The American Dream Has Become The American Idol

Misuse of

Many people use this verse as a promise of God to give them health, wealth, and a life free of troubles. They rationalize that God wants me to have this and is obligated to give it to me because he has made this promise in His Word. However; we must take a closer look at what this passage of scripture is truly saying to appreciate the fullness of its joy! There is also danger in taking this passage of scripture out of context. The danger is when you don’t have health, wealth, and a trouble free life. One might discount God and not believe He exists because he hasn’t given them what they perceive as His promise.

Promise of health

People that claim this verse believe that it is God’s will that no one ever gets sick, and if they do He will heal them and everything will be okay. This is not the case. Their are times when God allows sickness in our lives for our benefit and the benefit of others. There are times when God decides to heal and other times where He chooses not to heal. Blessed be the name of the Lord!the rich prope

Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to [a]torment me—to keep me from exalting myself! 8 Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. 9 And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast [b]about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.

Some theologians believe this was a physical ailment that Paul was suffering from. Perhaps failing eyesight. The Bible doesn’t specifically say, but it is clear here that whatever it is Jesus is not choosing to heal him. The purpose is to keep him humble, so that he will not exalt himself.

God chose not to heal Paul for his own good. There will be times that God will allow us to become physically sick so, that our soul will remain or grow stronger.

11 This He said, and after that He *said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I go, so that I may awaken him out of sleep.” 12 The disciples then said to Him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will [a]recover.” 13 Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that He was speaking of [b]literal sleep. 14 So Jesus then said to them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, 15 and I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, so that you may believe; but let us go to him.”

23 Jesus *said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”24 Martha *said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:23-25

Jesus chose not to heal Lazarus of his sickness so that he would die. Jesus chose for Lazarus to die so that He could reveal His power by bringing him back to life.

There are times where God chooses not to heal and a person will die. It is through death that many people come to life spiritually. It has been my experience that more people get saved at funerals than they do on Sunday morning services. This is because mortality is right in their face. They must deal with death. The only one who gives life after death is Jesus Christ.

Promise of wealth.

The fastest growing religion is the pentecostal religion. Specifically the “prosperity gospel” or “name it and claim it”. This is because it originates out of the US. We are the wealthiest nation in the world. People in other countries don’t have near the wealth we do. People want our wealth and they believe that if they serve the god the american’s serve then they will be blessed and have what we have. Or they can have what the rich prosperity preachers have. The sad thing about this is they never have what they want and end up being poorer because they give what little they have to the prosperity preacher. This will turn them against Jesus.

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; 21 for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and [c]wealth.

God never promises us material wealth. As a matter of fact, he cautions us about pursuing material wealth. Material wealth can capture our hearts.

Promise of a trouble free life

Some people see this verse as a promise of a life of ease because after all doesn’t he promise me a bright future? God doesn’t promise a life of ease. It is quite the opposite.

33 These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”

I have had a tremendous life of blessing, but it has come through times of significant suffering. Cancer scares with my family, not having enough to afford food, what is mom going to do without dad, how can I be a preacher and provide for my family, am I going to have a job when the bank closes, the doctor says you have a life threatening issue. It is in times like these that my faith has grown and I have come to know Jesus more intimately. Troubles in life have taught me to turn to Jesus. There are times when he has rescued me and there are times when he allowed me to experience failure. I am thankful for both. But I am thankful more for the hard times. I never want to experience them again, but I am glad I experienced them.

Truth of

Jeremiah is a prophet of God that has just told the nation of Israel that they would be held in captivity for 70 years. He encourages them to make the most of of it.

5 ‘Build houses and live in them; and plant gardens and eat their [a]produce. 6 Take wives and [b]become the fathers of sons and daughters, and take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; and multiply there and do not decrease. 7 Seek the [c]welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf; for in its [d]welfare you will have [e]welfare.’ 8 For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, ‘Do not let your prophets who are in your midst and your diviners deceive you, and do not listen to [f]the dreams which [g]they dream. 9 For they prophesy falsely to you in My name; I have not sent them,’ declares the Lord.

He says that the people will not experience the good life. You will be slaves to the Babylonians. They should make the most of their captivity. The reason they are going into captivity is because they refused to listen to the Lord. They departed from Him. God was going to use the harshness of the captivity to bring His people back into relationship with Him.

Then He let’s them know that the captivity will not last forever but they will be released:

10 “For thus says the Lord, ‘When seventy years have been completed for Babylon, I will visit you and fulfill My good word to you, to bring you back to this place. 11 For I know the plans that I [a]have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.

Understand that the majority of the people that heard the promise of welfare and a hope for the future would not experience it. They would probably die during the captivity. But God gave them a promise that He would deliver the nation and that the future generation would receive the promise.

This promise was made to a people that would suffer their entire life. God was not telling them that He was going to give them health wealth and prosperity. What God promised was that the future generation would turn back to Him and He would restore them.

We find that God fulfilled this in the book of Ezra

Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he sent a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying:

2 “Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, ‘The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and He has appointed me to build Him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. 3 Whoever there is among you of all His people, may his God be with him! Let him go up to Jerusalem which is in Judah and rebuild the house of the Lord, the God of Israel; He is the God who is in Jerusalem.

The promise that God made was not one of the American dream, but of restoration for a fallen nation. We should not use this passage of scripture as one where God promises the American dream.

Application of

This prophecy of Jeremiah was not only fulfilled in Ezra, but it was also a foreshadowing of the coming of Christ. Everyone is a slave to sin. Jesus came and freed us from the bondage of sin and promises us welfare, and a hope for the future. He promises eternal life.

Please understand that I am not saying that God will not bless you with worldly goods. He has already done this. What I am saying is that this passage of scripture is not one that promises it.

Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." They answered Him, "We are Abraham's descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, 'You will be made free'?" Jesus answered them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.

Though God may not give you the American dream, He has something much better in store for you. Eternity with Him!

Have you been set free from the bondage of sin? Let me tell you how you can!