1 Corinthians 4.10-13 observes, we are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, we are dishonored! To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless. We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; when we are slandered, we answer kindly. We have become the scum of the earth, the garbage of the world—right up to this moment.

There is a need for the American church to support more diligently, more intentionally, more generously, the church in the world that is being persecuted. Our TV preachers promote health and wealth defining Christianity by how blessed we are materially and physically. The god they promote is the god of health and wealth. Certainly the One True God is the God of health and wealth but His ways are through men and not just for a man.

The church that is healthy and wealthy materially should immediately be looking for that part of the church that is weak and poor materially so that they might help them with their physical needs even as those receiving our physical gifts might pray and encourage us for our spiritual needs. We are not to see the persecuted church as lazy and poor because of their doings but instead they are to be seen as brothers and sisters in need of our abundance so that the entire church may be healthy and full.

We have listened too much to our TV preachers, whose false teaching promotes our sinful and selfish nature, causing us to think God is all about us and our comfort and happiness. Nothing could be further from the truth. God has entrusted physical riches to the American church so it can meet the needs of the persecuted church whose spiritual wealth, blessed are those who are persecuted for His Name’s sake, can be given to the American church which is sorely in need of such a gift!