| Crosswords: The Religious Lottery |
By Richard Prow ~ rpcrosswords@gmail.com
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Nowadays it’s becoming increasingly difficult to differentiate between many “Christian” television programs and the infomercials offering a solution to one’s financial woes. “Just have faith and believe for your miracle” has become the spiritual equivalent of “Work from home 10 - 15 hours per week and earn thousands of dollars each month”.
Both schemes promise huge dividends with very little effort required of the listener. Each group wants people to believe that hundred dollar bills will begin falling from the heavens and we need only to bend over and pluck them from the ground.
What’s lacking in both the financial freedom infomercials and the windfall profit sermons is a mandate for hard work, diligence and sound monetary stewardship. Long term commitment has been replaced by get rich quick schemes and short, selfish prayers.
Having faith in God to do the impossible is one thing. Believing that God will do what He has already given us the ability to do for ourselves is another matter altogether. God does provide for His people when they cannot, but He expects us to do our part. We are instructed to put our spirits, minds, and bodies to work on a regular basis. See Exodus 23:12, Proverbs 10:4, Ecclesiastes 10:18, and 2 Thessalonians 3:10 just to name a few.
The only people in the Bible who promised a care-free lifestyle and lazy days were false prophets. They served up to the masses exactly what they wanted to hear. What was needed then is the same that is needed now; some elbow grease and a good dose of the truth.
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