I must say that in my research for these verses, I have become convicted of my neglect of the poor and needy. I never before realized how many rebukes there were in the bible for oppressing or exploiting them. There were many more verses in the bible that I did not mention here.
I want to tell you that these verses are not here to prove that being poor is more godly than being rich. There is nothing wrong with being rich. John D. Rockefeller’s philosophy was to earn as much as you can and give as much as you can. And I particularly like that philosophy. I just don’t like wolves cloaking themselves in the sheepskin of God’s “anointed” and using that to prey on the weak and helpless.
Proverbs 22:16
He who oppresses the poor to increase his riches, And he who gives to the rich will surely come to poverty.
This is a great one to start out with. He who gives to the rich will be poor. Wake up, people! The only reason why these Televangelists are rich is that a sucker is born every minute. They aren’t rich because they’ve worked hard, or received money from the sky. They are rich because you give to them. I don’t mean to simplify all of God’s financial blessings in this manner, but their riches is a matter of simple addition, and your poverty is a matter of simple subtraction. There is no devil that cast a voodoo-like spiritual curse on your finances. And there is no cupid poking them with financially blessed arrows. You give to them and they become richer. Plain and simple.
1 Timothy 6:6-10
But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.
Plain and simple. Televangelists’ desire is to be rich. I don’t want to argue about their true motives and hear that you think their heart is pure. I don’t want to hear it. They’ve fallen into a snare.
Luke 12:15-21
Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’
So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.”’
But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’ “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
Matthew 6:19-21
Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
The thing is for prosperity preachers is that their riches is their identity. Without their riches, they lose their identity. Preaching prosperity and riches is their purpose in life, and defines them. Without it, nobody would know who they even were? They’ve become somebody because of their riches, not because of Jesus Christ.
James 5:1-5
Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you! Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have heaped up treasure in the last days. Indeed the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. You have lived on the earth in pleasure and luxury; you have fattened your hearts as in a day of slaughter.
These televangelists are complete frauds. They have taken from people and have suckered them into giving so that they can live on earth in pleasure and luxury. I don’t understand how anyone can be without a guilty conscience when they live in their mansion by financial sacrifices that others have made.
Think about it this way. If your grandmother gave half of her tiny social security check every month so that you could have more and she could have less, how would you spend that social security check? Would you even be willing to spend it? Would you feel guilty buying those diamond cuffs while your grandmother sat home with nothing?
Job 24:9-10
Some snatch the fatherless from the breast and take a pledge from the poor. They cause the poor to go naked, without clothing; And they take away the sheaves from the hungry.
This one is priceless. I swear if the conviction of taking a pledge from the poor does not make you think about TBN then I don’t know what will.
Isaiah 10:2-3
To rob the needy of justice, And to take what is right from the poor of My people, That widows may be their prey, And that they may rob the fatherless. What will you do in the day of punishment, And in the desolation which will come from afar? To whom will you flee for help? And where will you leave your glory? Without Me, they shall bow down among the prisoners, And they shall fall among the slain.
Doesn’t this remind you of the wolves in sheep’s clothing waiting to prey on the weakest
Amos 5:11
Therefore, because you tread down the poor And take grain taxes from him, Though you have built houses of hewn stone, Yet you shall not dwell in them; You have planted pleasant vineyards, But you shall not drink wine from them. For I know your manifold transgressions And your mighty sins: Afflicting the just and taking bribes; Diverting the poor from justice at the gate.
Matthew 23:14
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses
What? You think I’m Lying. What demographic of people do you think gives the most to TBN? It’s poor old women. You are probably are used to this passage because it proceeds to talks about tithing next, but you are not used to hearing the rebuke for the burden on the poor.
Malachi 3:5
And I will come near you for judgment; I will be a swift witness Against sorcerers, Against adulterers, Against perjurers, Against those who exploit wage earners and widows and orphans, And against those who turn away an alien— Because they do not fear Me,” Says the Lord of hosts.
Isaiah 3:14-15
The Lord stands up to plead and stands to judge the people. The Lord will enter into judgment With the elders of His people And His princes: “For you have eaten up the vineyard; The plunder of the poor is in your houses (mansions). What do you mean by crushing My people And grinding the faces of the poor?” Says the Lord GOD of hosts
Amos 4:1
Hear this word, you cows of Bashan, who are on the mountain of Samaria, Who oppress the poor, Who crush the needy, Who say to your husbands, “Bring wine, let us drink!”
You don’t think God was referring the these two bovine’s do you?
Zechariah 7:10
Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, The alien or the poor.
Luke 6:20
Blessed are you poor, For yours is the kingdom of God.
Hmm, I’m not used to hearing the word blessed and poor in the same sentence from those televangelists.
2 Corinthians 8:9
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor
Becoming poor just doesn’t make sense to these televangelists, so this passage is definitely not on the preaching list.
Do you have any more verses to add? I know there are more out there, but i’m just one man searching for them.
You saved the best two for last!
Blessed are the poor.. Christ became poor for our sakes Preach it brother. All of us in America are rich compared to the third world and most of humanity who have ever lived. It will be hard for us to get to heaven but with God all things are possible.
Absolutely brilliant post!
This is true treasure from the word of God.
Just love it!
Reading through this reminds me of how hard it is to balance ambitition. We obviously shouldn’t desire to be poor, but not extremely wealthy either. At the same time, as someone has already said, everyone in America is rich compared to most of the rest of the world. That’s why everyone else wants to come here. That’s why we have immigration issues currently. So who are we comparing ourselves to. Quit comparing yourself to Donald Trump, Bill Gates, the host of rich celebs and others in the media, and start comparing yourself to the places that have nothing. Research if you have to. I’ll admit, I couldn’t even think of locations to add to this list to make my point. We need to start being thankful and quit being greedy.
I am so taken aback when I hear a televangelist say “God told me tonight if you send in x amount of money tonight you will be be healed, delivered, and blessed with unexpected wealth before this year is out. Don’t miss this appointment partners!”
It’s been hard years trying to be someone I’m not. I’ve giving to a lot of minstries only to find out they have all these mansions and everything. Quote Unquote (ask any of these so called ministries to help you out of depression and see what they will do for youANSWER qUOTE uNQUOTE (NOT A DARN THING)
Surely Televangelists must enjoy their wealth now ~ because after death they will burn in hell
Those rich thieves are getting the ONLY heaven they will ever know, just like the rich man who died and went to hell. If only they knew what God has in store for them, they’d be so terrified they’d give every penny back and then some.
in the light of Heb 7.8 with particular attention to HERE, THERE, MORTAL, RECEIVE, TITHE, HE, “RECEIVES’ AND HE LIVES
Where is Here and There?
Who are the mortal men? could the writer also be thinking of an immortal and IF SO who could that be?
Could that immortal being is who lives “THERE” still be Receiving tithes today since the tense is in the present continuous, as in “RECEIVES”
Your response is most welcome
Hi,
Truthfinder,( Hebrews 8:4NLT )says Jesus is not allowed to receive tithes here on earth because HE IS THE NEW COVENANT.
(Galatians 5:1 NLT) clearly says it all
Please read (Galatians 4:5 NLT)
Its impossible not to understand those plain scriptures
Have a peaceful day.
In Genesis Abraham paid to Melchisedek tithes only of the booty of war. He didn’t run back to camp and bring back ten per cent of his own possessions, or of the income earned from his sheep herding. And it is never recorded that Abraham ever tithes again. I believe the word “there” refers to that particular scene of Abraham’s tithe. If tithing is required of Christians, then why is it never taught in the epistles, or in Acts 15, where the apostles convene to decide which obligations of the Law Gentiles must observe? Tithing is stipulated on agricultural produce only, never on monetary income. It is part of the law, given from Mt. Sinai to the Israelites ONLY (Lev.27:30-34).
correction in last coment misspelled trump and mispelled suffer, computor k board not so good, feel free to email me and folks I’m not afraid to put my name online for I am not ashamed of the GOSPEL AND THOUGH l WILL SUFFER GREATLY AT THE END OF MY LIFE ONCE THE lORD JESUS THROUGH ME SHALL TAKE HIS CHURCH FROM THE EARTH SATAN WILL BE KICKED OUT of heaven and will try to decieve me into taken his mark and shall fail for God will be with me, after satan has tempted me and has failed he will tell and unbeliever to kill me.
Then the Lord jesus will take me up to heaven at the end of the Judgement seat of christ there jesus will be praying to the Father and jesus will turn around and shall see that my legs were stiff and the arch angel trying to bend my knees that I may fall to my knees. Just as i fall to my knees The Lord Thy God shall ask Jesus who is this man, and jesus shall say this is my last trump who has layed his life down for a friend and God shall then say he Shall Be Great In heaven. Get ready Brothers and Sisters in Christ The time is soon approaching and my vision will come to pass.
Fred,
I deleted your previous comment. I won’t tolerate a post from anyone who claims to know who the antichrist is. Let the signs of the antichrist in the bible show us who is or who isn’t. Although i don’t agree at all with the Catholic Church, I don’t want to hear your Catholic/Pope banter either.
– jared
Proverbs 30: 7 –9, “Two things I ask of you, O LORD; do not refuse me before I die: Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.”
elderfred you said, “We can not pray for forgiveness, Jesus already has at the cross.”
God will not forgive anyone without repentance. I love to hear how you explain away the words of Jesus found in Luke 13?
Luke 13:1 – 5, “Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”
There shall be many professing to be christians but denying the power there of. The bible is open to interpretation, correction. Jesus never said ask me into your heart and you will recieve his spirit. Jesus did say in the last days he shall pour out his spirit upon all flesh, not in flesh. Jesus is already in all mankind and the spirit which jesus shall pour out from heaven upon all flesh shall one day be taken away. The spirit of god descended upon jesus. When his spirit is pour out upon all flesh he in already in us.
Those who do not confess the lord jesus in this life the holy spirit shall be taken from them. Those who confess the lord jesus and believe in thine heart heart god has raised him from the dead. The same shall be sealed unto redemption. My sheep hear my voice and many shall not hear his voice. For wide is the gate and broad is the path that leads to destruction and many there shall go in, but straight is the gate and narrow is the way which leads to eternal life and few there shall be that find it.
There all millions who claim to be born again and are not, for the blind are leading the blind. Jesus will baptise everyone who enters at the straight gate with holyghost and with fire.
Now jesus said few there be that enter the straight gate yet millions claim to be born again, this was acomplished when jesus was baptised by john, this baptising was from god and jesus made the world born again. This was not merely jesus showing his relationship to man for he needed no forgiveness, the true believers in christ will see the truth and many shall deny the power of god when jesus was baptised.
Once jesus was bapitised into the world god’s holy spirit descended upon jesus for the world was now upon him for he was now in the world and the holy spirit led jesus to the cross. As in these days those who confess the lord jesus the same shall be sealed of the holyspirit and then shall be led through the valley of the shadow of death unto the straight gate which no man can get to except he be led of the holyspirit.
Search the sriptures for in them ye think ye have eternal life. Henry I’m being led by the holyspirit which is sealed upon me and shall not be taken from me for it is unto redemption. The sinners prayer is straight from the gates of hell, for he(the devil) shall decieve many. My sheep hear my voice.
Isaiah 8: 20 -22, “To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn. Distressed and hungry, they will roam through the land; when they are famished, they will become enraged and, looking upward, will curse their king and their God. Then they will look toward the earth and see only distress and darkness and fearful gloom, and they will be thrust into utter darkness.”
2 Peter 2:15 –22, They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Beor, who loved the wages of wickedness. But he was rebuked for his wrongdoing by a donkey—a beast without speech—who spoke with a man’s voice and restrained the prophet’s madness.
These men are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them. For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of sinful human nature, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error. They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him. If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them. Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,” and, “A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud.”
I really can’t take the comments on this blog post anymore. I am doing something I have never done. I’m closing comments on this post. Not because I disagree, but because it’s really just confusing where anyone is coming from, where their conversation is going, what they mean, and how they are interpreting anything. I have only ever moderated foul language and slander on this blog, but this is just all bizarre and strange. I have half a mind to just delete everyone’s comments.