Poverty or Prosperity?

BY REV. DORAL PULLEY

Scripture Reference: Matthew 26:11

The week leading up to Jesus’ death, a woman took an expensive oil from her precious Alabaster Box and poured it all over his body. Being financially fit, Jesus Christ understood that this act of kindness was a necessary preparation for his crucifixion.  His disciples, operating in a consciousness of lack, felt like this was a waste.  They saw the monetary value of the oil and the box and thought about selling it and using the money for other purposes.

Jesus Christ rebuked the disciples for their poverty consciousness and celebrated the woman for her prosperity consciousness.  He felt that her financial fitness demonstrated by her gift was an example from which the entire world could benefit (Matthew 26:13).

Poverty is not about how much money we have or don’t have, but a state of mind.  Poverty is an awareness of lack and a consciousness of limitation that manifests in our external condition.  Being financially fit, Jesus Christ explained to his disciples that there will always be people who operate in the erroneous idea of not having enough.

We have a choice to think thoughts of poverty or to think thoughts of prosperity.  We decide to speak liming words such as “I’m broke” or to speak words of abundance, “I’m in between blessings.”  As children of God, it our decision whether to do things out of a fear of lack or to do things in faith knowing the truth of abundance as our birthright.

Rev. Doral Pulley is the senior pastor of Unity Temple of Truth Church, 511 Prescott St. S, St. Petersburg.