Dear Unbeliever,
I would like to claim that we are kind of “Besties” now since you’ve been following my letters. Welcome to Letter 6 and today I will try to address your concern on why you think some preachers or religious leaders lead extravagant lives yet, we try to guilt you (Unbelievers) for spending your money anyway you please? Well, I don’t know many extravagant preachers but if you’re referring to the ones who own “Mega Churches”, private airports and private jets, driving in Bentleys and own private Islands and have some cash stored in foreign banks, then let’s have a bit of a discussion here.
I’ve been studying the bible more lately and I really haven’t come across any scripture that says it is wrong to make money or have wealth. People who live and work in the Kingdom of God are not supposed to be average, poor and hungry. Matter of fact, the earth and everything in it belong to our Father Jesus so we are entitled to the riches and glory in it. When God anoints His men and makes them shepherds over thousands of flock, it comes with thousands of blessings as well. The same way the healthcare industry needs money to fund it, the spiritual care industry is just as relevant if not more, and needs resources to operate it. Men and Women of God do not DEMAND money from their members – the bible says in 2 Corinthians 9:7 NIV, “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” This means that when Believers give, they are giving out of what they have been blessed with to support the work of God and the leader at the helm of things. I don’t see anyone criticizing King Solomon for living an extravagant life and why? It is because God was the one who blessed Him with it. In Deuteronomy 8:18, it is revealed that the Lord gives us the power to get wealth (paraphrased). So if I am a child of God and working His field, He has every right and at His discretion to bestow wealth and riches upon my life. Now, if I abuse that blessing or misuse it for anything other than living a comfortable life and blessing His Kingdom and the world at large, there will be severe consequences for me in this world or the next.
What I am expressing here is that, you (Unbelievers) are allowed to spend your money and wealth anyhow, we are also allowed to make money righteously but we don’t have that ‘extravagant spending’ exemptions as you do. What you see these men and women of God owning doesn’t mean abuse. Why do secular celebrities feel the need to fly private jets? Efficiency correct? Because they have to get to a stadium where Thirty Thousand plus people are waiting for them to perform. Any regular flight delays can affect these many people won’t it? Why is that different from servants of God also getting to multiple destinations to minister the word of God to thousands of souls who are waiting to hear it? While the secular world believes that they are blessing people through their entertainments and all, we are blessing God’s Kingdom by setting people free from bondages and bringing them to the knowledge of Christ Jesus. The question to ask is what is your wealth doing for humanity and the Kingdom of God? If it is not blessing anyone, then you can call it wasteful. If we (Believers) do not use the wealth and riches we are given to bless His Kingdom, we will pay for it dearly. You on the other hand, no one will hold you accountable on how you spend your wealth and riches. We have someone we need to give an account of our lives to – Jesus our Father and Lord.
I have heard many Unbelievers misquote and misinterpret this scripture to tell us Believers that we shouldn’t aim for riches and wealth since we think it’s evil – 1 Timothy 6:10 KJV, “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” Let us be clear that the scripture says “the love” of money. Anything you love, you put your heart and soul into and when you do that, it will lead you to evil. Money is power and when people have more riches and wealth than they need or want, it can cloud their judgement and they can abuse it and cause a lot of evil with it. Money falling into the right hands can do a lot of good. Look at all the wealthy men in business – how much good they do with their monies and wealth, donating to charities and helping to alleviate poverty in many countries.
I learned recently about the Four (4) levels of economic realms: 1. Survival zone, 2. Comfort zone, 3.Luxury and 4. Extravagant zone. Both Survival Zone and Extravagant Zone can lead you to sin and away from God. Believers must strive to be in the Comfort Zone where all the needs are met and in the Luxury Zone where their wants and certain quality of life is available to them as well.
My prayer for you this week is that, even if you do not have a relationship with Christ Jesus, use your resources to bless humanity and not to waste it. Blessing humanity is blessing the Kingdom of God. May you be blessed when you go out and blessed when you come in this week. AMEN!
To be continued….
XOXO,
Lady Abena.