Prosperity or Joy?

Prosperity theology focuses too much on joy in our present life – traditional Christianity focuses too little

Prosperity theology is tremendously appealing to many. Pastor Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church is the largest in the US by a comfortable margin.  This theology is also growing in influence at the highest levels of leadership as Pastor Paula White is now leading the White House Faith and Opportunity Initiative.

On the surface, the notion that God blesses His faithful followers with health and material wealth is very attractive, but what are the underlying implications and most importantly, what does Scripture say about this theology?

Interestingly, although the popularity of prosperity theology appears to be a contemporary phenomenon, Scripture actually addresses it very early on in the book of Job, thought by many to be one of the oldest books in the Bible.  Here we read the story of Job, a man declared blameless by God Himself, who nonetheless is allowed to suffer horrific tragedy, including the sudden death of his 10 children, the loss of his wealth and physical illness.  So, what does this have to do with prosperity theology? For that answer, let’s look at the response of Job’s 3 friends, Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar, to Job’s tragic circumstances.  Plenty of long speeches here but the bottom line is that each of these men accuse Job of causing his own suffering by sinning. This is, in fact, the dark underside of prosperity theology: if God blesses those who are faithful to Him, then those who suffer in this life are not faithful followers of God. If our behavior is the source of our material wealth and health – good or bad - then suffering can be blamed on those who suffer.

Is this Scripturally sound? We need look no further than the book of Job to see God’s condemnation of this belief. First, God Himself declares Job blameless (1:8). Second, God flat out condemns the 3 friends for not speaking truthfully about Him (42:7). And third, Elihu, a 4^th man who appears later in the book, states clearly that God “shows no partiality to princes and does not favor the rich over the poor” (34:19). 

While many scholars state that God offers no explanation in the book for why the innocent suffer, Elihu actually does offer one, stating that suffering is a benefit to people to “to turn them back from the pit, that the light of life may shine on them” (33:29, 30). Notably, God does not condemn Elihu for speaking untruthfully, as He does the other three friends.

On the other hand, at the end of the book, God does provide Job with twice that which he originally had (42:10). If God doesn’t reward His faithful with material prosperity, why did He provide these things to Job? Here we need to look at two important details. The first, is that though God provided Job with another 10 children, this did not restore Job’s loss. While livestock are replaceable, humans are certainly not. The second 10 children were indeed a blessing to Job, but they did not heal the devasting loss he experienced in losing the first 10 – and by all accounts, Job was a highly involved, loving father. 

The second important detail seems to underscore the first. Scripture specifically tells us God gave Job twice what he had lost (42:10). The book goes through the math in detail, providing a count of his original livestock, by category, and children, by gender, in chapter one and a new count of God’s later provision in chapter 42. For each category of livestock, the second amount was indeed twice the first (see table). This was not however the case with Job’s children. He was provided another 10, 7 boys and 3 girls. In keeping with God’s promise and His livestock provision, Job should have been provided an additional 20 children. Scripture says twice, the mathematical count is once – what gives? An important detail is that we are not provided a timeline for the completion of God’s later gifts. If Scripture is accurate – and it is – God must have given back Job’s original 10 children to him to reach the promised  twice total of 20 children. This is also the only possible way to fully restore Job’s losses – give him back the very children he had loved and lost. But they died, how can Job get them back? Only one way, in Heaven, not in this life. It appears that this very old Bible story is providing us with a glimpse of Heaven and eternity.  We will indeed be fully healed in Heaven – that promise is clear. By not restoring Job’s biggest loss during his human lifetime, God acts in a way consistent with refuting the prosperity gospel.

If material wealth is so dangerous why does God ever provide it to His followers? Well, prosperity can provide access to a mission field and Job demonstrated he could be trusted with material wealth, which Scripture teaches us is more often a hindrance than a help in our relationship with God. We tend to think of Job as extraordinary because he remained largely faithful through tremendous trials, however God said Job was exceptional prior to those trials (1:8). Think about that – Job was extraordinary because he remained faithful to God despite his significant wealth and the temptation of self-reliance it encouraged. We even acknowledge this fact in the secular world, Abraham Lincoln is credited with saying “any man can withstand adversity, if you want to test a man’s character, give him power”. 

Refutation of prosperity theology is not limited to the book of Job. Jesus specifically told His faithful followers that “in this world you will have trouble” (John 16:33a). We read throughout the Bible the dangers of material wealth. Jesus said, “…it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God” (Matt. 19:24). He explicitly warns us "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy…But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”  (Matt. 6:19-21). And Paul tells us that “the love of money is the root of all evil” (1 Tim. 6:10). 

Moving on to physical health, what does God promise us in this life? Despite repeated entreaties, God refused to heal His faithful apostle Paul (2 Cor. 12:7-9), for Paul’s own benefit.  Additionally, Scripture tells us “the wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23a) and “it is appointed on man once to die” (Heb. 9:27). God promises us that at least once in our life He won’t heal us – and it will be when we’re facing our most mortal peril.  Furthermore, most of Jesus’ disciples were martyred.  Did they suffer these brutal deaths because they were unfaithful?  Certainly not, they were martyred because of their faith.

That is the scripture. What do our own observations teach us about this school of thought? Think of the world’s wealthiest and most powerful people. Are these folks all living God honoring lives? Some are, but all? We need look no farther than some of the world’s brutal dictators to know that this is not true. How about those who suffer? Have the people you observed struggling with finances or disease always been those who lack faith? Of course not. We’ve all seen faithful, godly Christians suffer in this life.

So, if prosperity theology is so easily refuted why is it so popular with so many? For that answer we need to examine how we, non-prosperity Christians, communicate our faith to others.

Prosperity pastors consistently communicate happiness in our present life. Consider this quote from Joelosteen.com:

“as children of God, we are overcomers and more than conquerors and God intends for each of us to experience the abundant life He has in store for us.”                                                  

This is a wonderful quote, which is truthful, joyful and Scriptural.  It does not however identify the definition of an “abundant life” and as we’ve already seen, material wealth and health are not promised by God.  Furthermore, absent from Lakewood Church’s Statement of Faith is any mention of the afterlife, no mention of Heaven, no mention of Hell. Contrast this with statement #10 in the EFCA Statement of Faith.  While Christians may disagree on the nature of Hell, eternal life in Heaven for Jesus’s redeemed is clearly promised in Scripture and is foundational to the Christian faith.  

While prosperity theology focuses too much on the present, we non-prosperity Christians often focus too little on the present. Consider this excerpt from a USA Today opinion column written as a refutation of prosperity theology:

“If you want to know what following the will of God looks like in practice, look at Jesus, who was brutally tortured and murdered on the cross for our sins.  Look at the apostles and martyrs who died on account of proclaiming the Gospel.

These people didn’t receive back what they lost in earthly prizes or see their bank accounts increase.  They sacrificed their lives for the sake of God’s true word in order to receive the gift of heaven.”

-Brendan Clarey, Opinion contributor, USA Today 1/9/2020

As reflected here, our primary focus tends to be on suffering in this life to obtain rewards in the next. In this we are also missing critical Scriptural truth.  God does indeed promise an eternity in paradise for those who accept Him as Lord and Savior. But He also promises us a more abundant life here and now (John 10:10). He promises us peace that passes understanding (Phil. 4:7), godliness with contentment (1 Tim. 6:6), and He directs us to be joyful always (Phil. 4:4). God offers the only true and lasting peace and contentment because His is not dependent on external life circumstances – which are always changing.

It’s important to remember that Christians aren’t alone in suffering in this world – people of all beliefs suffer from illness and poverty.  Even religious persecution is not limited to Christians.  However, Christians are in a unique position to benefit from suffering when it increases our reliance on God, Who is completely in control, loves us and has good and perfect plans for us. (Jer. 29:11).

We all want the same thing, happiness and contentment, we just disagree on how to achieve this.  Prosperity theology is an obvious house of cards – but neither is our joy postponed until after we die.  We get it right now. Maybe we would appeal to more people if we offered the complete truth – it is indeed enormously appealing. 

In his book “The Fruitful Life” Jerry Bridges makes the point that peace is often elusive for Christians because we often do not actually pray for peace but for deliverance from our trouble.  Think about this, deliverance is the opposite of the peace that passes understanding promised by God.  Feeling peaceful because you have no trouble is clearly understandable – it’s also very temporary, lasting only until your next difficulty.  God’s peace is eternal, existing despite our changing life circumstances.

God repeatedly promises us eternal treasure – including peace and contentment starting right now – why would you settle for less?

I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world.  John 16:33

Thanks for reading.