Scripture Review

Good day Beloved in Christ Jesus. Happy new month and welcome to this week's episode of scriptures review. Remain blessed as you read.

Topic: PROPERITY OF THE SAINTS

Text: Matthew 26:11, "For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always.

Matthew 26: verse 11, is one of the most controversial scriptures popularity misunderstood amongst christians in general. Most people misinterpreted Jesus' remarks out of context, and runaway with their personal conviction. According to that passage, Jesus didn't recommend poverty has God ordained reality, neither did He validate material lacks has normal. What Jesus said in context is that, His mission on earth is very short. Because, He would be departing from the earth earlier than they expected. But the poor people are still very much around in case you want to help anyone of them. Jesus' remark emanates from the kind gesture of a woman who anointed Jesus with precious ointment. Matthew 26:7-9, "There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat. But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste? For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor." When Jesus' disciples saw the volume of costly ointment poured upon Jesus they were startled.

They couldn't believe such volume of precious ointment was emptied on Jesus just like that. To them, it was a wasted investment. They saw it as surplus of paid over pleasure. How on earth could someone pour off such valuable ointment on the Master's head, considering the economic value of the ointment. They didn't realize how important it was for the body of Jesus to be preserved in death without stinking. As a matter of fact, they had no idea about Jesus death. They were only concerned with the cost rather than appreciating the purpose for which it was meant to serve. Anytime you get concerned or angry against God's surplus provisions, bear it in mind that you are acting under unnecessary indignation. If it pleases God, He can decide to pour heavy rain upon the earth everyday while the earth swallows it up, yet God is not tired of nourishing the earth with showers of blessings. So, what is your problem? If excess provision is spent uncontrollably in God's vineyard, how is that your problem? There are some christians who get angry whenever they see their pastor buy a brand new car, as if pastors are ordained to go around on commercial buses.

Poverty mentality is antichrist. This is not to promote prosperity gospel but to remind all christians of God's unchanging and unfailing provisions for all His children without exemption. It is God and God alone who decides whether or not to bless His servant with a bike or a car. It is none of your business whether the pastor rides SUV or a tricycle. Allow his Master to decide what is worthy for His servant, not you. Whenever you notice a lack in the church, especially among members, check the pastor. It's either the pastor is self-centered or worldly. Hear the testimony of Jesus' disciples, in Luke 22:35, "And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing." Jesus asked His disciples, since you guys have been with me, and since I have been sending you up and down without money and without savings accounts, did you lack anything? And they answered, nothing! They were not working, they were not earning salary, but because they were with Jesus, they lack nothing. Even in their homes their wives and children don't lack nothing.

Come to think of it, when Jesus turned water into wine at the wedding in Canaan, most Christians described that as Jesus' first miracle. That is not true! Only a shallow minded Christian will think that was Jesus' first miracle. If that was Jesus' first miracle, why did Mary advise the organisers at the party to do whatever Jesus' tells them? The reason being that Jesus has been doing countless miracles within the family without publicity. If not, how did Marry know that once they follow Jesus' instruction miracles will happen? And if the organisers are not aware of what Jesus is capable of, why did they go to Mary for help? This is commonsensical. John 2:4-5, "Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come. His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it." Jesus is our perfect example, and because we are Jesus' followers, if will follow His instructions we will never be in lack. Hear the testimony of John the beloved, in 3 John 1:2, "Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth."

Our physical, mental, and spiritual prosperity as Christians is God's priority. It is a taboo for a child of God to be in lack. If you're a Christian yet you live in lack and abject poverty, check yourself. Search the scriptures, you will never find any record of a servant of God who lived in lack or abject poverty, never. Sin is the only explanation for your lacks. You may ask, how about Lazarus and the rich man. And my answer is, how about Jesus' disciples and the poor people in Jerusalem? Jesus disciples were never in lack but there were still poor people living in Jerusalem at that time. Jesus did not come to the earth to share money. The gospel of our Lord Jesus is not about sharing of money and food. Jesus only fed those who came to listen to the word of God wholeheartedly. At times Jesus may go on marathon preaching for three days before feeding the people, because His primary motive was not to entice people with food, but to feed them with the word of God. If you're in the church and you're still living in lack, you're definitely not a disciple yet. Perhaps you're just one of the pastor's recruits. That is why you depend on pastor for survival.

If you're truly God's servant, He will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Psalm 37:25, "I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread." The reason, why we still have beggars in the church is because the church has become a business center where pastors make merchandise of their members. Pastors have turned churches into den of robbers rather than a house of prayer.

Shalom ...