"Wanting nice things when others are poor makes me greedy and selfish."
How it sounds in your head: Every time I want something nice, I feel guilty. Kids in other countries are starving and I'm thinking about shoes or a new phone. If I was really a good Christian, I wouldn't want anything for myself.
"Let them shout for joy and be glad, who favor my righteous cause; And let them say continually, 'Let the LORD be magnified, Who has pleasure in His servant's prosperity.'"
-- Psalm 35:27Religious teaching that equates poverty with holiness and desire with sin.
He sees suffering on social media and feels wrong for wanting anything. Youth group messages about missions and poverty make him feel selfish for any personal desires.
Solomon asked for wisdom, not wealth. God said 'Because you didn't ask for riches, I'm giving you riches anyway - both what you asked AND what you didn't ask for.' God added abundance as a BONUS because generosity is His nature.
I REFUSE the lie that wanting good things makes me greedy. IT IS WRITTEN that God has PLEASURE in my prosperity. My Father is not poor, stingy, or limited. He owns the cattle on a thousand hills, and He DELIGHTS to give me the kingdom. IT IS WRITTEN that if earthly fathers know how to give good gifts, how much MORE does my heavenly Father give good things to those who ask Him. I receive the BARAK blessing - the same blessing that made Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob wealthy. I am Abraham's seed through Christ, and the blessing flows through my bloodline by COVENANT, not behavior. My prosperity doesn't steal from others - it BLESSES others.
Your Father is running toward you with the signet ring of authority and resources. He's not waiting for you to feel guilty enough or earn enough - He's already killed the fattened calf and filled your storehouses because you're HIS SON.