1Cor4:2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
PROSPERITY AND STEWARDSHIP
The message of financial prosperity has come under intense criticism in the past years. There are those who do not see why such should be preached from the altar. Their believe is that what matters is heaven not earthly prosperity. Poverty is subtly seen as piety among those that hold this view. That's one school of thought. There are those that preach only financial prosperity and nothing more. In fact, I saw a church poster where the presiding advertised prosperity in a bogus way. Some are self-acclaimed apostle of prosperity. Those in this category sometimes go to the extreme to raise money and do not stress on making money the right way. What matters to them is financial prosperity.
The message of prosperity is biblical. 3John 2 talk about all round prosperity and financial prosperity is inclusive. God want you well. In 2Cor 8:9, we were told that Jesus became poor for our sake that we might become rich. Poverty is not synonymous with piety or redemption. If money was used to stop the news of the resurrection of Jesus by the Jewish priests, we would need money to spread the news of His resurrection.However, preaching financial prosperity without stewardship would make hearers of such message to be money conscious and greedy. It would make money their master instead of a servant.
The balance comes when we preach financial stewardship. A steward is not the owner but someone who is a care taker. He has been given a trust and he is accountable to a superior. If we teach believers that they are stewards of money, they would conquer greed and would live in the consciousness of the fact that they would give account to God. If the message of financial prosperity is balanced with stewardship, believers will not steal or defraud people to make money. They would know that they are living for their heavenly master not mammon. It would also let them know that the money in their hands is not theirs but God's and He can demand for it anytime to expand his kingdom.
Father, I receive the grace to be a good steward of money and not a slave of money In Jesus name.