GOD IS NOT A HEAVENLY SANTA

Contrary to the teachings of many of the modern day televangelists you cannot “name it and claim it.”
Many times it does not matter how hard you try, nor how hard you work, you may have problems. You may fail financially while giving your all to your work. The company you are with or even your own company may fail. Of course many of the problems we experience come from our own negligence at times, to be good stewards of what God gives us. However, many times financial disaster comes not from your actions, but by the actions of others, as witness Enron, Service Merchandise, Adelphia, and numerous others.

Then, again, it matters not that you diet properly, exercise properly and have faith as to move mountains, our health sooner or later will fail and we will depart this life.

To teach that if you have enough faith you can somehow become immunized from the pitfalls and problems of this life is to teach what scripture never teaches. The teaching of this is to make faith a vehicle of controlling God instead of God controlling us through our faith. God is not under our command. I have yet to read where a part of Gods’ job description is to make us happy! This teaching is not too unlike new age philosophy or the power of positive thinking mentality.

I encourage you to make an in depth study of scripture as relates to this entire subject. It is very possible that you will be amazed at what you might find.

When we approach this subject and consider the people of God throughout history, how they have suffered poverty, disease, and persecution, it causes one to wonder if the teachers of this doctrine are using the same book that other Christians are using. Could it be that they have a fabricated doctrine that they now try to prove by the book? Can it be that what they say the book says is not what it says, but it is what they say it says?

Think of these as you pursue this subject:
1. The man Job who had an abundance of faith. A servant of God, who lost everything he possessed, and was diseased, not because of a lack of faith, but because of the fact that his was such a strong and enduring faith! See Job Chap.1&2

 2. Ruth, a follower of God and an ancestor of the Lord Jesus Christ, who was so poor that she got what little living she had from gleaning the fields after the harvest was over. See Book of Ruth.

 3. The scriptures are plain that some of the early Christians were poor while others were not. It is obvious that if they “named it” (money) they never got to “claim It” See Acts 4:32-35

Another case in point would be the letters written to the early Christians in Asia Minor by John. The words of Jesus himself to that group of Christians in the city of Smyrna are as follows; “I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich)” these words show forcefully how it is possible to be poor as a church mouse as a Christian, yet rich in faith and all the things that really count. One wonders if the “name it and claim it” doctrine was in the New Testament church why these people did not do just that.

Further, we learn that in the reign of Claudius a world wide famine occurred which impoverished many Christians as well as non-Christians. Instead of the Christians “naming it and claiming it” they had to rely upon the charitable outreach of other churches to supply the basic necessities. See Acts 11:27-30, It is a fact that these people of faith were on church oriented welfare.

 4. Lastly, the Lord Jesus himself suffered from hunger. (Matt.4:2) He had no home (Lk.9:28) and as we know he suffered agonizing torture and abuse before his death upon a cruel cross. (Matt.26:67&68---27:26-30)

Jesus made it plain while he was here on earth, when he invited people to become his followers, that to take that way was a hard way that might lead to loss of money, houses, land, and even the loss of close relationships with friends and family. He wanted them to understand that he was not promising a rose strewn pathway.

Do not be misled into thinking that your problems are because of a lack of or a weakness in your faith in God. If you are truly striving to serve God just the opposite may be the case as Satan tries his best to bring you down in every way that he can.

Peter tells us that the trials and temptations that come upon us are for the refining of our faith, as if it were gold in the refiners crucible, not because of a lack of faith. 1 Peter 1:6&7

In conclusion; you can rest assured that as long as your focus is upon pleasing and serving him, come what may, he will help you through it. No, he may not give you a Town car. No, he may not take you out of the valley of the shadow of death, he will go through it with you!

Perhaps you have noticed as I have, that the propagators of this idea of “name it and claim it”, are big on urging you to send or give them your money. I personally heard one urging that  “if you send me a thousand dollars God will give it back to you ten times over.”

I think I have a better idea. Why don’t you get them to send you a thousand dollars and let them get it back from God “ten times over”? Just think, you would have more, and they would have ten times more than they had before they sent you the thousand dollars, which would be nine thousand more than you would have sent in the first place!!!!

God is not a Santa Claus whom we use to get what we covet after. This thinking lowers God to being controlled by our wishes instead of us being controlled by his.

The purpose of the money we may have, regardless of the amount, is for it to be used by us as good stewards and to help others. The religion of “get” is not the religion of the God of the Bible. The religion of Jesus Christ is “give.”

“Instruct those who are rich in this worlds’ goods not to be proud, and not to fix their hopes on so uncertain a thing as money, but upon God, who endows us richly with all things to enjoy. Tell them to do good and to grow rich in noble actions, to be ready to give away and to share, and so acquire a treasure which will form a good foundation for the future. Thus they will grasp the life that is life indeed. 1 Tim.6:17-19 N.E.B.---Have a great day with Jesus!!!!

Gerald
If you have any comments or questions, please click on the guest book below or email me @ thornsandnails@avsia.com and reference Thorns and Nails.