How Much Do You Personally Give? Question 35.

Jonathan Shuttlesworth, in his book and YouTube blog 35 Questions for Those Who Hate the Prosperity Gospel, asks a provocative question: “How much do you personally give?” This question challenges critics of the prosperity gospel by suggesting that their opposition stems from a lack of personal generosity.

Shuttlesworth further implies that financial giving guarantees material blessings, claiming that those who embrace this teaching will experience supernatural increase.

While generosity is a biblical principle, Shuttlesworth’s interpretations distort Scripture, often equating financial giving with God’s blessings in a transactional manner. This blog critically evaluates his statements, addresses his misrepresentation of Scripture, and provides a biblically and theologically sound understanding of giving, blessings, and God’s provision.

1. Examining Shuttlesworth’s Assertions

Claim 1: Critics of Prosperity Theology Are Ungenerous

Shuttlesworth suggests that critics of prosperity theology do not give significantly and that their opposition stems from personal conviction or selfishness.

Biblical Counterpoints

1. Giving as a Heart Issue:

   • Matthew 6:1-4: “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.”

     
     

     • Jesus warns against publicizing giving as a means of self-promotion. The amount one gives is a matter of the heart, not a metric for comparison or spiritual superiority.

       
       

2. Criticism Rooted in Truth, Not Ungenerosity:

   
   

   • Many critics of prosperity theology, including theologians like Dr. Michael Brown and John Piper, highlight its theological flaws and the harm it causes, especially to vulnerable communities. This critique is rooted in a love for biblical truth, not a lack of generosity.

     
     

Claim 2: Financial Giving Guarantees Material Blessings

Shuttlesworth argues that financial giving results in supernatural increase, citing examples like Peter’s miraculous catch of fish (Luke 5:4-7) and Malachi 3:10.

Biblical Counterpoints

1. The Purpose of Giving:

   • 2 Corinthians 9:6-8: “Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 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.”

     
     

     • Paul encourages generosity, but the focus is on joyful obedience and spiritual blessings, not a promise of material wealth.

       
       

2. Misinterpreting Malachi 3:10:

   • “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this, says the Lord Almighty, and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.”

     
     

     • This verse, addressed to Israel under the Mosaic Covenant, promises agricultural blessings tied to covenant obedience. Applying it universally as a guarantee of financial gain misrepresents its context.

       
       

3. Peter’s Catch of Fish:

   • In Luke 5, Peter’s miraculous catch of fish is not a reward for financial giving but a demonstration of Jesus’ authority and provision, leading Peter to recognize Jesus as Lord (Luke 5:8).

     
     

Claim 3: Prosperity Theology Aligns with God’s Best

Shuttlesworth quotes Philippians 4:19 to argue that financial prosperity is part of God’s plan for believers.

Biblical Counterpoints

1. Philippians 4:19 in Context: “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”

   
   

   • Paul writes this to thank the Philippians for their generosity, affirming God’s provision for their needs, not promising financial wealth.

     
     

2. God’s Best Is Not Always Material:

   • Matthew 6:33: “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

     
     

     • God’s “best” is found in His Kingdom and righteousness, not in material possessions.

       
       

2. A Biblical Theology of Giving and Blessings

The Purpose of Giving

1. Worship and Obedience:

   • Giving is an act of worship, reflecting gratitude and trust in God’s provision. It is not a transaction to secure material blessings.

     
     

2. Support for God’s Work:

   • Generosity supports the church’s mission and the needs of others, as seen in the early church (Acts 4:32-35).

     
     

True Blessings in Scripture

1. Spiritual Over Material:

   • Ephesians 1:3: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.”

     
     

     • True blessings are found in Christ and the spiritual riches of salvation.

       
       

2. Contentment in All Circumstances:

   • Philippians 4:11-13: “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation… I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”

     
     

     • Paul’s contentment is rooted in Christ, not in material abundance or poverty.

       
       

Warnings About Wealth and False Teachings

1. The Love of Money:

   • 1 Timothy 6:9-10: “Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.”

     
     

     • Prosperity theology often encourages a love for wealth that Scripture explicitly warns against.

       
       

2. False Teachers and Exploitation:

   • 2 Peter 2:1-3: “In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories.”

     
     

     • Misusing Scripture to promise financial blessings exploits vulnerable believers.

       
       

3. Evaluating Shuttlesworth’s Rhetoric

Shuttlesworth’s accusations against critics—calling them ungenerous, convicted by prosperity teachings, or resistant to giving—reflect a dismissive and divisive approach. Rather than engaging with legitimate concerns, his rhetoric alienates believers and misrepresents the gospel.

Conclusion: How Much Do You Personally Give?

Shuttlesworth’s question distracts from the central issue: the prosperity gospel often distorts biblical giving, turning it into a transactional promise of wealth. True giving is an act of worship and obedience, motivated by love for God and others, not by the pursuit of material blessings.

The Bible teaches that God’s provision is sufficient, His blessings are primarily spiritual, and His love is demonstrated through Christ, not through financial gain. Prosperity theology risks leading believers away from these truths, placing a dangerous emphasis on wealth over faithfulness.

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

(PhD Student)