Article No. 6
Christians are not supposed to be in a frustrated mood at all. If any
Christian in a frustrated mood, he neither understands God nor word of God properly. Christian’s free from frustration, happy and satisfaction not come from our externals but from our internals. It means that not at all based on prosperity, bank balance, investment or any kind of asset. Our supplier and provider are the God almighty, who created the universe by his word. Here, we have to affirm our faith like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the book of Daniel 3: 17 -18 says that “If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up”. It is the real faith in God, which is not at all based on worldly benefits.
15/June/2019
Every
prosperity gospel preachers are celebrating with verses in Hebrews: 11: 1 and
2, but they never explain the conclusion part of this chapter verses 39 and 40.
Christian faith is not ‘quid pro quo’ means something for something or this for
that in worldly and materialistic gains. Verses 1 and 2 says “Now faith is
the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it
the elders obtained a good report.” In
verses 39 and 40 says “And these all, having obtained a good report through
faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us,
that they without us should not be made perfect.” Here we can understand that having a good
report and receiving promises are not similar and not in the same way. So faith
for worldly and materialistic promises are not a universal doctrine in
Christianity. Here, it is not talking about salvation by faith, but prosperity
by faith.
In verses
36, 37 and 38 “And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea,
moreover of bonds and imprisonment: They were stoned, they were sawn asunder,
were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and
goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not
worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of
the earth.” From these verses and
verses 39 and 40; it can be concluded that faith is not for materialist gain
based on biblical scripture.
What
should be faith?
It is
clearly explained in verses 3 and 6, “Through faith, we understand that the
worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not
made of things which do appear. But without faith it is impossible to please
him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a
rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” From these verses it can
understand that our faith must be basically in two realms; one is God is there
and two is God created this world. There are almost 22 faith heroes mentioned
in this chapter. All of them received not any personal and materialistic gain
but either they received transcending spiritual blessings or promise fulfilled
for the Kingdom of God.
Many of
these faith heroes are not celebrating life in their times. Abel, the first
hero of faith; is being the first Martyr in the Bible. Mentioning of Zechariah,
was stoned to death and Isaiah, was sawed in two: in verse 37. It is not allowed our faith in
God to be limited in materialistic wants.
If we put
our faith for gains in materialistic perspective, it will never give you a
happy and satisfied life as God expected from us as “Rejoice, and be
exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the
prophets which were before you” (Matthew 5:12).
Be happy
and satisfied
For a
meaningful and purposeful life, happiness is not based on what happens to you;
but based on how we react to it. If we set our happiness based on our external
circumstances, then it will die out whenever it is being removed. Happiness
must come out from our internals, not from externals.
Comparison
and competition are fundamental sources of frustration in life. In 10th
Commandment of God’s Commandments says that “Thou shalt not covet thy
neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his
manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is
thy neighbour's”. If you wish or
desire to become like another person by comparing yourself with your neighbours
or relatives, you will never be free from a frustrated life. Every person and
each family in this world is unique in the eyes of God. Everybody is different.
All of us must have a real understanding of what are the gifts & talents
given by God and the flaws in ourselves. Gifts and talents must be enriched by hard-working,
also take measures to check our flaws.
People are
not satisfied with what they have. It is not supposed to expect improvement,
growth and development as others in our society. Comparing ourselves with
others are not good and healthy, but compare ourselves with our previous stages
in life. Then try to improve our present stage with respect to our previous
stages in life. This strategy will be helpful for leading a happy and satisfied
life.
Rejoice
in Christian life
There are
many reasons to rejoice in Christian life. Fundamentally, there are three
reasons to be cheerful in this world. Firstly, real awareness and understanding
that we are the child of God Almighty. Secondly, received salvation by faith
through Jesus Christ, the son of God. Lastly, Jesus Christ went for prepare a
place for me and He will come again and receive myself unto Himself.
Existentiality and essentiality are very evident in the case of God. So it is a
great privilege and honour to be the child of God.
Christians are not supposed to be in a frustrated mood at all. If any
Christian in a frustrated mood, he neither understands God nor word of God properly. Christian’s free from frustration, happy and satisfaction not come from our externals but from our internals. It means that not at all based on prosperity, bank balance, investment or any kind of asset. Our supplier and provider are the God almighty, who created the universe by his word. Here, we have to affirm our faith like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the book of Daniel 3: 17 -18 says that “If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up”. It is the real faith in God, which is not at all based on worldly benefits.
Trust,
obey and wait
Life is
perfectly transcending in nature. It does not begin at conception at the
mother’s womb or ends at last breath. So waiting is not only just limited in
between birth and death, it’s beyond that. Thus, waiting not allowed to
encroach our happy and satisfied life. We just need to trust in the God and
obey Him, again it is not a quid pro quo promise but necessary and sufficient
condition for being a child of God. All these are morally essential and
rationally correct.
Graham
Staines, Australian missionary in India Martyr in 1999. Did he murder because
of his lack of faith in God of protection? Never, faith has no correlation with
worldly and materialistic gains. Our God is not a quid pro quo god. Suffering
and evil are part of everybody’s life. It makes more meaning and purpose of
life in transcendence.
Source and
aid are entirely two different things. Considering faith for worldly gains is
similar to use aid as a source. Source always should be the source, aid always
should be an aid. Interchanging of it will lead to a meaningless and
purposeless life. Our God is so powerful and mighty, so never underestimate the
God and meaning of the word of God for temporary worldly and materialistic
wants. Because we are looking forward that beyond its limit. So Psalms 118: 24
says “this is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in
it.”
(This article is a warning against prosperity gospel as a business to many people. But salvation and blessings from God need faith.)
(This article is a warning against prosperity gospel as a business to many people. But salvation and blessings from God need faith.)
By,
Nithin A F
Doing Post Graduation in Psychology
Thiruvanathapuram, Kerala.
Email : nithinaf@gmail.com
www.NithinAF.blogspot.com
15/June/2019
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