Success Scripture July 8, 2008

Where's your Bentley?

Let's get something straight before we get started with this teaching. Neither Jesus nor his disciples were poor. Let's look at the scriptures regarding this...

1. Two of the disciples owned their own fishing boats (Matthew 4:18-19). This would be like owning a fishing fleet in today's terms.
2. Judas was Jesus' treasurer. This means there must have been more than enough money to see to all of the groups needs. How much do you think it would it take to support that many men for the length of Jesus' ministry?
3. In Mark 8:1-4, when Jesus instructed them to feed the multitude here is what was said, "1 During those days another large crowd gathered. Since they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him and said, 2 "I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. 3 If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, because some of them have come a long distance." 4 His disciples answered, "But where in this remote place can anyone get enough bread to feed them?" Note that their concern was "where can we get enough" and not "how can we pay for it". Remember, this was a crowd of 4,000! Note, too, Jesus did not do the miracle because of lack of funds but because there was no bakery near by.
4. In Luke 8 we read, "22 One day Jesus said to his disciples, "Let's go over to the other side of the lake." So they got into a boat and set out." The "Let's" here means at least thirteen men but we might safely assume there were also a few "groupies" that wanted to be near our Lord, too. It does not say they borrowed or rented a boat leading us to believe it belonged to one of the disciples or a follower. So, in today's terms this would be like Billy Graham and his crew jumping onto a LARGE private jet for a short trip.
5. Remember the value of the alabaster box and oil; Jesus undergarment being so fine that the soldiers gambled for it; the fact that none of the disciples had to work; and other indications of their wealth.

In summary, Jesus was not poor as many have portrayed him but it was not his wealth that made his ministry possible but the other way around.

So, back to the question... "Where's your Bentley?" The point is that God wants us to be content regardless of where we are in our finances, whether high or low. However, no one should be envious of the ministers that drive Bentley's or have big homes or even jets.

If God has blessed you greatly, rejoice... and don't be falsely humble or vainly proud. He wants his children to be blessed. After all, we are joint heirs with Jesus -Romans 8:17 and heir to the blessings of Abraham - Galatians 3:29.

Conclusion: You must have provision in your life to be able to be a blessing to others. If you don't have evidence in your life and ministry that you are greatly blessed, maybe you need to generously sew seed into other's ministries.

You're blessed!

Bliss & Fire Team

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