Day 084, Sunday, Nov. 3
Leviticus 26:1-46 Click here to read
Many Christians are, with reason, hesitant to promote teachings that look like the “prosperity gospel” that is lifted up in many places.
Where Jesus calls us to find joy and peace in renouncing the world and following him, some distort that into a transactional relationship in which we are called to make only token sacrifices in order gain material wealth.
Like all effective distortions, the prosperity gospel has a kernel of truth that is found in passages like chapter 26 of Leviticus: obedience to God does tend to improve life, and disobedience does tend to make life less pleasant.
The promises are there. “I will grant peace in the land, and you will lie down and no one will make you afraid.” There are words of promise about rain in its season and abundant harvests.
The chapter also warns of the consequences of disobedience: punishment for sin, bad harvests and starvation.
To some extent, history and our experience bears this out. People who faithfully follow God are often happier than those who do not. Societies that are just are often more peaceful and prosperous than those that are not.
The real danger of the prosperity gospel is that it can confuse who is in charge. While the Bible is clear that God wants good things for his children, it’s equally clear that bad things still afflict them. While God wants our obedience, that obedience isn’t a tool by which we create a debt where God “owes” us blessings. We find peace in surrender to God. Attempting to manipulate God into giving us the things we want is far from surrender.
Chapter 26 ends with a reminder that, even after our disobedience, God will remember his promises to our spiritual ancestors, and will lovingly receive those who confess their sin.