The Folly/Blind Spot of Prosperity Preachers:
I really wonder if these popular prosperity preachers would ever read and contemplate with a pinch of sincere heart the life of many men and women of God (such as David Brianerd) and their Biblical approach to the reality of life and God's sovereignty in their sufferings for Kingdom, over agains ones own "positive thinking," "prosperity seeking", "name-n-claim" "personal desires" and "materials wishes"????!!!!
John Piper comments in his book on David Brainerd,"But the struggle with external hardships, as great as they were, was not his worst struggle. He had an amazing resignation and even rest it seems in many of these circumstances. He knew where they fit in his Biblical approach to life:
"Such fatigues and hardship as these serve to wean me more from the earth; and, I trust, will make heaven the sweeter. Formerly, when I was thus exposed to cold, rain, etc., I was ready to please myself with the thoughts of enjoying a comfortable house, a warm fire, and other outward. Such fatigues and hardship as these serve to wean me more from the earth; and, I trust, will make heaven the sweeter. Formerly, when I was thus exposed to cold, rain, etc., I was ready to please myself with the thoughts of enjoying a comfortable house, a warm fire, and other outward comforts; but now these have less place in my heart (through the grace of God) and my eye is more to God for comfort. In this world I expect tribulation; and it does not now, as formerly, appear strange to me; I don 't in such seasons of difficulty flatter myself that it will be better hereafter; but rather think how much worse it might be; how much greater trials others of God's children have endured; and how much greater are yet perhaps reserved for me. Blessed be God that he makes (=is) the comfort to me, under my sharpest trials; and scarce ever lets these thoughts be attended with terror or melancholy; but they are attended frequently with great joy" ("The Life of David Brainerd," ed. Norman Pettit, "The Works of Jonathan Edwards," Vol. 7, (New Haven:Yale University Press, 1985, p.274)
Many children of God, great ministers of the gospel have learned from the life of David Brainerd. Have we learned anything?
I really wonder if these popular prosperity preachers would ever read and contemplate with a pinch of sincere heart the life of many men and women of God (such as David Brianerd) and their Biblical approach to the reality of life and God's sovereignty in their sufferings for Kingdom, over agains ones own "positive thinking," "prosperity seeking", "name-n-claim" "personal desires" and "materials wishes"????!!!!
John Piper comments in his book on David Brainerd,"But the struggle with external hardships, as great as they were, was not his worst struggle. He had an amazing resignation and even rest it seems in many of these circumstances. He knew where they fit in his Biblical approach to life:
"Such fatigues and hardship as these serve to wean me more from the earth; and, I trust, will make heaven the sweeter. Formerly, when I was thus exposed to cold, rain, etc., I was ready to please myself with the thoughts of enjoying a comfortable house, a warm fire, and other outward. Such fatigues and hardship as these serve to wean me more from the earth; and, I trust, will make heaven the sweeter. Formerly, when I was thus exposed to cold, rain, etc., I was ready to please myself with the thoughts of enjoying a comfortable house, a warm fire, and other outward comforts; but now these have less place in my heart (through the grace of God) and my eye is more to God for comfort. In this world I expect tribulation; and it does not now, as formerly, appear strange to me; I don 't in such seasons of difficulty flatter myself that it will be better hereafter; but rather think how much worse it might be; how much greater trials others of God's children have endured; and how much greater are yet perhaps reserved for me. Blessed be God that he makes (=is) the comfort to me, under my sharpest trials; and scarce ever lets these thoughts be attended with terror or melancholy; but they are attended frequently with great joy" ("The Life of David Brainerd," ed. Norman Pettit, "The Works of Jonathan Edwards," Vol. 7, (New Haven:Yale University Press, 1985, p.274)
Many children of God, great ministers of the gospel have learned from the life of David Brainerd. Have we learned anything?
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