During the prosperity preaching age, many of us were sold a bill of goods. You know name it and claim it—nab and grab it or call money in. My all-time favorite…” God gives us the power to get wealth” failing to complete the entire scripture: But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day. (Deuteronomy 8:18 KJV) And there were always some Televangelists asking you to sow a seed for everything from money to healing. As if God were an ATM machine instead of the Almighty God full of grace and truth that He is.

There are no shortcuts to the Kingdom of God.

Some would preach in a way that made you feel that if you became a Christian all your problems in life would magically disappear and you would just tiptoe through the tulips to the Kingdom of God. Which in reality was setting you up for failure from the beginning in your search for the Truth. There are no shortcuts to the Kingdom of God. And if Christ suffered for the Kingdom why won’t we? Or as Job so eloquently put it, “Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” (Job 2:10 NKJV)

Here I am reminded of the Apostle Paul who was the last one called to be an apostle after Christ’s resurrection (Acts 9:1-13) and his testimony in 2 Corinthians 11:23-28 — Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.

In other words, faith triumphs over trouble—not money.

So you see, Paul battled many things externally as well as internally for the kingdom of God. And like Paul, we were called after Christ’s resurrection. Our battles may not be as intense as Paul’s but we have those battles in life nevertheless and that is the reality of being a child of God. The scriptures teach us … but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (Romans 5:3-5 NKJV) In other words, faith triumphs over trouble—not money. And here I would emphasize as I’ve written many times in many posts “There are just some things money cannot buy!”

Notwithstanding we also read But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. (I Peter 5:10 NKJV)

And Christ puts His seal of DEFEATED on all the opposition we might face in this life by saying...”These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 NKJV) Here He gives us abiding hope that strengthens our resolve and our faith to trump over trouble. Have you counted the cost?

Other posts you might want to read:

• How To Be Thankful In The Midst Of A Trial
• It’s What’s Inside That Counts
• There Are Just Some Things Money Cannot Buy Part 1 and the Conclusion

May the Blessings of the LORD be with you today and always. Thank you for your continued readership and support. Until next week…Blessings and Peace!

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