A long time ago I heard the story about the richest man in town.

He had 2 children he loved ferociously. They also loved their father very much.

He wanted to keep the children humble because of their privileged lifestyle. He was afraid that his great wealth would cause them to become selfish and to choose wrong pathways.

His children were in public school so everyone in town knew that his children had shoes with holes in them. They wore clothes until they were rags. Then if they were lucky, he might buy them new shoes and clothes. They just never knew what he was going to do. They always looked hungry, too.

The town people could not understand because the man always talked about how much he loved his children. They could not understand how a father could say he loved them so much yet keep them the way he was.

The township considered it abuse and finally called child welfare services on him. He was shocked at this move because he continually professed his great love for his children. He felt he was totally misunderstood.

💕

You would not call this a father’s love, would you. You would be just as upset for the children as I was… if I knew this was a true story. Which it’s not.

Did this story shock you? It shouldn’t.  This is how many Christians believe God is. They believe He keeps them poor to keep them humble or to teach them something holy.

People don’t call it abuse. They truly believe this is God’s way. They’ve heard lies preached from the pulpit about prosperity and bought into that lie. 

Yet if this story were true and it happened in the world with a human father, people would rise up in arms.

Prosperity is in God’s plan. That makes it HOLY. What is more holy than spreading the Gospel? He needs us prosperous in order to tell people about Jesus – and to enjoy life while doing so. And it takes the money part of prosperity to help others.

I have two scriptures for you to meditate:

John 14:13 (KJV)  … and whatsoever ye shall ask in My Name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son (notice there are no qualifications such as it must only be holy things. It does need to line up with God’s Word. You can’t ask Him for things unscriptural like your neighbor’s spouse or to get rid of someone you don’t like)

Joh 10:10  (TPT) A thief has only one thing in mind—he wants to steal, slaughter, and destroy. But I (Jesus) have come to give you everything in abundance, more than you expect—life in its fullness until you overflow (in every area of life)