Beware of gospel that promises material wealth in this world
JOE MILLER JR.

1 Corinthians 7:17-24

What condition are you in? Are you rich or poor? Do you have a high paying or a low paying job? Are you good looking or ugly? Are you fat or thin? Can you play the guitar, or are you tone deaf? Are you smart or…?

Well, you get the picture. Part of the American dream is to aspire to higher and higher successes. If we have a good job we aspire to getting a promotion and an even better job. If we can run the 40 yards dash in 4.4 seconds, we want to run it faster.

Anorexia is caused by people wanting to get thinner and thinner to match the standards set by the fashion and celebrity industries. Costly cosmetic surgery is a viable business because good looking people want to be better looking. No one is satisfied with their current condition. Such is the human nature of our fallenness.

This inherent human desire can motivate us to improve ourselves and the lives of our families. Everyone wants the best for their children and has high expectations for them.

However, according to the Bible, moving up in the world has nothing to do with being a Christian; "obeying the commandments of God is everything," and "in whatever condition you were called, brothers and sisters, there remain with God."

For a Christian "moving up" is moving closer to God by obeying his commandments. This is good news to all people because it means that Christ greets everybody with open arms; for example, public servants, lawyers, doctors, laborers, teachers, the unemployed, the disabled, etc.

On the other hand, if you desire a new Mercedes or mansion with a swimming pool, God is not going to get if for you. Unfortunately, many preachers (especially those on TV) have learned to sell something that is called the prosperity gospel. It goes something like this: "God wants you to have the material prosperity that life has to offer, and here is how to get it."

This is not a true gospel; being a Christian is taking up your cross and following Jesus, not being rewarded (in this life) for believing a given way or doing certain things.

"Obeying the commandments of God is everything." Two questions may come to mind. 1) How do I do that, and 2) what's the incentive if I am not going to get material rewards?

Being obedient is something we need to work out for ourselves. A few suggestions are going to church, praying, reading the scripture, and serving others. The answer to number 2 is multifaceted. Salvation is the short answer, but salvation includes many things.

Seek the questions and the answers in your local church. Email me at newtonumc@ valornet.com with your thoughts.

Joe Miller Jr. is pastor of First United Methodist Church in Newton.