The Christian life comes with trials, with suffering, and with persecution. Jesus said "If the world hates you, remember it hated me first." (John 15:18) As Christ carried His Cross for our salvation, so His followers will have a cross to bear; Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." (Matthew 16:24)
Those pastors who teach a feel good, watered down, prosperity Gospel, the kind that says, "Riches are coming your way!", are doing you no favors. We are better equipped to face life if we know there are struggles ahead, our faith is more likely to hold in a storm if we can prepare for that storm beforehand. Yes, God will bless you in this life, first and foremost by having sent His only begotten Son Jesus Christ for your salvation. Almighty God also offers a peace beyond what this world can offer, and the joy and promise of an afterlife spent with Him.
In this life, chances are God will bless you with friends and family, a church home, the beauty of this world, and perhaps some monetary security. But remember that you are accountable to God for how you use all that He places in your life; you will have to answer for how you treat your friends and family, were you a faithful member of God's church, did you take care of the world God placed you in, and did you use whatever monetary resources, talents and abilities He gave you for His good, and for the good of the weak?
Don't be taken in by the watered down Gospel, read the Gospel for yourself, and be thankful when God allows trials into your life; for they build character, perseverance and bring you closer to God. When you can give thanks to God even in the rough times, your joy in Him, and His in you, will be all the deeper; and you will be gifted with a peace that nothing in this world can match.
Those pastors who teach a feel good, watered down, prosperity Gospel, the kind that says, "Riches are coming your way!", are doing you no favors. We are better equipped to face life if we know there are struggles ahead, our faith is more likely to hold in a storm if we can prepare for that storm beforehand. Yes, God will bless you in this life, first and foremost by having sent His only begotten Son Jesus Christ for your salvation. Almighty God also offers a peace beyond what this world can offer, and the joy and promise of an afterlife spent with Him.
In this life, chances are God will bless you with friends and family, a church home, the beauty of this world, and perhaps some monetary security. But remember that you are accountable to God for how you use all that He places in your life; you will have to answer for how you treat your friends and family, were you a faithful member of God's church, did you take care of the world God placed you in, and did you use whatever monetary resources, talents and abilities He gave you for His good, and for the good of the weak?
Don't be taken in by the watered down Gospel, read the Gospel for yourself, and be thankful when God allows trials into your life; for they build character, perseverance and bring you closer to God. When you can give thanks to God even in the rough times, your joy in Him, and His in you, will be all the deeper; and you will be gifted with a peace that nothing in this world can match.
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