them simply remember that “your Father knows your “needs.” (Luke 12:30).
When we remember this, we will not be jealous of those that supposedly prosper.
When we remember this we will not be caught up in the downward spiral of desires and wants.
When we remember this simple teaching of Jesus, we will truly experience a deeply satisfying life.
When we remember this simple teaching of Jesus, the focus is not on us, rather the focus is on the provider of needs, the Lord Jesus our Messiah!
A Prayer:
Oh LORD may I remember this simple teaching, “My God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”
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