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One "Christian" who grew up in church, and whose dad is a pastor, always interrogates me about why I don't have lots of money as he and his dad do. Then he insists that it's all because I'm not connected to the church denomination of his dad.
And his dad thinks the same thing. He's sure my being not as rich as they are is a sign that I am in sin of some kind--and sometimes hints that the "sin" is all about me not being part of their church denomination.
"Why else would you be poor except that God is not pleased with you, as he is with me?"
Have you ever met church guys like that?
And how do I respond to them? Actually, I don't. How can you explain anything to people who have closed their minds to realities in the bible. They claim to be Christians and they read the bible--but don't really believe in God's Word.
They have forgotten the fact that Christ was born poor and lived poor. Does that mean God wasn't pleased with him? It isn't God's will that believers suffer poverty all their lives, but God does sometimes place us in a situation of want for a purpose.
I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. [Philippians 4.12]
Another reason is, God places us in periods of want so that others can have the opportunity to bless us so God in turn can also bless them.
And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive. [Acts 20.35]
Third reason why it can be God's will that we experience want is that others who are in plenty can prove generous in Christ so that when the time comes, when we have become in plenty and they in want, we also can prove to be generous.
Right now you have plenty and can help those who are in need. Later, they will have plenty and can share with you when you need it. In this way, things will be equal. [2 Corinthians 8.14]So, being in plenty and being in want aren't going to be forever. There will be seasons of need and plenty, if not in your life then probably in the lives of your descendants some day. Being in need is not always because of sin or disobedience (though sometimes they are, like in the case of the Prodigal Son) but because of a purpose of God, which is often eventual equality.
In fact, there are many cases in the bible when rich men were so even if they were in sin or disobedience. Look at Laban, David and Solomon when they sinned, and Ahab, to name a few. The Egyptian and Babylonian empires were rich and powerful for a long time while being in sin. The Rich Man ended up in hell while extremely poor Lazarus ended up in Abraham's bosom.
A lot of church people have forgotten that God,
...chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. [1 Corinthians 1.27]
And,
Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? [James 2.5]
God uses the poor in the eyes of the world (literally, those who have no or little money) to expose the hearts of men, especially the hearts of religious and church people. You'd see how they value things or people by how they treat people according to how much money they have. It's sad but that's the reality in church today. Many church people--especially a lot of those who are very active and religious--treat you based on your income or possessions.
Often, these are the same people who man church positions and are influential in church and sing good in the choir.
I and my wife are often treated like garbage and scum by people close to us and who grew up in church all their lives, being admired and respected in church and placed in high positions. They are even "licensed" ministers. But they shout at us and talk down to us like we're slaves, just because we have no money. They put us to shame before people even if we do them no wrong and are even good to them.
Our kids are not spared. They suffer the cruelty of these "church people."
A few friends who know us are shocked to see us treated thus even if we have wronged no one, but they cannot say or do anything out of fear. They just cry trying to comfort us later. Indeed, in some churches, people treat you like a sinner or dung or trash just because you have no money. And they think they're doing right because they believe God is blessing them with riches and possessions--and you are not.
Sometimes I wonder--whatever happened to God's Word that he opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble? Why does he seem to oppose us and then gives more grace to the proud and arrogant?
But you see these cruel church people treating the moneyed and the rich differently. All my wife and I can do is smile and shake our heads, wondering why God hasn't answered our daily prayers for prosperity so we can stop being dependent on them and just be entirely dependent on God--and why these people just go on being blessed with money.
