Prophets of Profits

We told you a few days ago about Frankie Flowers - the operator of a non-profit organization in New York who did well in the World Series of Poker Main Event. He made the money, which is good. But he's now out of the running, finishing in 424th place.

Courtesy WSOP.com

Flowers earned close to $30,000. Trouble is, he talked about making much more than that. WSOP.com posted he was "prophecizing" at the Main Event about making a million dollars or more at the final table. We'll forgive the writer for not knowing the proper way to write that big word. Flowers actually may have been prophecying. Or, in street slang, he simply may have been "trash talking."

Yet some religious people have the idea that "faith talk" can lead to success - whether it be a lot of money, a spouse or something else. Where do they get that? From Bible verses such as....

Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion.... - II Corinthians 9:10-11

Claim that as a "faith promise," some people suggest, and the "God from whom all blessings flow" (to borrow from a famous church song) will pour them out on you.

We've admittedly seen God do that in our life - but there's a problem with that suggestion. It doesn't happen every time. The Bible nowhere shows that the first apostles died as tycoons or millionaires. In fact, the apostle who wrote the verses above wound up dying in a prison dungeon:

...This is my gospel, for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God's word is not chained. - II Timothy 2:8-9

You may win a lot of money playing poker. You may go bust a lot. Yet through good times and bad, the best thing to do is what Paul did. He kept his focus on God:

But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. - I Timothy 6:6-8

Instead of talking big, the model prayer of Jesus recommended a small request....

Give us this day our daily bread. - Matthew 6:11

Can you be content with that? The Bible indicates you should. Be thankful for whatever blessing God gives, even if it seems small. If you do, something great could come in the long run.

Flowers in the Desert

If you've dreamed of making money at the World Series of Poker Main Event.... keep dreaming until next year. This year's Main Event passed the "bubble point" early today, with all remaining players guaranteed a cash prize.

Courtesy WSOP.com

One of the intriguing stories on WSOP.com today involves Frankie Flowers. He finished Day 3 in  second place on the leaderboard, and he's already sure of where his prize money is going. Flowers operates a non-profit foundation which helps low-income people north of New York City.

If you're playing poker simply to get rich, maybe you should learn a lesson from Flowers. Or better yet, learn it from Jesus....

Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." - Matthew 19:21

The Lord said this to a man who thought he kept all of God's commandments perfectly (verses 16-20). But when Jesus recommended these extra points....

When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. - Matthew 19:22

Let's focus on what Jesus recommended:

1. "Sell.... possessions and give to the poor." Does that mean every penny? We don't think so - because then Flowers would be in the same predicament as the people he's trying to help. (Only a couple of Bible translations add words like "all" or "everything" to verse 21.)

But God is looking for a heart that is giving, not hoarding. After all....

For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. - I Timothy 6:7

2. "Follow me." That's actually the tougher advice to accept - because it takes a lifetime of effort and study:

Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and may enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. - Matthew 7:13-14

This goes beyond giving, to obeying God and His Word. Challenging though it is, that narrow road results in eternal life - joining Jesus forever in the Kingdom of God.

We'll keep following Flowers, and have more on him in an upcoming post.