Those who preach a prosperity gospel miss the point of what the “true” gospel teaches us. John 15:7 says, “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you” (NASB). Hasn’t the focus always been on “ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you?” This is where we run into trouble as Christians: not reading the whole verse.

If I am abiding in Christ and Christ’s words are abiding in me, I will not be asking that my life be filled with money or with material possessions. Christ instructed us not to store up treasures on this earth. If we are consumed with God prospering us, the opportunity for greed to set in multiplies greatly. We see in Acts where the early church sold all that they had and split up the proceeds amongst each other. Jesus taught about the man who tore down his barns to store up more on earth and his soul was required of him that very night.

Christ is about giving everything away. He gave up everything when He went to the cross because He understood what would be gained from what He was giving. How can Christ followers not conduct our lives in the same manner? 

The word of Christ tells me to lay aside the wants in my life for the greater purpose of the gospel, but if I fall prey to prosperity teaching, I begin to look at God as Santa Claus, whose sole purpose is to give me what I want. My prayers should be for God to increase my faith and to help me to be a better example of Christ to the world.