The Comfort Gospel

 

There can be such subtlety in the differences between what we say we believe about God and His commandments and how we live.

The “prosperity gospel” says that if we will come to faith in Christ He will prosper us in a big way and if He does not, well then, there must be some sin in the way of that prosperity. Most Christians reject this as an unbiblical teaching. Even Jesus had “no place to lay His head” (Luke 9:58).

Wealth and prosperity are not a sign of God’s satisfaction or dissatisfaction with us. But, He does say things like, “And keep the charge of the LORD your God: to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His judgments, and His testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn”1Kings 2:3. And, “He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy” (Proverbs 28:13).

So, in some way God prospers those who keep covenant with Him and show their love for Him by obeying His commandments while at the same time not promising what the world would see as riches to all of His people (neither does He say we should not have them).

Among those who live in an “abundance” of comfort, we may reject the “prosperity gospel” but live like we believe in a “comfort gospel.” If things are not going according to our own definition of comfortable, we complain and show a general discontentment that is an insult to God. If the Lord calls us to a work that seems hard we make excuses to not do it. We complain that it will cost too much money or too much time or too much exposure to the elements if it is outside on the streets.

Paul said, Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need (Philippians 4:11-12).

If we cannot find the perfect dress for an occasion, if we are left with crumbs when everyone else at the table has eaten, if we fail to see the glory of God in the daily delights He offers us in His Word, people, and works, is it reason to complain?

Do we really believe that we “can do all things through Christ who strengthens me?” (Philippians 4:13).

Times are hard and many people feel they have lost or missed out on important things, especially the children, as we have been through the “states of emergency” where there was no real emergency (based on death rates). However, our faith needs to be that the Almighty God of the universe is still sitting on His throne ruling. He has a purpose from the least of our hardships to the greatest and that purpose will be for our good and His glory (Romans 8:28). 

Contentment, trust in the goodness of God, keeping His commandments, and a steady diet of His Word will help us to adjust our attitudes from discontentment to Thanksgiving!

Then, we will glorify Him in the work we do for Him and the words we speak of Him.

Does what we say we believe about God line up with what others see and hear from us?