There is a brand of Christianity which preaches what some call the “prosperity gospel.” Joel Osteen as one of its prominent proponents says that if you believe in Jesus you will become wealthy and healthy — after you make your contribution to the church, of course. They want a crown without a cross. The Jesus of the Gospels has a different message: “In the world you will have trouble.” We can all testify that his message seems more accurate to our experience. What Jesus wants us to understand is that God is with us in good times and in bad, in sickness and in hearth. In fact, we experience God’s closeness most often when things aren’t going well. Prosperity can be a trap where we think we have it all together. Trouble reminds us how much we need God, how dependent we are on God. God is good all the time.
