Does God Bless all Christians with Luxuries? There are some versions of Christianity that would say, “absolutely!” But as we examine Scripture, we must examine the purpose of luxuries and see how they fit in to the Christian life.

 

Are luxuries a sign of God’s blessing?

It depends! It could also be a curse! Anything (money or certain possessions) could be a blessing…or it could be a curse. Remember, when God removes something from you, it doesn’t mean that he is removing his pleasure from you. There’s the example of Job. He lost EVERYTHING, even the necessities. But we don’t believe in any way that he lost the pleasure of God in his life. God just withheld His temporary blessing on Job’s life for a time, for a specific reason.

If we travel down this path, the path of luxuries is a sign of God’s blessings, we almost always will end at the foot of  the prosperity Gospel…

The prosperity gospel , also known as the “health and wealth gospel” or by its most popular brand, is called the “Word of Faith” movement. It claims that God rewards those that have an increase in faith…with increases in health and/or wealth.

This is a perversion of the Gospel. In short, this means that “health and wealth” are the automatic divine right of all Bible-believing Christians and may be procured by faith as part of the package of salvation, since the Atonement of Christ includes not just the removal of sin, but also the removal of sickness and poverty.

But Jesus Himself said much about money and finances.  In a blog post by the Gospel Coalition we read this…

“Jesus has plenty to say about the dangers of wealth. In the Sermon on the Mount, he teaches:

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. . . . No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. (Matt. 6:19–24)

In Mark 10:17–25 Jesus deals with a rich young ruler who wants eternal life—so long as he isn’t asked to sacrifice his great wealth. When Jesus tells him to sell all he has and give it to the poor, he’s disheartened. He goes away sorrowful, for he has great possessions.

Jesus goes on to make the unequivocal statement, “How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! 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.” You don’t hear these words from prosperity gospel preachers. Rather, they give the impression that material wealth is the sure sign all is well between your soul and God.

On another occasion, someone in the crowd says, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” Jesus refuses. This should surprise not only preachers of the prosperity gospel but also advocates of the social gospel. Jesus warns the one asking for this favor: “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions” (Luke 12:13–15). Material wealth is not blessedness.”

So from this blog post, money, wealth, riches and things can be a hindrance in one’s life, especially if they are looking for real Biblical joy that the Lord gives through His material and financial blessings.

Now the opposite side of the coin comes to us in this question…

Are lack of luxuries a sign that you are not in God’s blessing?

When we think of this question, we need to go back to the Old Testament, be reminded of Job.

Did Job’s loss of his luxuries diminish the blessing of God in his life? The answer is no!  As Job was, we are too, in a spiritual war, one that we cannot see.  If God so decides that we are involved in this battle for a portion or most of our life, our involvement is not that God cares less about our joy, but that through us and in us, His Glory will be displayed.

And be reminded that Job did not have a lifetime of suffering.  We do read at the end of the Book of Job that God not only gave him back all that he had…but much, much more!  Remember this wonderful verse:

“For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.” (Psalm 30:5, NIV84)

It is important to know, process, and remember anew that our desires have a direct correlation with our relationship with the Lord.  Why do we say that?  Listen to this…

The goal of the Christian life is not to have more luxuries, but to become more like Christ. If, in our pursuit of luxuries, we accumulate possessions without growing in our connection with Christ, we are exchanging greater joys for lesser joys.   

This life, and all that it has in it, is fleeting, temporary, for it WILL NOT last forever!  If we are seeking our joy in the things of this world there may be a temporary smile on our face now, but in doing this, we are trading in the true “joy” that the Lord would like for us to have today and for all eternity!

The ultimate joy is not found in possessions, things, or experiences. It is found in the person and work of Jesus Christ, in the presence and work of the Holy Spirit in YOUR life today. Joy is found in a changed and transformed mind that is becoming more like Jesus Christ.