Prosperity Theology In The Bible

Reading the book of Job is enlightening, we see how Job's friends are the first to espouse the Prosperity Theology which our Christian society today does.

I think it's the first Biblical glimpse (the book was written before Moses wrote the 5 books of the Torah), and shows something our Christian society now suffers from: belief in Prosperity Theology. The errant human belief (NOT Biblical truth) that if you're living right, according to God, you will be happy, healthy and rich! And if someone isn't, they must be sinning and "if only they went to church, they would be OK"! As if walking into a building, even several times a week, constitutes either a relationship with God or righteous living. I think the likes of the Bakers and Haggards of this world are solid proof that isn't so!

The interesting thing is that Job's 4 friends knew their "Bible", everything they say about God is true and theologically sound - such as "He consumes the tents of the corrupt" (15:34), "the hope of the Godless will perish" (8:13), etc. Where Eliphaz, Bildad, Zophar & Elihu go wrong is they assume that because Job is suffering the way he is, he MUST have sinned against God.

[Prosperity theology goes one step further, it says "come to THIS church and you'll be wealthy", and the masses drink the Kool-Aid!!!!!!!!! But if they knew God's word, they would know this is untrue, a cursory study of the Apostle Paul's life is enough to prove that!]

What we know that they don't (not even Job) is back in Job 1:6-12 & 2:1-7 Satan was allowed by God to test Job. God was so sure that Job would not curse Him, that he let Satan inflict suffering on Job.

Job says in 31:24-28 (KJV):

Job 31:24 If I have made gold my hope, or have said to the fine gold, Thou art my confidence;

Job 31:25 If I rejoiced because my wealth was great, and because mine hand had gotten much;

Job 31:26 If I beheld the sun when it shined, or the moon walking in brightness;

Job 31:27 And my heart hath been secretly enticed, or my mouth hath kissed my hand:

Job 31:28 This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge: for I should have denied the God that is above.

We see here that to trust in riches and have confidence in one's wealth and all one has secured (v. 24-25) - rather than in God who is the one who gives us all we have - results in judgment because such actions and thoughs equal:

1. Pagan worship (v. 26-27 refer to pagan worship - adoration of the sun and moon)
2. Denying God's power and blessings (v. 28)

But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God:
for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth
(Deu 8:18)

I think that says it all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!