Does God want me to “prosper?” Of course! Can I give my way out of anything, and into anything I want? Of course not!
I was “taught” for so many years, “Give all you have and God will bless you.” Of course the “teaching” of there is a “special grace” given by God for those who do give everything away, was left out. The “teaching” that your home, marriage, and family were as much of a “ministry” as anything else is, and has to be maintained as well, was also “left out.” Because of not having these teachings I did it.
I am not saying, “God does not bless our giving.” What I am saying, “If one is giving for the wrong reasons, “squat” is coming your way.” In fact I almost went “bankrupt” and know people in my life who did. The only ones who got rich, were the “televangelist.” Swimming pools, 250,000 toilets, private planes, diamond rings, etc… Don’t dare ask them for “help,” even if you “gave” to their ministry, nine times out of ten the answer was, ”No, but we will pray for you.” Then some would even want to charge you for prayer. That is true!
All I mostly heard from my home pulpit, was the same. Yet, the Church doors were closed during the week, there were no food baskets for the hungry, nothing set up for school supplies for the kids who could not afford them, no Christmas tree with a child’s name on it for Christmas, and no winter coats bought. We had a pretty new piano though, which caused a big fight!
Through the “teachings” of the Church I learned, “God does bless us, when we give, especially when we give of ourselves and our time.” When we become “selfless” in all we do. I also learned “maintaining my life was as important as anything else is.” That my life was also a “blessing from God.” That everything must have “balance.”
Many Saints, gave up all they had. With this came a “special grace” and calling on their lives. God provided for all their needs.
The call on my life is one of “wife,” “mother” and “Mee-Mee.” God has given to me a “special grace” to maintain this, and has provided for all of my needs. He expects me to take care of these things, as well as my Church and those in my community.
Have a great weekend!
God Bless, SR
I agree. Giving from the heart — time, money, prayers ect — God will bless you! Great post, SR.
God Bless you!
Hey Deidre,
Have loved your post this week! No matter what we give God will bless us, I agree, but you nailed it, “from the heart.” That is the whole “key” plus taking care of what has given us also. Thanks for comments and God Bless, SR
Fascinating. As a cradle Catholic, it is hard for me to believe that this sort of thing is promulgated from the pulpit. At least some pulpits. I do know of several Protestant churches in my town that always reach a hand out to the poor and do their best to serve Christ by loving their neighbor in very concrete helpful ways. (We have quite an ecumenical thing going here, led mostly by St. Vincent dePaul Society).
Thank you for this insight, it expands my understanding.
Hey Reinkat,
I agree there are many Protestant churches that do good things. Then there are these “Prosperity God” churches, who it is all centered on the money you give. Your blessings, your health, your finances, etc…. I heard a preacher say on television last night, “If you will give to my ministry, I can feel it inside of me, all your debt is going away.” It is horrible! Without the teaching that what God has called us to in our lives, is as much a “ministry” as anything else is and needs to be taken care of, people get trapped in this. Then when their lives fail and they cannot meet their own bills, they cannot understand why. God asked for a 10th and then we should give what He places on our hearts after that. Not to the point that it throws one into bankruptcy. Thanks for comment and God Bless, SR
What a twisting of God’s word. I have never watched a televangelist, nor knew of any such preaching myself. It is indeed horrible. Some people are so vulnerable, and it hurts to think of them being taken advantage of that way.
Hey Reinkat,
Well I actually was not watching it, I had the T.V. on for the noise last night and that is what I heard. Yes, there are so many “vulnerable” people especially when it comes to this. If this is all you are ever taught, you know no different, and it actually takes God to pull you out of it. It is sad to watch those in my life, those I love, still doing this and getting nowhere. No matter what I say to them, because I am Catholic, it makes no difference, and how they suffer so. Thanks for comment and God Bless, SR
Loved your post SR! Hope to comment further tomorrow but for now its 2 am and my brain is saying can’t think very well, need to go to bed. God Bless.
2 am, my goodness girl, what is happening at 2 am:>) I guess you did need to go to bed! Have a great one and God Bless, SR
Our giving is supposed to be an act from the heart, an act of charity, not expecting anything in return. This is done out of love as Jesus shows us in the Gospels, not conditionally with strings attached. You are absolutely correct in what you stated about us being “selfless” in all we do. You have kept the door open to your soul so that you are able to receive grace from God. We all need to open our hearts and souls so we are able to let the Father into them and allow Him to bring us grace. God Bless.
Hey Teresa,
You are so “correct.” It is heartbreaking at times Teresa, to see my friends struggle so because they have done this. What is so sad, they do it from their hearts, but attached with that is a “string.” No matter how much I try to help them, because of the “conversion” of course all that comes out of my mouth is nonsense. All I get is a whole lot of Scripture thrown at me, and I finally just end up shaking my head, and letting it go, for the sake of peace. I continue to pray for them every single day. You are also “correct” in saying we all need to open our hearts and souls” so God can get into them and give us “grace.” Thanks for comment and God Bless, SR
Don’t ya just love the Gospel of Prosperity? Be good, give money and God will make you successful. I wish it worked like that.
Hey Dancewear,
The sad thing is, is does not work like that. Yes, it would be good if it did:>) I have seen so many including myself, which were so hurt by this teaching. I am so thankful, God called me to the Catholic Church and got me out of it. A Church whose teachings have never failed me. Thanks for comment and God Bless, SR