Does the Bible Challenge People to Give Beyond Their Comfort Level? Question 28.

Jonathan Shuttlesworth, in his book and YouTube blog 35 Questions for Those Who Hate the Prosperity Gospel, asks whether the Bible challenges people to give beyond their comfort level. He references 1 Kings 17:8-15, Psalm 112:1-3, and 1 Timothy 6:5-10, asserting that financial giving is essential for breakthroughs and that wealth is sanctioned by God as part of His plan for humanity.

While generosity is a consistent biblical theme, Shuttlesworth’s interpretation distorts the broader message of Scripture by equating financial giving with guaranteed financial blessings. This blog critically evaluates Shuttlesworth’s claims, analyzes his use of Scripture, and provides a biblically and theologically sound perspective on giving, prosperity, and the love of money.

1. Evaluating Shuttlesworth’s Claims

Claim 1: “The Bible Challenges People to Give Beyond Their Comfort Level”

Biblical Examples Cited by Shuttlesworth

1. 1 Kings 17:8-15:

   • In this account, Elijah asks a widow in Zarephath to use her last bit of flour and oil to make bread for him, promising that God will provide for her and her son during the famine.

   • This is an example of sacrificial giving, but it also highlights God’s provision in response to obedience and faith.

     
     

Contextual and Hermeneutical Analysis

• Theological Focus:

  • The miracle of provision in 1 Kings 17 emphasizes God’s faithfulness, not a universal principle of financial return for giving. The widow’s obedience is rooted in trust, not a transactional expectation.

    
    

• Misapplication:

  • Shuttlesworth uses this story to justify challenging people to give beyond their comfort, implying financial gain. However, the text focuses on God’s power and grace rather than a formula for material blessing.

    
    

Claim 2: “Prayer Is Not Used for Financial Breakthroughs; Giving Is Required”

Shuttlesworth asserts that financial miracles in the Bible are tied exclusively to giving, not prayer.

Biblical Counterexamples

1. Jesus’ Teaching on Prayer:

   • Matthew 6:11: Jesus teaches His disciples to pray, “Give us today our daily bread,” emphasizing reliance on God for provision.

   • Philippians 4:6: Paul instructs believers to present their requests to God through prayer, including needs for provision.

     
     

2. God’s Provision Without Giving:

   • Exodus 16:4: God provides manna for the Israelites in the wilderness without any prior giving on their part.

   • 2 Kings 4:1-7: Elisha helps a widow in financial distress by multiplying her oil, demonstrating God’s provision through miraculous intervention, not giving.

     
     

Critical Analysis

Scripture does not support Shuttlesworth’s claim that giving is the exclusive path to financial breakthroughs. The Bible affirms that God provides for His people in various ways, including prayer and divine intervention, without a mandatory financial transaction.

Claim 3: “Wealth Is Sanctioned by God for the Righteous”

Shuttlesworth cites Psalm 112:1-3 to argue that wealth is a blessing for the righteous.

Biblical Context

• Psalm 112:1-3: “Blessed are those who fear the Lord, who find great delight in his commands. Their children will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches are in their houses, and their righteousness endures forever.”

  
  

  • This psalm celebrates the blessings of the righteous but does not promise material wealth as a universal principle.

    
    

Critical Insight

• Wealth in this context may include material blessings but is secondary to spiritual blessings and righteousness. The psalm emphasizes fearing the Lord and delighting in His commands as the source of blessing, not financial gain.

  
  

Claim 4: “Challenging People to Give Is Biblical”

Shuttlesworth argues, citing New Testament examples, that it is not wrong to challenge people to give beyond their current level.

Biblical Analysis

1. 2 Corinthians 8:1-4:

   • Paul commends the Macedonian churches for giving generously despite their poverty, but their giving was voluntary and motivated by joy and faith, not compulsion.

     
     

2. 2 Corinthians 9:7:

   • Paul emphasizes, “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

     
     

Critical Insight

While challenging people to give can inspire generosity, it must be done with integrity and a focus on spiritual growth, not as a means to manipulate or promise material blessings.

2. Addressing Misinterpretations of 1 Timothy 6

Shuttlesworth acknowledges that Paul warns against false teachers who exploit the gospel for financial gain but fails to see how this critique applies to prosperity theology.

1 Timothy 6:5-10: “Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”

• Paul warns against equating godliness with financial gain and highlights the spiritual dangers of loving money.

  
  

Critical Analysis

Shuttlesworth’s emphasis on financial prosperity as a central tenet of the gospel directly contradicts Paul’s warnings in this passage. While generosity is biblical, the gospel is not a means to financial enrichment but a call to faith, humility, and service.

3. The Biblical Purpose of Giving

Faith and Trust

• Proverbs 3:9-10: “Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing.”

  
  

  • Giving is an act of worship and trust, not a transactional guarantee of material return.

    
    

Supporting the Needy

• Acts 2:45: The early church used resources to meet the needs of others, demonstrating selflessness and care for the community.

  
  

Eternal Perspective

• Matthew 6:19-21: Jesus calls believers to store up treasures in heaven, prioritizing eternal rewards over earthly wealth.

  
  

Conclusion: Does the Bible Challenge People to Give Beyond Their Comfort Level?

The Bible does challenge believers to give sacrificially, as seen in the examples of the widow of Zarephath and the Macedonian churches. However, these examples emphasize faith, trust, and obedience to God rather than a promise of financial return.

Shuttlesworth’s interpretation of Scripture distorts the biblical message by equating generosity with guaranteed financial blessings. While wealth can be a blessing when used for God’s purposes, the Bible consistently warns against the love of money and the dangers of prosperity-focused theology.

True generosity flows from a heart transformed by Christ, seeking His Kingdom and eternal treasures over earthly gain.

Author: Evg. Bradley Sliedrecht BCL, M.Div. ✝️📖✨

(PhD Student)