5. Utatanishi katika Ujumbe wa Mafanikio
A Critique of the Prosperity Message
  (42:18)
(Swahili and English)

Began with reading Paul's view of wealth in Philippians 4:10-13. Then contrasts it with what the prosperity teachers claim. While the prosperity message contains some important truths, it is contains three problems:

  1. Poverty is not the curse that Christ died for, Umasikini  sio laana ambayo kristo alifia (Galatians 3:13-14; Deuteronomy 27:26; 28:15-68). Rather, this is the general curse on Adam and the land from Genesis 3:17b-19a. Christ died for sin, not for material wealth. The claim that Jesus was a rich man is patently false (Luke 8:1-3; John 12:6; 13:29). Quotes Jim Bakker in I Was Wrong (Nelson, 1996), p. 535. Notes that poverty is not simple, but the result of many causes. Nevertheless, being a Christian brings financial blessings from living right -- as well as promises of financial blessing as a result of giving to God. 
  2. A motivation of Greed, Tamaa (Matthew 6:19-21, 24; 1 Timothy 6:6-10; 1 John 2:15-16).
  3. The fruit of Pride, Majifuno, Kiburi.

This teaching was given by Dr. Ralph F. Wilson at African Renewal Pastors' Training Conference in Eldoret, Kenya, October 26-29, 2011. It is available as part of a DVD set in PAL format. It is part of a series of videos on YouTube on giving and tithing.


Copyright © 2024, Ralph F. Wilson. <pastor@joyfulheart.com> All rights reserved. A single copy of this article is free. Do not put this on a website. See legal, copyright, and reprint information.

Sign up now!To be notified about future articles, stories, and Bible studies, why don't you subscribe to our free newsletter,The Joyful Heart, by placing your e-mail address in the box below. We respect your privacy and never sell, rent, or loan our lists. Please don't subscribe your friends; let them decide for themselves.
FirstLast
E-mail
Country(2-letter abbreviation, such as US)
Preferred FormatHTML (recommended) Plain text