Let me say right up front that I like prosperity. Much has changed in
the past 65 years (almost) that I’ve been around, and not all for the
bad. For example, I would far rather have the bathroom inside the house
than outside. How did we men ever survive the early days of TV, before
the remote control? Was there actually a time before the microwave?
Air-conditioning at church was a hand held fan from the local funeral
home. There was no air-conditioning at school, in your home or your
family automobile.
A shot before painful dental work is much preferred. Many medical
procedures are not as painful when compared to not many years ago. Pain
medicine is good. Knock me out and just wake me up when it’s over.
The common, everyday family today has luxuries that weren’t even dreamed
of when I was growing up. Any subject you might mention has been
affected by prosperity. Nothing has been left untouched, but now the
problem. Prosperity nearly always produces laziness.
The outdoors used to be a child’s domain, but now you can’t drag one
outside to play. Work was once something expected by every member of the
household, but now the ever widening posterior continues to expand. The
Apostle Paul said to his protégé Timothy,
“But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own
house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.”
(1Timothy 5:8)
Many conveniences of our prosperity have made our work easier. Believe
me I would rather ride the lawn mower than to push one with no motor.
I’ve been there. Is that bad? No, not at all, but the easier our work
load becomes, the lazier we get.
The greatest tragedy of this resulting prosperity driven laziness is our
nonchalant attitude toward God, Christian and non-Christian alike.
Have
you ever noticed that when things are going badly in our life, we call
out to God, even non-Christians? Send us prosperity though and we just
don’t have time for God anymore.
Can there be any doubt that Jesus is speaking to our generation when He
addresses the Laodicean church in Revelation 3:14-22?
14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things
saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the
creation of God;
15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou
wert cold or hot.
16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have
need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable,
and poor, and blind, and naked:
18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest
be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the
shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with
eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and
repent.
20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and
open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with
me.
21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even
as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the
churches.
In the early church people sat on the ground or on stone. Otherwise they
stood. How would that fly in today’s modern church? Our floors are
carpeted. Our pews are cushioned and soft. We even have a cushioned back
to lean on. Few churches today still have the old wooden pews since
they’re “not comfortable,” but how many will go to a ballgame and sit
for hours on a cold metal or wooden bleacher with their knees in
someone’s back?
Prosperity has also blessed us in the Bible study helps that are
available for Christians today. Many Christians have taken advantage of
these opportunities, but unfortunately most have not. It is so much
easier to learn from the Bible today than when I was growing up, but
apparently not easy enough for those spoiled by today’s luxuries.
Maybe it would be better if prosperity had not come our way in the first
place, at least with reference to our interest in God. No, … I still like
prosperity. Maybe it would be better if we just showed our appreciation
to God by thanking Him for it and using it for His glory. We could also
use it to make ourselves more available to serve Him better. But if we
think what we’re doing needs no improvement, is anything really going to
change? No, nothing will change if we have a Laodicean spirit.
Prosperity has provided grandiose worship centers with attaching
buildings for fellowship, sports and other activities. The interior of
each is cushioned in luxury. Healthy church bank accounts supply its
members with an orchestra and choir and the very best in sound
equipment. Top dollar is paid for a pastor that has beautifully orated
non-offensive spirit-lifting twenty minute messages that just make a
tingle go up one’s leg. Sin is never addressed so as not to offend. The
qualification for membership in this society of snobs is a healthy bank
account. The poor can go to their own church.
Does this sound like a modern day Laodicean church to you? It does to
me. Does that mean that all large plush churches are Laodicean minded?
No, it does not, but there are plenty around, enough that the
predominate attitude of today’s professing Christian is Laodicean. Does
it mean that only large plush churches are of this spiritual attitude?
Again, the answer is a resounding no. This “God’s lucky to have me”
attitude is found in any size church, and it’s getting worse.
In Revelation 3:20 Jesus is knocking on the door of this “lost and don’t
know it church” trying to get in. Three verses later in Revelation 4:1
He is calling His true Church out of the world. We call it the Rapture.
Prosperity is not bad, just as money is not bad. It is the love of money
that is bad (1 Timothy 6:10) and it is the love of prosperity that is
bad. So prosperity is not a curse unless we allow it to steer our love
away from God. If we choose, we could use the prosperity that God has
given us to proclaim Jesus Christ in even greater ways than our
Christian ancestors, or we can love it more than God and wait for its
condemnation.
Yes, Jesus is knocking on the door of the Laodicean church. In all
likelihood you may be part of one. Do you hear it … the knocking that
is? If you do, respond, for the next sound you won’t hear will be, “Come
up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.”
(Revelation 4:1) At this junction of your life, your life of ease will
be over.
God knows how to get our attention. Those in the Laodicean church who
have no time for God now because they are rich, and increased with
goods, and have need of nothing, will quickly discover that they are
wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked. He will strip
away the luxury and security to steer their attention where it needs to
be, while those who are truly His are enjoying His presence in Heaven.
Prosperity is not bad in and of itself, but if we allow it to make us
“fat and lazy”, not just in body but also in mind, we are headed for
doom. Will you use it as an instrument to help you serve the Lord Jesus
better, or will it be your curse?