The Necessity of Work within the Body of Christ Jesus (Escaping Poverty and Activating Kingdom Prosperity)
The misconception that a
Christian believer or a minister of the gospel shouldn’t work for money is one
of the invisible seeds limiting the growth of the churches, economies and
families. Many people live in abject poverty because they wholly depend on God
for provisions (all their needs and wants).
Because of this
misconception and ignorance, many families and Christian believers perish in
poverty. Some Christian believers confess to God's promises of prosperity and
ignore its conditions.
We must understand that
God has given us the strength to generate wealth because silver and gold are
His properties.
…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
The silver is mine, and
the gold is mine, saith the LORD of hosts.
Haggai
2:8 KJV
We must understand that God's promises work with conditions. You cannot confess God’s promises
and ignore the terms and conditions. The bank of Ghana can employ you in their
financial institution and still walk in poverty if you breach their laws.
God's kingdom works
with laws, and these laws are hidden in the Word (Holy Scriptures). The fact
(truth) that Christ Jesus became poor that we (believers in Christ Jesus) might
live in prosperity does not mean prosperity is automatic.
You must play a role to
enable God and His angels to fulfil their promise. You can read my series of
articles, How God Judges Cases, for more profound revelations. Even in your home and
workplace, you expect your children and employees to obey instructions before
you give them their gifts and shares.
If you demand obedience
before reward, how much God Almighty? God has set some laws on earth, and
failure to follow these laws leads to destruction. Study the types of force in
science (under physics), and you would understand some of these laws.
I know some godly
Christian believers who live in financial poverty, yet God’s Word promises
Christian believers that Christ Jesus became poor that we might be rich.
For ye know the grace
of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became
poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.
2
Corinthians 8:9 KJV
God desires that we
prosper because His Word declares it.
Beloved, I wish above
all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul
prospereth.
3
John 3:2 KJV
The prosperity of God
corresponds with our soul. Until your soul prospers (knowledge of God’s Word),
you remain empty. In my book, How to Pursue a Purposeful life Without Money, I have listed the types of
prosperity and poverty. You can read that book for more profound revelations.
God created every organ
of our body to work. If prosperity were automatic, then God would not create
our hands, head, eyes, ears, nose, and other organs of our body. God knew we
would need our hands, mind, legs, eyes and other organs of the body to work, so
He created them.
You cannot be idle and
expect God to provide for you and your family just because you are His child. I
will share with you this article and provide some scriptural backups on the
necessity of work within the body of Christ Jesus.
Apostle Paul worked in
some specific seasons in his evangelistic ministry because he did not want to become
a burden to the church.
…Paul departed from
Athens, and came to Corinth;
And found a certain Jew
named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla;
(because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came
unto them.
And because he was of
the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they
were tentmakers.
Acts
18:1-3 KJV
Apostle Paul was
creating portable tents because it was profitable work in that land and century.
The soldiers and citizens needed the tents as a covering because the weather
was unfavourable. Through that temporal work, Apostle Paul could generate some
funds for himself and his ministry.
Child of God, what
stops you from working as a Christian minister or a believer in Christ Jesus? I
know some people have a special calling and order from the Holy Spirit to avoid
work.
God has a way of
providing for these unique vessels, but for you, He may be calling you to work at
the initial stage of the ministry to enable you to generate some funds for the church.
In my ministry, I realized that people sow seeds (money) to me when I go for
evangelism.
I use most of these monies
for the ministry. Child of God, get this divine principle right or else you can
perish.
My people are destroyed
for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject
thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of
thy God, I will also forget thy children.
Hosea
4:6 KJV
God declares that His children
become failures in life because of ignorance. This means lack of knowledge
leads to destruction. God will reject you if you lack knowledge. Ignorance of
God’s principles, the devil’s principles, and laws governing the earth realm
will lead to destruction.
This is one reason you
must desire knowledge with all your heart. Some people have served the church
for a long time, yet they live in pain and poverty. Some people hold positions
in the church, yet they swim in the river of poverty.
Child of God, can I present
to you that God works with principles. In my previous article, I explained the role of knowledge and power in the
field of fruitful leadership. Kindly read that article for a more profound
revelation.
Many Christian
believers and ministers of the gospel forsake the church because they lack
knowledge. Analyze any fruitful leadership, and you will understand that they
worked with certain principles.
The principles
(knowledge) keep the church, family, economy, and business moving despite the
storms. Many ministers of the gospel have backslidden and become prisoners of
the devil because of ignorance. The Holy Scriptures makes us understand that
laziness attracts poverty.
How long wilt thou
sleep, O sluggard? When wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?
Yet a little sleep, a
little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:
So shall thy poverty
come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.
Proverbs
6:9-10 KJV
Irrespective of your
faith and family, if you break the above divine principle, poverty swallows you.
You can be the holiest or religious person in the church, if you love sleeping,
poverty will chase you. If you hate hard work, you attract poverty.
The soul of the
sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made
fat.
Proverbs 13:4 KJV
Solomon writes that a
lazy man (it can be a Christian believer) always desire money, clothes, cars,
comfort, peace, houses and other human needs and wants, and he will never get
them, but the man that is disciplined and hardworking will get his heart
desires.
Have you now realized
why some unbelievers swim in financial prosperity? These people have discovered
that hard work generates money, so they put in all their efforts in their
endeavours of life. Most Christian believers sit idle in the house and expect
God to rain manna from heaven.
Child of God, it does
not work in that way. Keep reading because I will show you some scriptures that
validate and endorse this wisdom and further share some truths to enable you to
connect with the kingdom prosperity.
The sluggard will not
plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.
Proverbs
20:4 KJV
A lazy Christian will
desire some things, and he will not get them because he hates working with the
hands and mind. Some Christian believers use this famous Holy Scriptures to
validate their laziness and poverty.
No man can serve two
masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will
hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon
Therefore I say unto
you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink;
nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat,
and the body than raiment?
Behold the fowls of the
air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your
heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
Which of you by taking
thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
And why take ye thought
for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not,
neither do they spin:
And yet I say unto you,
That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
Wherefore, if God so clothe
the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven,
shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
Therefore take no
thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal
shall we be clothed?
(For after all these
things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have
need of all these things.
Matthew
6:24-32 KJV
Christ Jesus declared
that we should not worry about our daily needs because He provides for the
birds of the air. You must understand that most of the words our Saviour and
Lord Christ Jesus speak are coded in the Spirit.
You will make errors if
you literally take most of Christ Jesus's words as recorded in the Holy
Scriptures. Without the presence of the Holy Spirit, you will misinterpret the
Holy Scriptures.
God provides for the
birds of the air, but you must also understand that the birds will die with
their offspring's until they fly and search for food. God gave the birds feathers
because they need them to fly to access the food God has provided.
God declares that we
should not worry about our basic needs because He has created our head, legs,
hands, and other organs of our body to generate these needs. Secondly, worrying can lead to depression, fear, and suicidal thoughts.
Statistically, many
people die (suicide) before their time because of worry (depression). According to World Health Organization, one
person dies every forty seconds as a result of suicide.
Globally, over 132
people die every day through suicide which amounts to over 700 000 people dying
out of suicides yearly.
Christ Jesus knew
worrying will generate fear, and when fear enters our hearts, it destroys our
faith in Him and His Word. In verse thirty-three of Matthew chapter six, Christ
Jesus shows us the way.
But seek ye first the
kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto
you.
Take therefore no
thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of
itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
Matthew
6:33-34 KJV
Most often, many
Christians misinterpret this scripture. Some people do the work of God with no
wisdom. Seeking the kingdom of God means we follow the principles of the
kingdom and pursue things that benefit the church on earth.
In the course of the
kingdom work, God connects you to your helper. The kingdom of God must come
first before your work. If you fail in your priorities, you miss the help of
God. Most often, you will hear some Christian believers say; this world is not
my home.
Indeed, this world is
not our permanent home, but you must also understand that God has made us
managers of this world.
And God made the beast
of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth
upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good.
And God said, Let us
make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the
fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over
all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
So God created man in
his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he
them.
And God blessed them,
and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and
subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the
air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
Genesis
1:26-28 KJV
Christ Jesus declares
that we are the light and salt of this world, so should you live in poverty as
a Christian believer?
Ye are the salt of the
earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it
is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under
foot of men.
Ye are the light of the
world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
Neither do men light a
candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light
unto all that are in the house.
Let your light so shine
before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is
in heaven.
Matthew
5:13-16 KJV
Christ Jesus expects us
(Christian believers) to shine (prosper) and become role models in this world.
We are supposed to give light (wisdom, knowledge, wealth and power) to the
unbelievers. You cannot sit idle and declare this world is not my home, so I
will not work.
Failure to work will
activate darkness (poverty and pain). If you don’t work as a Christian believer
or minister, you will not become significant and note that some people reject
the wisdom of the poor. As I wrote in my book, poverty is not always a lack of money.
Money is a piece of
paper made of perishable wood. The Federal Reserves and Central banks can print
them in abundance. Some financial analysts project that over $ 90 billion flows
in the world of man every day.
These monies do not
include cryptocurrencies and other coin base investments and transactions. If
we add these cash flows (coin base transactions), it will amount to over $ 1
quadrillion running in the hands of men every day.
Never think money is
evil. The love of money makes people pursue evil things and die prematurely
(See 1 Timothy 6:10). The fact (truth) that this world is not our permanent
home does not mean we shouldn’t work for money.
Without money, many
kingdom activities or church activates (crusades) will not take place. You must
understand that money rules on this earth. Stop living in ignorance and start
some godly business.
Discover practical and
profitable problems in your environment and country and solve them according to
the specification of the people, and you will attract money. China, the USA,
business people or other foreign investors are swimming in the ocean of wealth
because they solve problems in their countries and other countries.
Problems always
generate services and products. When you create a useful service and the
product, people will pay you for the solution. This is one of the ways to
generate money on earth. Ask yourself.
- How can you support church projects if you are weak financially?
- How can you edit your books and articles or hire a professional editor to edit your documents for publication if you are weak financially?
- How can you embark on evangelistic works in different territories when you are weak financially?
- How can you set up a television, radio or media centre for the gospel when you are weak financially?
- How can you promote the kingdom work on the internet when you are weak financially?
- How can you provide the basic needs and wants of your family when you are weak financially?
- How can you pay your bills and rent when you are weak financially?
- How can you purchase land or buy a house when you are weak financially?
- How can you pay the debt when you are weak financially?
Child of God, money is
an important subject and truth you must not ignore. God desires that we live in
financial abundance, but it works with principles. God will never rain money from
heaven. Maybe God will do that miraculously, but I have not seen that before.
A false balance is
abomination to the LORD…
Proverbs 11:1
KJV
Haven’t you seen
prayerful Christians living in poverty? I mean real prayer warriors and
intercessors living in poverty. These prayerful
Christians live in poverty because they don't know how to manage their time.
These Christians don’t
use their minds. They always depend on God for provision; meanwhile, God
expects them to work. Some wives and children struggle with basic needs because
the husband (probably a gospel minister) lacks knowledge.
The minister of the
gospel loves Christ Jesus from his heart, but he lives in financial poverty. The
gospel minister has failed to understand that God cannot work with man beyond his
knowledge about Him.
Until the man or
minister of the gospel understands the systems (laws) of God, he remains in
that darkness. Like a child who only knows that all animals are harmless. Such
a child lives at the mercy of dangerous birds.
Some Christians pray
for provision (employment) and sit comfortably in their homes waiting for the
job. You must understand that faith without action is dead. Until you act on
your faith, it rests in the realm of hope.
It is good to have
faith in finances, but you must also take some steps. Like the birds of the air,
God has promised them daily food. Until they fly (work) each day, they will
never get their food.
Have you seen animals always
waiting on God for their food? I love observing animals and watching wildlife
videos. You will hardly find a cock or a hen idle. The cock continuously searches
out for food. That’s work. Dogs, cats,
ducks, goats and other domestic animals search for their food. That’s work.
If animals can work for
their food, why do you expect God to provide for you when you are not working. Why
do you expect God to provide for you when you have brains to think and body to
work?
One thing about human
nature is that nobody will value you until they see your usefulness. Your church
can be prayerful, but it will shake in the storms if there is no money. We
don't use anointing to pay bills; we use the money to pay bills. We use the
money to pay workers because they have families. In one of Pauline letters, we
see a profound Word.
…we beseech you,
brethren, that ye increase more and more;
And that ye study to be
quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we
commanded you;
That ye may walk
honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.
1
Thessalonians 4:10-12 KJV
Apostle Paul writes
that every Christian believer must engage in business (work). Paul emphasized
that he and his associates work with their hands to not lack anything in life
and ministry.
Apostle Paul did not
command the Christian believers to pray or go to church not to lack anything. He commanded the believers to do business and
work with their hands, not to lack money and other basic needs and wants.
Working in God’s
ministry alongside money earning jobs is biblical because the Holy Scriptures endorses
it. Maybe you are not called into the full-time ministry; this is the time to
pray and work with your hands.
Paul learned the
business of tent-making because that was the famous work among the Jews. When Paul
entered the scarcity season, he did some secular job to support himself and the
ministry.
Do not perish in
ignorance by saying that God has called me into the ministry, so I will not
work. If you have heard from the Holy Spirit that you shouldn't work, then it's
your choice, but as far as the Holy Scriptures command Christian believers and
ministers of the gospel to do business, then work is necessary.
Now we command you,
brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves
from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which
he received of us.
For yourselves know how
ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;
Neither did we eat any
man's bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that
we might not be chargeable to any of you:
Not because we have not
power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.
For even when we were
with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he
eat.
For we hear that there
are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are
busybodies.
Now them that are such
we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work,
and eat their own bread.
2
Thessalonians 3:6-12 KJV
In verse eight of the
Holy Scriptures, Apostle Paul writes that He worked with his missionaries day
and night to support the ministry, family and life. Paul made the church in
Corinth understood that he and his ministerial assistance did not ask them (the
church) for money or anything.
This should let you
understand that Paul and his ministerial assistants were hardworking. They did
not wholly depend on the church for provision because they did some business to
provide for themselves, ministry and family.
Paul writes that any
Christian who fails to work must not eat. Lazy Christian believers most often
are the ones who create confusion in the church. Like a useless man, he always
walks with a forward mouth (See Proverbs 6:12).
Monitor a lazy
“Christian,” they engage in all kinds of crimes (Meditate on 1 Timothy 5:13). Lazy
people are the perpetrators of crimes in society. They take alcohol and other
illegal drugs to enable them to create trouble. Every believer in Christ Jesus
(including ministers of the gospel) must provide for themselves and their
family because it is biblical.
And now, brethren, I
commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you
up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.
I have coveted no man's
silver, or gold, or apparel.
Yea, ye yourselves
know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that
were with me.
I have shewed you all
things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the
words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to
receive.
Acts
20:32-35 KJV
Apostle Paul writes to
the church leaders in Ephesus that he did not covet people’s apparel, silver or
gold. He further states that he worked with his hands to provide for himself
and the ministry. This means Apostle Paul had a business generating some funds
for his life and ministry.
Child of God, it is not
a sin to engage in business if you are in the ministerial work because the Holy
Scriptures endorses it. Engaging in godly business as a minister of the gospel
is biblical because Apostle Paul was hardworking (businessman).
If you work, you will
not become a burden to the church. Some widows and weak people may need your
financial assistance if you have enough money. Church’s work differs from cash
earning (secular) work. In the book of
Ephesians, we see another profound Word.
Let him that stole
steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing
which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
Ephesians
4:28 KJV
Apostle Paul writes
that Christian believers must work to avoid stealing. People engage in criminal
activities because they are not involved in any legal work that supplies them
cash.
Paul writes that we
must labour with our bodies. Opportunities hide in problems, so search for the
problems in your community or country and solve those problems. The issues will
generate some income.
Financially strong
people solve problems, and these problems create a product or service. Through
the sales of these products and services, they generate their income. Think of
Jeff Bezos, he started with e-commerce, and today he is financially strong.
Think of Bill Gates; he
came with the idea of software. This software has catapulted him to a higher
life. Think of Mark Zuckerberg; he created Facebook. He has become prominent.
Think of the impacts these people can make in the church if they were
dedicated, Christian believers.
Think of any successful
gospel minister or entrepreneur; they worked hard, prayed hard, fasted, and
followed specific principles. You cannot sit idle and expect God to provide for you. Meditate on these Holy Scriptures for more profound
revelations.
He becometh poor that
dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.
Proverbs
10:4 KJV
In all labour there is
profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.
Proverbs
14:23 KJV
He that tilleth his
land shall have plenty of bread: but he that followeth after vain persons shall
have poverty enough
Proverbs
28:19 KJV
Child of God, money is
not evil; the love of money makes people pursue evil things. God wants His
children to live in abundance, but it works with principles. It takes hard work
to generate income.
Hard work means you
work effectively and efficiently. With the introduction of computers and
technology, you can use your mind to create businesses. God has deposited a
gift in you. Read my articles, How to discover your purpose in life and How to stay focus and pursue a purposeful life for more wisdom keys.
Some unbelievers and
Christian believers are financially strong because they are disciplined and
diligent in their business and daily lives. Why do you expect God to prosper
you when you are lazy?
Until you plant the seed
in the fertile soil, water it, guard it against weeds and other enemies, the seed
dies. You can have the best seed in the world; until you plant it, it remains
useless. A word to the wise is enough.
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