June 30, 2025
As my Sabbatical continues, I have been seeking the Lord as for a direction/theme for Trinity Baptist to Focus on in 2026. This process often takes several months as I seek the Lord, discuss with staff, read several books (including books of the Bible), and then finally put forth a Focus for the year. As I do have some initial thoughts about next year’s focus, yesterday, I decided to read Juan Sanchez’s book, Seven Dangers Facing Your Church. Sanchez is a respected pastor in Austin, TX, and a member of the Gospel Coalition Council.
While the book is essential an exposition of the Seven Churches in Revelation, which I preached during the summer of ’24 (I wish I had this resource then!), as I’m considering some danger zones for the church, I thought that Sanchez’s book could be helpful.
Sanchez identifies self-sufficiency as the main problem in Laodicea, and he makes more than a few points that are quite pertinent. He writes, “for Christians, the most dangerous places to live are not where our safety may be compromised or where our lives may be at risk; the most dangerous place for Christians are where our souls are most at risk. And if there is one thing that strangles our faith more than anything else it’s this: prosperity. Wealth is what makes Western culture spiritually fatal” (127-128).
I think he’s on to something. It’s not that it is sinful to have means. Scripture doesn’t denounce anyone for simply having wealth. Take Job and Abraham for instance. Scripture reveals that they were men who had wealth. Joseph of Arimathea also stands out as someone who had means. The problem isn’t with having wealth, it’s the temptation to put our trust in our wealth and to become self-sufficient. Paul writes that the love of money is the root of all evils (1 Tim 6:10).
The danger for all of us (whether we consider ourselves rich or not) is that we put our hope in our resources, in what we have. Too many professing Christians live prayerless lives because, practically speaking, they don’t see a need to pray. They have what they need and much of what they want. Food in the cupboard or pantry, money in the bank, a closet full of clothes, and toys to keep us entertained. Again, none of this stuff is inherently bad. However, when our wealth and prosperity lead us to self-sufficiency, then we have a big problem. Self-sufficiency dishonors God because it essentially tells Him that we don't need Him. Pride keeps us from experiencing God's power and God's grace. In fact, Jesus tells us that apart from Him, we can do nothing (John 15). Self-sufficiency is an abomination and a rejection of God.
God blesses some with abundance, not so they can depend on themselves, but so they can bless others and make Kingdom investments as they depend on God. And the truth is, because we can trust God to take care of our needs (Matt 6:33), we are all called to use the resources that He has entrusted to us to bless others and make Kingdom investments as we depend on Him, rejecting self-sufficiency. Church, let’s pray that we will not be deceived into self-sufficiency by wealth or power or whatever else. Instead, let’s humble ourselves and daily call on our God to give us aid as we seek to live and love like Jesus and lead others to do the same.
Pastor Nate