In several of our churches and prayer-meetings today, Prosperity Messages usually end with a call to sow seed. These “seeds” usually come in different brands – Prophetic Offerings, Commitment, Sacrificial Offering, Seed-of-Faith, Covenant Seed, etc. Worshipers are taught that these “seeds” hold the key to their financial prosperity and protection from ills. Passages like Gen.26:12ff (Isaac sowed in the land…), 1Kings 3:4ff (Solomon’s sacrifice at Gibeon), 2Cor.9:6 (He that sows sparingly…) and the like are usually the base texts.
Usually in such meetings, lots of stories of people who got marvelous breakthroughs by sowing seeds are shared; and anyone attempting to question the teaching and the accompanying “Prophetic Action” will be silenced with passages like 2Chr.20:20 (…believe his prophets, and ye shall prosper), Hos.12:13 (by a prophet the LORD brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet was he preserved) and Jn.2:5 (Whatever he says to you, do it.)
Such meetings are usually emotionally and sensationally charged and the speakers theatrical; this makes it difficult to think with your right senses at that moment. And even when you do, you will usually succumb as no one really likes to be the odd one out, or to be seen as being resistant to the “Word of God” going on.
Lastly, the “seed” (which is almost always money) is called for. At one time, people will be asked to remove just their transport fare back home and drop the rest of the money they came with at the altar. At other times, they will be made to make a pledge of an amount the minister will call and mandated to redeem it in not more than 48 hours (so they wouldn’t have changed their minds before parting with their money?)
Using texts like Psa.126:5 (they that sow in tears shall reap in joy) and 1Kings17:10-16 (Elijah and the woman of Zarephath), people are charged to give an amount that will really pain them to part with / cut deep into their budget. Some even teach that if you want to embark on a project and the money you have at the moment will not be enough for it, you should use what you have to “sow a seed” that will “germinate” in no time!
The Result
The result is that we now have a generation of Christians that think that God is indebted to them because of the “seed” they have sown; who approach God based on their merit and not on grace! (By the way, the foolishness of this point of view will be fully discussed in a later article.) We now have a generation of Christians who involve themselves in several sharp practices to make money just to have testimonies like their fellow brethren; a generation that sees sowing “seed” as a substitute to hard work. Of course, they will say, a day of favour is better than a thousand days of labour!
What we have today are believers that see being financially rich as an evidence of being at peace with, and blessed by God. As a result, virtually everybody is involved in some form of comparison and competition – acquiring expensive gadgets, cars, phones, dresses etc. just to appear “blessed.”
The average Gospel music now is all about “God has blessed me and changed my story” with deliberate display of hired big fine houses, posh cars and gorgeously dressed artiste and dancers. I don’t even want to talk about the extravagant lifestyle and arrogant boastings of the preachers at the expense of their congregation; we are all well aware of it.
Think About This
We know from all of Scripture that the GREATEST GIFT of God to mankind is ETERNAL LIFE through His Son, Jesus Christ. But this gift of eternal life was given to us long before we recognised our need of it. ”God gives proof of His love to us in Christ's dying for us WHILE WE WERE STILL SINNERS (Rom.5:8 WNT).”
Paul asked a question that has kept ringing on my mind. He asked:
“He who did not keep back his only Son, but gave him up for us all, WILL HE NOT with him FREELY give us all things”? (Rom.8:32 BBE)
“He who did not keep back his only Son, but gave him up for us all, WILL HE NOT with him FREELY give us all things”? (Rom.8:32 BBE)
I wish you consider this critically and open-mindedly: if God can give Jesus freely – yes, freely! – to us at a time when we have not even known our need of Him, how can you believe He needs some down-payment from us before He releases His other gifts to us – gifts far less in value than the gift of eternal life?
I appreciate, and I really thank God for the fact that God usually honours acts done in faith; so it is not unusual for people who respond in faith to these “Prophetic Actions” to have testimonies. However, the stark truth is that GOD DOES NOT NEED ANY DOWN-PAYMENT FROM YOU before He can bless your life. Both friends and enemies of God do enjoy His blessings (see Matt.5:45). Apart from the gift of eternal life, I am yet to see any blessing of God enjoyed solely by children of God.
According to Watchman Nee, Grace means God does something for me; while Law means I do something for God. Anytime you want to receive something from God based on “I have done something for God,” you immediately put yourself under the Law. In the Old Testament, men come to God on the basis of their works (see for instance Neh.13 and Job.31). In the New Testament however, the pattern is “go… your faith has made you well.” It is faith in God and in the finished – FINISHED – work of Christ on the Cross that brings the victory we desire. This is the era of Grace; hence no one should bind himself again to the Law! (See further Eph.2:1-9, Heb.4:14-16)
Knowing This...
Therefore brethren, “Shine Your Eyes!” God will be gracious to whom He will be gracious, and will have mercy on whom He will have mercy (Exo.33:19). So then, everything depends, not on what we humans want or do, but only on God's mercy (Rom.9:16 GNB). Don’t allow yourself to be manipulated into giving when you do not want to. True Christians have their lives – even their money – ordered by God. He will from time to time show you a need and lead you to make the required financial contribution. As many as are led by the Spirit of God [not persuasive arguments!], they are the sons of God!
By the way, you must also learn to walk in the truth of Hebrews 1:1-3 – In the past (PAST!) God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but IN THESE LAST DAYS He has spoken to us by His Son... The Son is… the EXACT REPRESENTATION of His Being, sustaining all things by His powerful word (NIV).
Many a time, these our pastors, itinerant preachers and church leaders act as if they are the only ones that have the privilege of hearing and learning from God – like the prophets of old (an abuse of 1Pet.4:11a). But when we all begin to act on the truths presented here, they will know that their “juju” have failed. In the words of Jesus,
“Now that you know this truth, how happy [blessed] you will be if you put it into practice!”
– Jesus Christ (John 13:17 GNB).
– Jesus Christ (John 13:17 GNB).
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