I know I don't normally post on this section, but I've been wondering something.
Why do a lot of Christians (of which I am) believe that God providing for them means there is 'something' to eat, clothes on their back, and a roof over their heads? Not that I'm not grateful for those things. I'm not trying to sound like a snob. It's just that in the Bible, God created kings and queens from those who had nothing. There are many preachers and singers and such that are rich while a great deal of Christians believe it's wrong in someway to believe that if you are faithful then God will meet your needs, but mostly just basic needs. I believe that God wants us to be prosperous and that he wants us to share our abundance with those that have little or nothing.
I'm not trying to ruffle any feathers, I'm just curious as to if this is just me or if anyone else has noticed the same mentality.
Example: My inlaws have been singing in a gospel group since before my dh was born(45 yrs) and my mil still has to work part time to pay bills, even though their house is paid off. They travel an enormous amt on weekends and rarely get a hotel room b/c they can't afford it.
Ok I'll stop rambling now. What's your take?

I am Catholic and this is what I believe. The only thing God has promised to me is that he will ALWAYS love me , he will ALWAYS forgive me, and when I pray he is ALWAYS listening. I don't expect God to provide for my basic needs. I think God has provided us all the resources we need to take care of our physical needs. I think the point you made about God wanting us to be prosperous and to share with people who are less fortunate is exactly what we are supposed to be doing. If every person in this world who had the means to give to those who are less fortunate, actually did, there would be a lot less suffering going on. I think that is what God expects from us. Maybe we should focus more on what we can do for the world God created, instead of always expecting God to take care of everything. I hope that makes sense. It's just my opinion

I believe that God knows whats best in each individual situation, some people may never be abundantly blessed financially, but may be extremely blessed in other areas of their lives. I believe that He blesses us when/where He sees fit. Not everyone can handle abundant amounts of cash responsibly.

I don't know if your inlaws tithe, but I have seen a significant change in my financial life after we began tithing. Tithing to a lot of people is a touchy subject, there is controversy over it, but for us, we do it no questions asked, and God honors that. Obviously, you shouldn't tithe to get rich.


God wants you to trust him, and trust that He will meet your needs. What God sees as our needs, and what WE see as our needs are different, and I think that's what a lot of us forget.

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Julie
Momma to a three year old nugget, and wife to a goofball

I believe that this mentality comes from a couple of places. First, during our early years, we are taught (usually in schools) that our basic needs are food & drink, shelter and clothing. Then, we are taught not to worry about anything (in our homes or churches), because God will provide everything we need. And, if we believe the "basic needs" are as listed above, it reasons that God will provide them.

Another source could be from scripture. Matthew 6:25-26 says "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?", and Matthew 6:28 says " And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin."

That's my theory anyways.

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Homeschooling Mom to Daniel (13 Years), Andrew (10 Years), Stephen (8 Years) and Emily (4 Years)

I believe that God has placed a "calling" on each & every person that He allows to be born unto this earth & that what you have or don't have is reflected by that calling. The Bible says "To he who gives much, then much is given unto him".....in other words, "you reap what you sow"!
I am a Christian & have always been taught & believe just that....."you reap what you sow". I pay my tithes faithfully, I give offerings faithfully & I live an honest, wholesome Christian life. I do my best to carry out the calling that I know God has placed on my life & I obey His Word. I & my family do have food & shelter & transportation & clothes......they are not all name-brand clothes, or the biggest house, or the fanciest car, or extravagant meals...but I am content with it b/c I know that God has blessed me with what I do have. Likewise, I know that if I ever fail to obey Him & turn my back on Him, that God can take it all away!!! I thank God for what He has done in me & for me. I am thankful for the "little" things that I do have b/c there is someone out there that has nothing, literally nothing...no home, no car, no clothes & no food.

My 'theology' agrees with everything you said and yet my experience shows otherwise. When we lived in India we saw believers die from lack of food and shelter. Friends have experienced the same in Northern Africa. I don't know how to resolve this. They loved Him as much as I do, and yet .... they had literally nothing, not even enough to survive.

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Mom to dd (age 9) and ds (age 11)
blogging daily about purpose and personal identity

I saw much the same in Northern Africa - it's remarkably sad and difficult how other people must live in some countries. This is one reason why I think it's so ridiculous that people so often think their good fortune - be it a windfall of money, a new job, whatever - comes from a god. Surely a god has more important things to worry about than whether or not I get a promotion, whether or not I have sex before marriage, whether or not my kid gets into the right school. I'd rather a god pay more attention to those poor, sick & starving in 3rd world countries than the minor concerns of most Americans.

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I think God puts you in certain situations not to punish you, but to make you stronger.

To a certain degree we are all in charge of our own destiney. You can set around and whine about how life is treating you and how everyone is against you, or you can get out and make it things happen.

I think sometimes it is too easy to blame God for the bad stuff that happens in are lives, instead of blaming ourselfs.

How many times have you heard people give God thanks for the good things that happen to them, not too many. A lot of people take credit for the good things and blame God for the bad things.