The Truth About Material Wealth: Is It God’S Blessing in Disguise?

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© 2015 Revd Dr Gabriel J. Anan, PhD. All rights reserved.

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Published by AuthorHouse 11/17/2015

ISBN: 978-1-5049-9309-8 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5049-9310-4 (e)

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Cover image design by Adom Anan, fourteen-year old daughter of the author.

Also by the Author

The Organic Church: A Practical Approach to

Managing Change (2011)

The Illusive World of Love:

Demystifying the Mindset of True Love (2015)

Contents

Acknowledgement

Preface

Dedication

Part I

Does God Approve Or Disapprove Believers To Be Wealthy?

Chapter 1 Material Possession In The Scripture

Part II

People Of Wealth And Prosperity In The New Testament

Chapter 2 Wealth Possession In The New Testament

Part III

Materialism In The Bible

Chapter 3 Understanding Materialism In The Bible

Part IV

Riches In The Bible

Chapter 4 Understanding Riches

Part V

The Blessing Of Prosperity

Chapter 5 Understanding Material Blessing In The Bible

Part VI

Is Giving Tithes A Glory To God?

Chapter 6 Giving Time And Money In The New Testament

Conclusion

Generocity In Giving

Chapter 7 Understanding Generous Giving

Summary

Bibliography

A Note On The Author

About The Book

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to acknowledge the assistance I have received from various personalities and in particular the relevant contributions of believers who agreed to participate in an informal discussion regarding material possessions in the church. Without the relevant contributions of these people which enabled me to gather the materials, the publication of this book would not have been possible. My special thanks and deepest expressions are due to the advice and constructive critiques from Rev. Dr. Gin Khan Khual Hatzaw which helped me to express my ideas in a more simpler ways than I would otherwise have done on chapter one.

I would also like to express my thanks to some church members for their willingness to make several suggestions and giving me some pieces of advice which shaped my thought further. My gratitude is due to the staff of my local libraries and the Church library for allowing me to use some reserved space for other people. I also owe a great debt of gratitude to my family and the church family for putting up with me during the period of my absence from the church. Finally, I’m very grateful to the Revd Canon David Haokip, Vicar of St Georges and Ethelbert in New Ham, London for his support and advice.

Above all, my greatest gratitude and thanks are due to the editorial board of my publishers especially Ivy Mendola and Rebecca Carter who read the first manuscript and made some suggestions before recommending it to the editorial board with whom I have closely worked together throughout the months before the publication of this book.

Revd Dr Gabriel J Anan

PREFACE

It seems pretty vivid that unless we pursue with all our intellectual muscles, humankind would always be forever short of understanding the ethos that we need grappling for the illumination of the ways of God. Whilst it may never be possible to know everything about God’s ways however, we human beings are virtually blessed with some kind of knowledge that can be employed to ascertain and embrace God’s will for humanity, this is because, He has revealed the truth to the word in order for us to refrain from naivety.

The Revd Dr G. J. Anan

DEDICATION

It’s my very sincere wish that, aside from the Holy Bible, this book finds its seat in the midst of homes of every believer. I would like to confess that this book is not only destined to serve as a study tool but also as an enhancement of true faith for Christian brothers and sisters in our beloved Christian environment. For this reason I’m dedicating this book for the instilment and the understanding of true meaning of material wealth found in the Scriptures for all the believers in our global village.

Rev. Dr. Gin Khan Khual Hatzaw

General Secretary of ZOMI Baptist Convention of Myanmar

and Senior Pastor of Burmese Mission Church, London.

PART I

DOES GOD APPROVE OR DISAPPROVE BELIEVERS TO BE WEALTHY?

Chapter 1

Material Possession in the Scripture

Money must be a source of wealth and thus durable, otherwise people wouldn’t hold it.

—Alan Bullock

Materialism is not a simple hypothesis but real … the welfare materialism of age is recognised as simply an implementation of the love of neighbour enjoined by Christ.

—Edward Norman

The attainment of inspirational stimulant that culminated into the resultant effect which led to the writing of this book was borne out of the absence of a true, prevailing issue permeating the church about poverty and richness. In my attempt to conceptualise the true nature of the issue, I felt it would be essentially motivating to have informal discussions about material prosperity with some Christians, including Anglicans and other denominations. The key debate, which took place over several months, primarily focused on the contentious issue of richness and poverty in the church. The central issues explored which, in my belief, affect the consciousness of church members and the church, were

• problems with material possessions

• prosperity and richness of church people

• wealthy churches

• sacrificial and generous giving

• constant and regular tithing, regardless of the members’ financial situations

• raising funds in the church for common good

• responsibility of rich churches to support struggling church members

• the appropriate definition of wealth

• determination of whether tithing is a law or just a commonsensical device for the church to pay its bills and meet financial obligations

• debt and bankruptcy among church members

• whether believers should be in a dire poverty before they can enter the mercy gate for salvation

Comments and the feelings expressed by participating believers are thoroughly explained at length in the book, particularly in chapters 6 and 7.

The prevailing issue is the fact that there has always been looming doubt in the minds of many Christian brothers and sisters about the true nature of having material possessions. As a result, they seriously seek pastoral guidelines from their church leaders, pastors, and priests to provide them with the understanding of how materially rich people are blessed without losing the grace of salvation. One of the most striking questions is whether all poor people in many poor countries are saved by virtue of being poor. Further, is being poor the commandment of God, meaning, thou shall be poor or that thou shall go and be poor for the sake of the kingdom?

Some of the believers wished to know if it’s a sin to be a wealthy or rich Christian. The key issue being explored during the debates with reference to biblical texts was not only whether the believers should pursue material wealth and prosperity but that salvation is for all believers regardless of our circumstances. In the Bible, there are many conflicting suggestions supporting riches and poverty alike. For example, Proverbs 30: 8–9 reads, ‘Lord, give me neither poverty nor riches.’

This book considers – not justifies – two crucial and contrasting issues believers constantly struggle with. First, does God the Creator support believers with material wealth, and if so, how wealthy? Second, does God prefer believers to be impoverished, and if so, how poor? To reflect further on these two issues, the Bible reveals, ‘For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?’ (Matthew 16: 26). And, ‘Lord give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and may say Who is my Lord. Or I may become poor and steal and so dishonour the name of my God’ (Proverbs 30: 8–9).

The issue for consideration is that one school of thought believes true believers will be abundantly blessed by God materially and spiritually, whilst another school of thought stresses God’s blessings shall mostly be poured upon believers who are poor. The intriguing question to consider is, Which of these schools of thought is correct? Are there any significant ramifications for pondering? The real problem for us to deal with is not the fact of being rich or poor, but how much is too rich and too poor? This is the predominant issue. Referring to the biblical text in order to illuminate our understanding we find this challenging verse for reflection.

But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. (1 Timothy 6: 9–10)

People Blessed with Material Wealth in the Old Testament

Reflecting further on the issues raised by the two schools of thought discussed earlier, Jean highlights some of the ramifications with regards to how God blesses six people in the Old Testament. She points out, ‘Some people actually think that