An Extravagant God

It’s sad how some Christians freak out when hearing ministers teach on prosperity. Not too long ago, I saw this comment in response to a meeting streamed from Rodney Howard-Browne’s church: “This is some prosperity gospel. Heresy! Frightening that people are so unaware of what this is. Prayers that those involved see the truth.”

I replied, “I’d rather hear a ‘prosperity gospel’ than a ‘poverty gospel’” plus referred to 3 John 2, “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” I also pointed out he had watched a Kingdom Business Fellowship meeting the church has every other Tuesday night. Its purpose is to help Christians generate more finances to get the gospel out. The world is not impressed with believers who are broke.


The critic then wrote “1 Timothy 6:10” without quoting the verse (“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil…”). I replied, “Money is not evil as long as you don’t love it more than people. Didn’t you use finances to buy whatever device you're using to write your critical comments?”


The critic then posted another Scripture reference: “Titus 3:9-11”, which talks about avoiding foolish disputes and rejecting divisive people. I replied, “Good idea. I won't respond to any more of your posts that doesn’t rightly divide the word.”


Christians who judge brethren for extravagance should remind themselves that we serve an extravagant God. Examples in the Bible include Jesus multiplying loaves and fishes. Matthew 14:20-21 says, “So they all ate and were filled, and they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained. Now those who had eaten were about five thousand men, besides women and children.” Just feeding a large number of people with a few loaves and fishes is a miracle in itself. Notice that “they all ate and were filled” plus there were twelve baskets of leftover food.


The Bible also talks about Jesus providing abundant catches of fish for Peter…


“And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink.” - Luke 5:6-7


“And He said to them, ‘Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.’ So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish.” - John 21:5


The fish were not tiny minnows. John 21:11 goes on to say the net was “full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three.”


Most parents enjoy showering their children with gifts. Why would our heavenly father be any different? He’s not stingy and wants His kids barely getting by. Proverbs 13:22 (NLT) says, “Good people leave an inheritance to their grandchildren.” It’s time for critical Christians to get rid of a shortage mentality. We can be good stewards and help others while living an abundant life.


“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.” - Ephesians 3:20


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