Today there is much talk and preaching in the Christian world of something that has been called the prosperity gospel.
The idea that God’s purpose for the life of every person, who accepts Jesus, is to prosper and bless them financially.
To give him a life free of financial and health problems. But what did Jesus say about the prosperity gospel in the Bible?
Is it right to seek God primarily for money and blessings?
Jesus once confronted a group of people who were not looking for him from the heart.
They did not seek Him because they sincerely believed in Him as Messiah as a product of the signs He made.
They sought Him out because they expected Him to bless them in material terms.
When I read this story I couldn’t help but look like what we’re seeing today with respect to the prosperity gospel.
Read the story with me:
Once the crowd realized that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum in search of Jesus.
When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?”
Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill.
Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.
For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.”
Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”
Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”
| John 6:24-29
The event in question occurs the next day after the multiplication of loaves and fishes.
Apparently, people were very impressed by the miracle and thought Jesus was the Messiah to come.
But sadly, their perception of the Messiah was wrong.
Seeing such a useful miracle and believing him to be their prophesied Messiah, they thought the moment was key to the nation’s prosperity.
The story goes that they thought of making him king, but Jesus escaped them.
Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.
| John 6:15
Those people had a problem that many others have today and that I would describe as the prosperity gospel.
They did not understand or did not assimilate, that the kingdom of Jesus is not a matter of this land and that is why they wanted to make him a king.
To establish a political, military, and economic power.
In their eyes, perhaps unconsciously, they were not willing to let “the goose with the golden eggs” escape.
So as soon as they saw that Jesus had left, they set out on the chase to intercept him at Capernaum.
There the Lord confronts them with love and patience, and then the story presented above is unraveled.
Returning to the subject, several things seem important to me to highlight in this story.
One is that there are circumstances in which people seek Jesus, not because we value the person of Jesus as savior and redeemer, but in a sadly utilitarian way.
It cannot be said that at first, this is wrong, because during his ministry many sought Jesus, before accepting him, to help them with a problem, illness, or need and the Lord gave them his help.
However, in most cases, this was only the means used to come to know and later accept Jesus as their redeemer and savior.
I mention it because maybe that’s your circumstance, and it doesn’t have to make you sorry.
You’re doing well.
If your heart, your health, your family, your economy, or whatever afflicts you, and you have decided to seek help and refuge in Jesus, you should not feel discouraged.
This does not bother the Lord.
The problem situation is to receive help and not to believe, nor to accept the Lord.
This group of people had received the blessing from Jesus, but were not satisfied, they wanted more blessing rather than wanting more from the person of Jesus.
That was where the problem lay.
And that’s where it lies today.
It is being preached that if we seek Jesus, He will give us all that we have dreamed of and longed for in life.
Money, fame, prosperity, health, travel, clothing, luxuries, beauty, etc.
People come to Jesus with needs, illnesses, and problems.
The Lord extends his hand to us, we receive prompt and powerful help, and instead of seeing him as our Lord, redeemer, and savior, as the greatest treasure we could ever have; we see him as a means to live better and more comfortably on this earth.
These purposes are selfish, and this mentality is purely earthly.
That, in my opinion, is the same phenomenon that is being presented with the prosperity gospel.
The beautiful thing about this story is that the Lord does not reject or mistreat those who sought him out for the wrong reasons.
On the contrary, with love, he corrects them.
Who can judge them?
It is easy to get confused and make this mistake.
The human heart is deceitful.
Immediately the Lord points them in the right way to proceed instead of delving deeper into their mistake and rebuking it.
Read it again for yourself:
Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill.
Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.
For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.”
Isn’t the kindness, patience, and love reflected in Christ’s character beautiful?
This also makes it clear that we should be more interested in redeeming by exposing the truth, than simply delving into pointing out people’s mistakes.
By telling them to work not for the food that perishes, but for the food that remains for eternal life; he tells them to set their eyes not on earthly things but on eternal things.
The next glorious and beautiful performance that happens is a recognition of ignorance and error on the part of the people and a forceful response of salvation on the part of Jesus:
Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”
Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”
These people were willing to learn the right way to receive Jesus’ message.
And that’s why they ask the question.
They were interested in pleasing God but had tried to do so from the wrong approach.
And the Lord shows them the way.
The true gospel is not the prosperity gospel, the true gospel is that of grace, spiritual healing, redemption, and forgiveness of sins for eternal life.
Are you willing to accept it?
Believe in the son of God, not because of the blessings, but because of the importance, glory, and beauty of his person.
Maybe you’ve erred in the way you approach Jesus on a daily basis, and that may sadden or discourage you, but don’t allow it.
He wants to show you a better way.
After this, the Lord Jesus gives a deep, emotional, and perhaps for those who heard; confused discourse on how He is the bread of life.
How through Him the ultimate purpose of existence can be achieved, which is to attain eternal life and enjoy it in the presence and glory of God Himself.
But you know? Between this crowd and the disciples who followed him were people for whom this was not important.
Eternity, God the Father, Jesus Himself were not important.
They themselves were the important thing.
They had their eyes on the earth and not in heaven.
Their eyes were on the temporary and not on the eternal.
In light of what Jesus teaches us about the danger of the prosperity gospel, I would like to ask you: Where have your eyes been all this time?
Who is the important one in your life?
History goes on to say of them that:
From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.
| John 6:66
Those who seek Jesus for the wrong reasons end up moving further away from Him every day.
However, those who seek him for the right reasons end up loving him deeply, delighting in him, and reflecting his character.
In conclusion: It is not wrong for you to come to Jesus seeking refuge and help in the midst of a need, illness, or problem.
The Lord cares about your needs and wants to ease your burdens so that you may experience his love and come to know and reciprocate Him.
However, the prosperity gospel is something false and dangerous, be very careful with the wrong way in which many teach about Jesus and that has permeated the Christian world.
Jesus is God, let us have our joy, happiness, delight in his person and in his glory.
He is not a simple means to live a more comfortable and pleasant life on this earth.
This earth is not the purpose of your existence, the time here is temporary and futile.
The gospel is not about the passing, it is about the eternal.
Ask the Lord to give you a heavenly mindset.
Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.
He is the price paid for our redemption and for us to receive salvation and eternal life.
What is your opinion on this topic? Have you had any experience with the prosperity gospel? With a lot of respect and tolerance, share your opinion in the comments.
A hug and God bless you.
