Be The Fruit

Piper on the Prosperity Gospel

by Bill Blair on 31/03/08 at 5:12 am

John Piper tells the truth about the prosperity gospel and what our true trust in God looks like.  This is strong.  Thanks for posting this Mitch.

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:2-4)

When I first watched the above video my thought was to cheer him on because I can’t stand seeing people on TV like Joel Osteen and company preach the prosperity gospel.  As I continued to think about it though, I began to wonder how many of us who do not buy into the “name-it-claim-it” theology place our time, effort, energy, and faith in things like a BMW. 

Beyond a BMW, I wonder how many of us place our faith in things like food, clothing, getting the right job, having “super kids,” education, or being active in church.  Idolatry can creep into all of our lives, so even if you are not “expecting” material things from God, be sure you are not putting too much of your life into things that will not survive the testing of fire.

“Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay straw — each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each has done.  If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward.  If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. (1 Cor 3:12-15)