What to do when things go wrong

Ever hear of the prosperity gospel?

The idea is that if you pray to God and remain faithful, God will give you a bunch of stuff and you'll be happy.  The problem is this assumes that God is some sort of cosmic-miracle-vending-machine: Prayers go in, miracles go out.

The confusion comes from the OT understanding that having wealth was a sign of God's approval and favor.  It all makes sense: King David had a grip of money, same as Solomon, Abraham, and Job.  Psalms constantly speak of being crushed and left with nothing, and looking forward to gaining riches back; if only the speaker remains faithful.  However, the disciples clearly understood that the OT was "the shadow of the reality that is now found in Christ".

The stories and ethics espoused in the OT lay the foundation for Christianity. The prosperity gospel has maliciously or unitentionally usurped the riches=faith ethos from the OT. People who understand the scriptures understand that prophecies sometimes came in events which were symbolic of what would foretell the future; the OT happened in the past, and physical riches were symbolic of the heavenly riches you would inherit.

More importantly, if physical wealth were a sign of God's approval, then why did Paul (the dude who pretty much wrote half the NT) work as a tent-maker, even though as a Pharisee (and a church leader) he didn't need to work a single day of his life?  Why did God, in the form of Jesus, die with only a strip of cloth around his waist, and had to work for several years as a builder for the Romans?  Why were all but one of the apostles martyred?

If we are to follow Paul's example, as he follows Christ, then being Christian means you're going to be poor, and you're going to have to work.

What's more is that heroes of the faith didn't trust in God because they knew they would get physical gain out of it.  Take Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego:

"Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied to him, 'King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves in this matter.  If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty's hand.  But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.'"

~Daniel 3:16-18

"Even if he does not, we want you to know that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."

They knew that God may not save them.  They refused anyway. 

Now let's look at Eli from 1 Samuel:

[God speaking to Samuel] "At that time I will carry out against Eli everything I spoke against his family -- from beginning to end.  For I told him that I would judge his family forever because of the sin he knew about; his sons blasphemed God, and he failed to restrain them.  Therefore I swore to the house of Eli, 'The guild of Eli's house will never be atoned for by sacrifice or offering'..." 1 Samuel 3:12-14

Eli's response?

"He is the LORD; let him do what is good in his eyes." 1 Samuel 3:18

Imagine being an old man and all of your family will be killed for their unrighteousness.  Eli chooses to accept the punishment, and remain faithful.  What's more, he knows that no matter what acts of faith he does from then on won't remove the loss he will experience, yet Eli accepts the punishment and even agrees with God that it is "good in his eyes".

For me, being a Christian is not what I can get out of it, it's always been about following truth.  This perspective has its flaws and blindspots, but we can't follow God because it benefits us; we have to follow God because he is God and we are not.

What about you?  Are you in this to have a better life?  Are you trying to get something out of it?

Thanks for reading.  See you next week. :)