There is no promise of becoming rich.

The term 'blessing' often heard in church can lead to many misunderstandings. Many believers think that if they believe in God, they will become financially prosperous and everything will go well. However, when we look closely at the Bible, we can see that God's concept of blessing is somewhat different from the worldly success or financial wealth we often think of. Why doesn't God just make us unconditionally rich? And what is the 'true blessing' the Bible talks about?

There is no promise of becoming rich.

Many people mistakenly believe that there is a direct promise in the Bible that "if you believe in God, you will become rich." However, nowhere in the Bible is there a promise that 'God will make you rich.'

On the contrary, Jesus emphasized how difficult it is for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven. The saying, "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God," clearly shows that having a lot of wealth can be an obstacle to faith.

So why do pastors emphasize 'blessings' and preach about financial prosperity? Some pastors selectively quote or over-interpret Bible verses, telling their congregants that material blessings are proof of their faith.

For example, they equate the blessings of land and prosperity of descendants in the Old Testament with material wealth in the New Testament. However, in the New Testament, after Jesus, the concept of blessing expanded beyond mere prosperity of the land to a spiritual meaning. The greatest gift God gives us is 'salvation' and 'eternal life,' and this is the most important blessing the Bible speaks of.

God's purpose is not wealth, but a relationship.

The fundamental reason why God does not make us financially rich is that God's interest is not in 'our possessions' but in 'our relationship with Him.' God does not want us to be captivated by worldly wealth and become distant from Him. Wealth can easily captivate a person's heart and make them arrogant, eventually weakening their reliance on God.

The Bible rather says that through material difficulties, we can rely more deeply on God, learn humility, and achieve spiritual growth.

The Apostle Paul, who experienced both abundance and poverty, confessed, "I can do all things through him who gives me strength." This means he learned to be content in God regardless of his material circumstances. Ultimately, God wants us to become 'people of complete faith' who rely only on God, not a life dependent on material prosperity.

On the view of financial prosperity as a blessing

Our misunderstanding of financial prosperity as a blessing is deeply related to the values of modern society. Since success and happiness are often measured by the amount of wealth, these worldly standards have influenced our faith.

However, the Bible often tells stories that are contrary to worldly values. It teaches that true satisfaction and joy are not found in possessions, but in a relationship with God.

Of course, God sometimes gives us material blessings. But this is not to satisfy our greed, but to give us a mission to use it for God's good work. In other words, the wealth we have has meaning only when it is used as a tool to help others and to spread God's love, not just for personal satisfaction.

In this context, it is important to rethink the meaning of 'blessing.' The blessings Jesus spoke of are spiritual comfort and peace given to those who are considered unfortunate by worldly standards, such as the 'poor in spirit,' the 'hungry and thirsty for righteousness,' and the 'persecuted.'

In this way, the blessing the Bible speaks of is not about material prosperity but about a spiritual state, and this leads to a true joy and peace that the world cannot give.